“We truly live at the mercy of our ideas.” —Dallas Willard.

The ideas we believe in our minds and then let into our lives give shape to the trajectory of our souls. They shape how we live and who we become.

No one talks more to you than you do! Most men would never let another man talk to them the way that they talk to themselves. You wouldn’t be friends with them! You might even fight them! Men, we’ve got to stop all this brutal talk and inner dialogue. Shut that guy up!

Our guest this week on the podcast is Christian counselor Allen Connor. Allen has been in ministry and counseling for forty years. Allen was on staff at Southland for many years before leaving to focus on his counseling practice.

Join us this week as we talk about the ways the enemy plays our thoughts against us, and how to fight back.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Opening Questions:

• Where are you winning this week? 

• What are some things that come to mind when you think of Christian counseling? 

“The enemy weaponizes thoughts in the effort to destroy men and keep them from the abundant life that Jesus promised.” How important is it for us to be aware of this?

The enemy is a created being and is also a 1 trick pony. He says, “well, did God really say...?” Have you heard the enemy say this to you? How are you able to identify this lie?

Our thoughts dictate our actions. How have you seen this truth?

Scott talks about how throughout the Bible there is this huge theme that words have power. What were some examples he used? What are some other examples in the Bible?

Words are powerful. Are there any words or lies that you have been believing and telling yourself that are not true?

Allen mentioned his parents constant comments, “Good job, but…” Does this statement sound familiar? How has that affected you into your adult life?

“Words stick with us and they stick with others.” How should this challenge us to be careful with our words? Who are the recipients of the sting of our words (wife, kids, parents, friends)?

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) 7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” What steps can you take to be more mindful of your inner dialogue? 

4 Steps to processing our neurological pathways:

1. Recognize and observe 

2. Pause and Interrupt

3. Challenge and Reframe 

4. Replace and Reinforce 

Here’s what it looks like Biblically:

Step 1: Identify the Lies 

Step 2: Remove/Renounce the LiesRead Psalm 139. What are some things that stuck out to you?Read through the surrender prayers at the bottom of the show notes. How can prayers like these help us?

Step 3: Replace the lies with God’s Truth!Read through the first 3 steps again. Which one of these steps are you more prone to getting hung up on? 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Why is this passage critical? Some important questions to ask about thoughts

• Is this from God?

• Is this from Satan?

• If a thought does not line up with what God says, remove the lie and replace it with truth! 

We have all struggled with one or more of the scenarios Allen and Scott talked through. Is there anything from the podcast that stuck out to you for addressing these scenarios?

This week…

1. Be thinking through what lies you are believing 

2. Spend some time praying over those lies(Feel free to use the surrender prayers in the bottom) 

3. Read through some of the scriptures at the bottom and replace the lie with the truth that God has for you. 

If you are interested in getting in touch with Allen Conner for Christian Counseling, contact him at the following: 859.433.8515 or [email protected].

Surrender prayers:

Lies:

Lord, I renounce the lies of                                       that I have believed.  Please forgive me for believing that lie and I acknowledge that I need your truth.  Thank You for Your Word and I am choosing to trust it as my authority & source of life!  Strengthen me through the power of your Word.  In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Feelings:

Lord, I also lay down any feelings of                                       .  I recognize that feelings aren’t facts and renounce them.  They are vehicles that the enemy uses to accuse & condemn me in an effort to assault my identity in Christ, to weaken my resolve to follow Jesus and impact my relationship with God.  I give these feelings and their impact in my life to You.  I ask that You’d heal my heart, remind me of who I am and what the price that you paid to redeem my life.  I will trust you!  In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

Strongholds:

Lord, I confess and lay down the current struggle of                                       .  I acknowledge that it has weighed me down, held me hostage, and been a stronghold that the enemy has used to kept me from the life that You have wanted for me.  Lord, break the chains that have had such a grip on my life and fill me with Your peace.  In the authority of Christ, amen. 

Additional scripture:

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

James 4:7 (NIV) 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

John 1:12-13 (ESV) 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 

1 John 4:4 (NIV) 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Additional Resources:

Live No Lies, John Mark Comer

Victory Over the Darkness, Neil T. Anderson

Bondage Breaker, Neil T. Anderson

 

Next Steps

• If you’re wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected]

• If this podcast has encouraged you, share it with a friend

• Sign up for Locker Room Groups at southland.church/groups