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The Bible is a book that details the lives of countless men and women who persevered through the most desperate, daunting and depressing situations until they received the promises of God.One such account is evident in the life of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob whose life was used to save an entire nation. Joseph’s story goes way beyond a tale of jealous brothers or a colored coat. It serves as an ideal illustration of the importance of not giving up.If we only understood that challenges are meant to build and not break us, we would be much more willing to persevere through tough times like Joseph.<h3>Who was Joseph?</h3>The wise leader was one of Jacob’s 12 sons, and because his mother gave birth to him during his father’s old age, Joseph became his favorite. This made his older brothers envy him, a fact that was made worse when Joseph shared his dreams with them, revealing &nbsp;he would eventually be their ruler.If you’re not familiar with the popular tale, the jealousy of Joseph’s brothers drove them to put him in a pit and conspire to kill him.However, after some consideration, they decided to sell him into slavery and make it appear as if he had been mauled to death by a wild animal. Joseph was then taken to Egypt where he eventually became a steward to one of Pharaoh’s guards called Potiphar.<h3>The trials of Joseph</h3>Genesis chapter 39 tells us the Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Still, though things appeared to be looking up for Joseph, he was faced with another obstacle when he was put in prison after being falsely accused of rape.Although she persistently pressured him, Joseph persevered in the midst of temptation and ignored her advances.Here’s the shocking part, even though he refused to betray his master or sin against God, Potiphar’s wife leveled false accusations against him which eventually landed him in prison. Imagine, Joseph did the right thing by refraining to partake in adultery, but his noble conviction got him demoted.&nbsp;It would be reasonable to believe Joseph was traumatized having been separated from his family. Not to mention, he was probably reeling from being taken to a foreign land to be used as forced labor.The thing that really stands out, is the fact that every time Joseph got a slight glimmer of hope, it was quickly buried by another bout of crushing disappointment.<h3>Joseph's response to constant difficulty</h3>Still, Joseph kept going and even in a dungeon he found himself gaining favor with the jailer’s guard and being placed in charge of the rest of the prisoners. In jail, he met Pharaoh’s butler and baker and later interpreted their dreams. Although he asked the men to remember him when their dreams came to pass, he was still forgotten.&nbsp;Amazingly, Joseph, who found himself in these undesirable situations through no fault of his own, did not give up or allow bitterness to consume him. Instead, he strengthened himself in the Lord and kept going. Two years later, he interpreted a dream for Pharaoh which led to his appointment as the second highest official in all of Egypt. This job not only gave him double for his trouble, but also reunited him with his family and allowed him to save them from famine.<h2>Importance of Persevering</h2>God placed a desire to lead in Joseph’s heart from a very young age, but his vivid visions would not come to pass until years later after he was tried and tested. This was done to produce the character and skillset Joseph needed to thrive in his calling.As prime minister of Egypt, Joseph’s main task was to ration the grain in the land to ensure the country was not devastated by famine. The years he spent working as a slave in the field for Potiphar increased his knowledge in agriculture.Not to mention, the positions he held in Potiphar’s household, and even in the depths of a dungeon, also trained him to be a responsible leader who was not easily swayed by temptation.The incessant misfortunes he was forced to endure also gave him an unwavering compassion for the overlooked, less fortunate and enslaved. But none of this would have been achieved if Joseph had not persevered.<h2>The Takeaway</h2>God doesn’t cause evil, but He does take the things the enemy uses to harm us and turn it for good. The series of unfortunate events Joseph had to endure were ultimately fuelled by his brothers’ jealousy, but if they had not conspired to get rid of him, he probably would have never gone to Egypt, and of course, the nation of Israel and the Bible would have not existed.In that same light, people may have done things to scar or deplete our sense of self-worth; however, God may very well be using the hurtful events in our lives to shape us into the people He needs us to be. Who knows, maybe our experiences will be able to save others going through a similar situation long after we are gone.&nbsp;Ultimately, the story of Joseph teaches us that it is never too late to be used by God. Perhaps you, or someone you know, is struggling with the negative consequences of reckless decisions made in the past; however, there is no reason to allow past regrets to discourage you.&nbsp;

Joseph: The Blueprint for Perseverance

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<figure id="figure-huetztti13m27jajpa" class=""><img id="huetztti13m27jajpa" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1495035385261-7666f7c00735?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8Z3VpbHR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI4ODIwODUxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="grayscale photo of woman sitting on concrete block" title="grayscale photo of woman sitting on concrete block" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1495035385261-7666f7c00735?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8Z3VpbHR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI4ODIwODUxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The Cambridge dictionary describes the word guilt as a “feeling of worry or unhappiness an individual experiences when they have done something wrong.” Indeed, guilt can describe the wave of remorse that rushes over a child after he steals a dollar out of his mother’s purse. It can also define the remorse of a burglar who committed first degree murder in a home-invasion gone wrong. Regardless of the severity of the immoral act, the feeling of anguish that consumes the perpetrator’s soul robs them of a peace of mind and it is almost always accompanied by shame. Still, while guilt and shame are closely linked, the words are not necessarily interchangeable.&nbsp;<h2>Guilt and Shame Explained</h2>While guilt can evoke feelings of shame, it mainly deals with the gut-wrenching humiliation a person feels as a result of a wrong act or foolish mistake. In other words, a person feels guilty when they realize how their actions have negatively impacted another individual.On the contrary, when a person struggles with shame, they are battling strong feelings of mortification and self-pity when they reflect on how their actions impact them and how others perceive them as a result.As you would expect, guilt and shame, and the feelings of inadequacy, frustration and self-contempt that quite often tag along, viciously feed the cycle of addiction. All things being considered, a person whose life is dominated by the involuntary adherence of a destructive habit almost always has to battle a chronic sense of worthlessness and inferiority.After years of caving into compulsive acts and urges they may even convince themselves they are unworthy of love and redemption. Overtime, they grow accustomed to feelings of guilt and shame and allow these emotions to open the door to depression, despair and even impassiveness.<figure id="figure-zqyaca4t79m27jjead"><img id="zqyaca4t79m27jjead" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1600019246742-3b66977db044?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8YmlibGV8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI4ODIxMjYxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="text" title="text" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1600019246742-3b66977db044?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8YmlibGV8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI4ODIxMjYxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h2>Shame and Guilt from a Biblical Perspective</h2>What does the Bible have to say about shame and guilt? After all, these are two emotions that –if not adequately addressed– can rob a person of the hope they need to have faith in Christ.I think the first thing anybody battling with guilt and shame should understand is God already defeated these emotions. You read that right.The anguish of shame and gnawing feeling of guilt have already been conquered. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He bore all of our rejection, shame and sin. And even though He was raised from the dead three days later, sin, death and the grave remained lifeless. My friends, if all our sins –that is our mistakes, mishaps and wrongdoing– have been wiped away, then we have nothing to be ashamed or guilty about once we confess and ask for forgiveness.<h3>God Forgives</h3>The Bible says when we come to Christ, “old things have passed away and all things have become new” (2 Corinthian 5:17). Truly, the God we serve is not a God of second chances, but the Lord of extensive mercy who is willing to forgive and accept us when we humble ourselves and turn back to him –no matter how many times we mess up.The best part is when we do fall down, He doesn’t keep a record of our mistakes. On the contrary, He disregards our controversial histories and disappointing pasts and gives us a clean slate to start from.When we come to Him, He tells us to forget about the former things simply because He is doing a new thing in our lives that will make the impossible possible –just like He promised to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert in Isaiah 43:18.<figure id="figure-0tp09f93tfm27jmtix"><img id="0tp09f93tfm27jmtix" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1457139621581-298d1801c832?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8cHJheWVyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyODgyMTI5N3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="silhouette of kneeling man" title="silhouette of kneeling man" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1457139621581-298d1801c832?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8cHJheWVyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyODgyMTI5N3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h2>From Paul to Saul</h2>Let’s take the apostle Paul for example. Before he was the passionate leader of the early church who converted thousands to Christianity, he was a devout Pharisee who vehemently persecuted believers and did everything in his power to silence the message of the Gospel.As a matter of fact, when Paul is first mentioned in the New Testament, he is referred to as Saul. According to the New International Version, he was practically “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.”&nbsp;<blockquote> He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’–Acts 9 :1-4 NIV</blockquote>This voice was none other than Jesus Christ. After He appeared to Saul, Saul became blind for three days. God then sent another believer, Ananias, to pray for him so the scales could fall from his eyes and he could regain his vision.After his sight was restored, God changed his name from Saul to Paul and he immediately got up and began preaching the message of the resurrection.Paul could’ve been ashamed because of his past of persecuting believers. He could have even gotten discouraged after people started to gossip about him and accuse him of being a hypocrite because of his old way of life.But he did not let his past deter him. Instead, he kept praying to God, persisted in studying the Word and was able to share what he learnt to draw many others to Christ.&nbsp;If Paul had wallowed in shame and guilt after God had changed him, he would not have been able to author a significant portion of the New Testament.And if he hadn’t penned those crucial scriptures, millions of lives would have been lost throughout the centuries since the wisdom God communicated through him is responsible for the transformation of countless people around the world today.

Battling Shame & Guilt

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<h2>Fighting Fear and Anxiety through God</h2>Fear and anxiety are common emotions that many people experience in their lives. Whether it's due to a specific situation or a general feeling of unease, these emotions can be overwhelming and debilitating. However, as believers, we have a powerful weapon in the fight against fear and anxiety – our faith in God.<h3>1. Seek God's Presence</h3>When fear and anxiety start to take hold, it's important to turn to God for comfort and strength. Spend time in prayer and meditation, seeking His presence and guidance. Remember that God is always with you, and He promises to never leave or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).<h3>2. Meditate on God's Promises</h3>God's Word is filled with promises of peace, strength, and protection. Take time to meditate on these promises and let them sink deep into your heart. One powerful promise is found in Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."<figure id="figure-p6ha9wud4flow1uso0"><img id="p6ha9wud4flow1uso0" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1491319669671-30014eb16b8d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxmZWFyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyODgyNDExOXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="woman holding her face in dark room" title="woman holding her face in dark room" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1491319669671-30014eb16b8d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxmZWFyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyODgyNDExOXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Wrong Reaction to Fear</h3>When we panic and try to address our issues on our own, we restrict the only power strong enough to eradicate our fears and anxiety from their very root. In Philippians 4:6, God tells us not to worry about anything, and instead, to pray to Him about our desires and fears while giving Him thanks as we ask for what we need. He said after we do this, His peace that transcends all human understanding will guard our hearts and minds.The thing about fear, anxiety and worry is a person who is overcome with these emotions is much more fixated with their perception of the problem rather than the actual issue itself.<h3>The Right Reaction to Fear</h3>Casting our cares on God puts things back in the right perspective and reminds us that He has everything in control and is working all things out for our good.Fear frightens, worry paralyzes and anxiety torments. This gang of oppressive spirits, if given ample opportunity, will ravage a person from the inside out. There are many people battling with problems because they are struggling with fears that could have been addressed if they had just given their problem to God in the first place.<figure id="figure-7nxql58r0blow1utza"><img id="7nxql58r0blow1utza" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1608717074159-bf820430b44d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8ZmFpdGglMjB0cnVzdHxlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTk4MjgyNTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="faith trust" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1608717074159-bf820430b44d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8ZmFpdGglMjB0cnVzdHxlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTk4MjgyNTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Fear Not</h3>In the Bible the phrase “fear not” is mentioned 365 times. That is a word of assurance for each day of the year. All throughout scripture, God reminds His people repeatedly that although the situation may look impossible, they had no need to fear.This is an integral principle every believer needs to understand because afflictions, trials and tribulations will come. Still, challenges and difficulties are not meant to destroy us; rather, they are opportunities for God to show His miraculous power through us to strengthen our own faith and display His power to others.But if we do not cast our cares on the Lord and give Him our fears, the fear will destroy us instead of the problem that God has already promised to take us through.<h3>The Takeaway&nbsp;</h3>When it looks like things are dark and there is no hope, always remember: the Lord is your light, your salvation and the stronghold of your life, so you have no need to be afraid. (Psalm 27:1).&nbsp;Truly, when you feel weighed down and weary from the pressures and trials of life, never forget Christ is eager to carry your burdens for you and He promises to give you rest for your soul (Matthew 11:29).Moreover, when you are overwhelmed and bombarded with never ending issues, just cast your cares on the Lord because He cares for you and will never let you fall or lose your footing (Psalm 55:22).When life gets tough and the only thing you want to do is hide, resist the urge to run away and instead, choose to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with you always.When you feel like you’re trapped and there’s no way out, remember God Himself will take hold of your right hand and He, your Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel, will help you (Isaiah 41:13-14).This means no matter how insurmountable, impenetrable or impossible your situation may appear, you don’t have to worry because God is your refuge, strength and ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). And when you pray to Him, He will answer and deliver you from all your fears (Psalm 34:4).

Fear Not: How to Fight Fear

Every effort a believer makes to improve their life will result in automatic opposition from the adversary. When God delivers us, the chief deceiver himself will visit us during our dry seasons to try and tempt us and lead us astray. Don’t get me wrong, the Bible clearly states evil spirits cannot dwell in dry places, but at the same time, we need to understand the enemy is persistent and strategic.<h2>How the Devil Tempts</h2>This means when the lower-ranking wicked spirits can no longer oppress or possess a person, they get help from their superiors. I mention rank because similar to the order we see in God’s domain, the kingdom of darkness also has a hierarchy of powers, principalities and spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12) that are hell-bent on wreaking havoc on the lives of all of God’s creation, whether they are believers or not.&nbsp;It is no secret the devil, the ultimate father of lies, is the head of this wicked empire that is the breeding ground for fear, torment and torture.Because of this, although God may cast various oppressive spirits out of a person, threats of relapse from the highest-ranking demon during their time of trial and tribulation should be expected as it is very much imminent and virtually guaranteed.Remember, the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and he will stop at nothing to rob a person of obtaining salvation. How can we be so sure, you may ask? Because Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who God sent to set the example for all His children, had to endure the tests of the devil during His wilderness experience.&nbsp;<h2>Jesus in the Wilderness</h2>“…The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”&nbsp; –Matthew 4:1-11 NIVIt was no coincidence that Satan showed up when Jesus was physically at His weakest. Christ had fasted to the point where starvation and severe dehydration would have already begun the process of ransacking His body.So what did the devil do? He offered him a basic necessity that Jesus’ natural body undoubtedly craved. Still, instead of caving into His fleshly desires, Christ harnessed strength from the Holy Spirit and refuted Satan’s temptation with the Word of God.Throughout the entire account, He employed this same strategy to refute Satan when he tried to tempt him. And guess what? The devil was eventually forced to flee.<h3>Resistance in the Midst of Temptation&nbsp;</h3>Casting down vain imaginations and bringing all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ is the ultimate tool God gives us to resist the schemes and plots of the devil (2 Corinthian 10:5).&nbsp;Even if a person feels they have no power to fight against temptation, they should not lose hope. Let me remind you, even the devil in all his destruction will not stay in a dry place; he will only pass through it. So if we, like Jesus, choose to meditate on the truth of God found in the scriptures, Satan, like his inferiors, will also have to keep it moving.&nbsp;Never forget, the enemy is looking for a place to find rest and grows weary too. This means if a person perseveres through prayer, fasting and reading the Bible regardless of their feelings and foreseeable circumstances, oppressive spirits will grow restless and move on.&nbsp;Even if you are in the midst of your dry season and feel like you’re losing the battle, remember God’s Word never lies and all of His promises will come to pass despite what you may be feeling at the moment. That being said, when you stand on His Word, which is Jesus Christ, the enemy will flee.

Resisting The Enemy

<blockquote>&nbsp;Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.–Romans 12:2 NIV</blockquote>When we live for Christ, we are transformed into new creatures, but the story doesn’t end there. After transformation, we are called to make the best of our fresh beginning by trusting God and submitting to His will. That is why He reminds us to guard our hearts, because everything we do is influenced by it (Proverbs 4:23).It is also noteworthy to recognize that the mind is the eyes of the heart. In fact, when the word heart is mentioned in scripture, it is often referring to a person’s thought life, rather than the mass of muscle pumping blood through their body.&nbsp;<h3>You Are What You Think</h3>In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon states: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Technically speaking, a man cannot think with his heart –or in it for that matter. However, the king, in all his Godly wisdom, recognized the intricate link between the heart and mind. He understood our thought-life –that is our will, emotions, intellect and imagination– ultimately dictate our outlook on reality.Hence, from King Solomon’s proverb, we can infer that constantly engaging &nbsp;in negative thinking will lead to a pessimistic worldview that makes it impossible to see the good in anything. &nbsp;The wise king understood if a person internalized negative perceptions, they would transmit the bleak reality they created in their minds to their hearts. This would ultimately harden it, making it difficult for them to express love, extend forgiveness and reach out to others.&nbsp;Of course, negative, fatalistic thinking is the perfect formula for loneliness, resentment and depression, leading a person into mental bondage and the destructive habits that accompany the dismal state.This means in order to “guard our hearts,” we must make a conscious effort to monitor the things we watch and listen to. Simply speaking, what we see and hear impacts how we feel and determines the decisions we make. If the things we expose ourselves to encourage destructive thoughts fueled by envy and strife, we will become miserable people.<h3>Casting Down Vain Imaginations</h3>The Word of God says in the fight for our minds, the weapons of our warfare are not physical. Instead, they are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.This simply means our enemy is not other people. That is why the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, urged believers to cast down arguments, vain imaginations and every high thing that tried to elevate itself against God’s knowledge. Not to mention, believers were also mandated to bring every thought into captivity into the obedience of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).How do we do this? By filtering every thought through the Word of God, which is the undiluted truth. In other words, you may feel ugly, but God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14.)Likewise, you may be convinced that all hope is lost, but the scriptures state God has a plan not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). This practice won’t come easy at first, but it is crucial in demolishing negative thought patterns and strongholds. &nbsp;

How to Renew Your Mind

<h2>Flirting with Fantasy</h2>Fantasy can be an enjoyable escape from stress, but what happens when the coping mechanism once used to distract from worries becomes an addiction that perpetuates the very issues that prompted withdrawal in the first place? You make a choice to wake up and quit daydreaming! In this blog post we will discuss the dangers of tuning out reality to engage in excessive daydreaming. <h3>Dangers of Addictive Daydreaming</h3><figure id="figure-kbuq7i368glm59y9xw"><img id="kbuq7i368glm59y9xw" src="https://cdn.durable.co/shutterstock/2HdXSiseyG8QZgEkVf9RqNwgkbBsWRoAye8BAzeJEktWo5RQb2WyIu001t0xwFrx.jpeg" alt="fantasy books" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="no-rounded" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/shutterstock/2HdXSiseyG8QZgEkVf9RqNwgkbBsWRoAye8BAzeJEktWo5RQb2WyIu001t0xwFrx.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>When I was younger, my number one goal in life was to be famous...literally. As a kid, I loved to sing and dance and I would do so obnoxiously to the annoyance of all my friends and family. We even shared an inside joke where if one of them attempted to tell me off for my random outbursts, I would scoff in fake offense, before telling them they would regret blowing me off after I got famous. The irony of all of this is even though we all laughed about it in the moment; I didn't even realize that somewhere deep inside of me I was dead serious.For a while, living in this dream world I created helped to distract me from my real-world problems. And whenever I found myself bored, or sad with my everyday circumstances, I would slip into the comfort of my subconscious and dream up an elaborate celebrity-filled life. But after some time, I realized in order to get the euphoric feeling I was striving for, I had to completely submerge myself in my fantasy world. This meant I constantly went over every intricate detail of the same thoughts for hours every day, just to ensure my "daydreams" were accurate and held some type of semblance to the public figures they were inspired by. <figure id="figure-22erosp6fllm59ybdl"><img id="22erosp6fllm59ybdl" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500602517813-4142fef80b29?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8ZGF5ZHJlYW18ZW58MHx8fHwxNjkzODU0Mzc5fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="fantasy movies" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="no-rounded" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500602517813-4142fef80b29?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8ZGF5ZHJlYW18ZW58MHx8fHwxNjkzODU0Mzc5fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Maladaptive Daydreaming</h3>If you are a chronic daydreamer like I was and got to the point where you were desperate to get your head out of the clouds, you may have stumbled across these words in your quest searching for solutions. Still, if you are not familiar with the term, but have experienced difficulty tuning into reality when life got tough, it may very well be the name of the thing fueling your incessant daydreaming and absentmindedness.&nbsp;Basically, maladaptive daydreaming is a condition where a person spends more than half of their waking life immersed in a story they have created in their heads. The term was coined by Israeli professor Eli Somer, who defined the disorder as “extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning.” Mental health experts note the condition is characterized by the following symptoms:1. Vivid daydreams with &nbsp;characters and settings&nbsp; 2. Fantasizing that is triggered by real-life events 3. Trouble completing everyday tasks 4. Difficulty falling and staying asleep at night 5. An impulsive urge to disassociate with reality&nbsp; 6. Performing repetitive movements while daydreaming 7. Making facial expressions while daydreaming 8. Whispering and talking while daydreaming 9. Daydreaming for a long period of time&nbsp;<figure id="figure-6jjf8j0bylm59ycg9"><img id="6jjf8j0bylm59ycg9" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1546521677-b3a9b11bee6f?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8ZmFudGFzeSUyMHZpZGVvJTIwZ2FtZXN8ZW58MHx8fHwxNjkzODU1NzA3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="fantasy video games" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="no-rounded" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1546521677-b3a9b11bee6f?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8ZmFudGFzeSUyMHZpZGVvJTIwZ2FtZXN8ZW58MHx8fHwxNjkzODU1NzA3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Escaping Reality</h3>Now if you’re anything like me, your mind may be running at a million miles per hour if you have experienced any of the symptoms above. Still, I want to assure you that regardless of how you may feel:1. You are not crazy &nbsp; 2. There are millions of people that are just like youIn fact, the difference between you actually slipping into insanity and nipping an unhealthy mental habit in the bud really depends on whether you choose to acknowledge that excessive daydreaming is a problem and whether or not you are willing to wake up, open your eyes and change the way you think. After all, the most accepted definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result.<figure id="figure-6jjf8j0bylm59ycg9"></figure><figure id="figure-nka0x3joylm59ydqc"><img id="nka0x3joylm59ydqc" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1523293836414-f04e712e1f3b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyM3x8ZmFudGFzeSUyMGVzY2FwZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTM4NTU3MDl8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="fantasy escape" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="no-rounded" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1523293836414-f04e712e1f3b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyM3x8ZmFudGFzeSUyMGVzY2FwZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTM4NTU3MDl8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>God's view on Disassociation</h3>While God gives us dreams and vivid imaginations, he did not design us to live in our heads for hours on end –and that's exactly what maladaptive daydreaming is.So what does his word say?Romans 12:2 NIV: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”Proverbs 12:11 NIV: “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”1 Peter 1:13 NIV: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”Isaiah 26:3 ESV: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”<h3>The Takeaway</h3>Let’s set the record straight. Daydreaming is completely normal, but excessive fantasizing is a symptom of a much larger problem. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, there are millions of people all around the world who are dragging through a less than satisfactory life and living out their desired reality through a fantasy they have cultivated in their heads. While this kind of behavior is expected and even tolerated in children up to a certain age, by the time a person grows out of their adolescence, they are expected to put off play-pretend and deal with whatever circumstance life brings their way. The elephant in the room is that a lot of grown adults struggle to do this, and just like some people turn to external substances like drugs and alcohol to fill the voids in their lives, others retract inwardly and use their minds to imagine a world abundant with the things their real life lacks. Both types of coping mechanisms are equally damaging and addictive.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-cy90qts4ulm59yhaz"><img id="cy90qts4ulm59yhaz" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1444703686981-a3abbc4d4fe3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxmYW50YXN5JTIwd29uZGVyfGVufDB8fHx8MTY5Mzg1NTcxM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="fantasy wonder" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="no-rounded" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1444703686981-a3abbc4d4fe3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxmYW50YXN5JTIwd29uZGVyfGVufDB8fHx8MTY5Mzg1NTcxM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>