020808

February 8, 2008

Renewing the Subconscious Mind

by Shana Schutte

I recently heard a story about a man who fought in Vietnam. After returning home to the U.S., he visited a friend. While there, the two men talked when someone suddenly started pounding on the door. Instantly, the man jumped from his chair, wide-eyed and shaking, then crouched behind the chair in combat position.

Of course, he wasn't in danger, but the noise reminded him of the war sounds of Vietnam. He reacted according to the beliefs buried in his subconscious.

The same thing can happen in our lives when we have experienced something traumatizing or painful in the past, and an event in the present triggers a surprising response. That's also why we can feel like the truths of the Bible are untrue. For example, even though we are overcomers (Romans 8:37) we can feel like we are not. Why? Because although our conscious mind may believe we believe we can tackle our problem, we will respond according to the beliefs in our subconscious, which are often based on lies. In short, our subconscious mind needs to be renewed for behavior to change. It has to catch up to the truth of who we really are in Christ.

This can feel overwhelming if we try to do all the work in changing ourselves. Thankfully, it's not ultimately our job to renew our conscious or subconscious mind. God just asks that we cooperate with Him by walking with Him and meditating on His Word (Romans 12:2). Thankfully, the Word is "sharper than any two-edged sword" and penetrates even to the dividing of soul (mind) and spirit, and it reveals beliefs that are buried (Hebrews 4:12). Our job is to expose ourselves to the "sword" of God's Word, so it can go to work on both our conscious, and subconscious, mind.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

(Romans 8:37)

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