The New Mind | Week 4: See the Pattern, Take Action
Our brains are wired to conserve energy, which is great for survival but terrible for long term growth and progress. (It also explains why the gym is empty again by the end of January.) If we want to become the people God designed us to be, it requires that we see the patterns in our lives and take action. Today, we’re going to talk about how to spend the limited energy and time we have on things that will bring a return.
Process, journal or discuss the themes of this article - here's a few questions to get the ball rolling...
Welcome to the Chaser–a few questions after the weekend service to start conversations and push a little deeper. Go on. Dive in.
Take a moment and recall the wisdom of Tome. “He who throws dirt, loses ground.” “He who lives in a glass house, should change in the basement.”
Take 3 minutes and quickly scour the internet for your own bite size chunks of wisdom. Share what you find that makes you laugh, or think. Whoever shares the the best one wins. (And gets to read the rest of the questions out loud.)
One of the keys of wisdom and increased energy is choosing empathy over judgement. What does empathy mean to you? When is it easy to choose? And when is it a challenge for you? Everyone share.
(If you’re looking to dive deep into empathy, watch this video as a group. Then, discuss.)
Read Proverbs 10:28. Thinking about the empathy conversation you just had, talk about this scripture. What jumps out at you? Does empathy make it easier to choose hope over doom? Does empathy complicate your thoughts on the “wicked who will perish?”
Another way to increase our energy is choosing forgiveness over bitterness. This one may be tough, but stay with it. On your phone or a piece of paper, take 2 minutes and list out some things in your mind that cause anger or bitterness. They may be a bad boss, a botched presentation, or someone that did you wrong.
Then, share that list with the group and the reasons why you still might be holding on.
Look around the group and think about what was shared. Then, taking turns, look to the person on your right and say this prayer.
(Name) you are not a bitter or angry person. I bless you with a spirit of forgiveness. May you have more energy, more wisdom, and a new mind this year. Amen.
After you finish up, plan who you’re gonna invite to the Super Bowl of Preaching.
More from the Weekend
That list of stuff that you’re holding on to? Yeah. You’re not done with it yet.
Keep it with you this week and every time your mind drifts to one of those things—write it down. See how much energy you spend on that list this week. And if you’re ready, consider choosing forgiveness and freedom. Just saying it out loud between you and God has power. Give it a try.
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(This stuff helps us figure out how many fruitcakes to make come December)
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Jan 26, 2019
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