Revelation Chapter 1, 2 and 3 call us to be overcomers. Have you read it? Take some time now and read it before reading on. They are hefty chapters to read but describe what our walk, as Christian’s, should look like. For a glimpse of your reward in full colour for eternity, should you choose to be an overcomer, read chapter 21 and 22 as well.

I have been a happy person most of my life because I make the choice to be happy. That absolutely, doesn’t mean I don’t get sad or angry or depressed because I do. I go through a process that is very helpful to me to overcome the bad thoughts, the bad habits and the bad actions I will take that I KNOW I am going to regret later! Jesus was an overcomer and we are too! It is easier than you think but it does take practice and perseverance!

Practice Recognizing Your Mental Status

One of the things I struggled with most of the time was failing to recognize, in a timely manner, my negative mental status before I did something stupid. With practice I was able to recognized it and change the way I was feeling/thinking! Mind you, it took some time to be able to do it but I persevered and am pretty quick at it now. I have gone from days/weeks to minutes! Memorizing 2 Timothy 1:7 really helps, For God did not give me a spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind. [Modifications mine] Power and love and a sound mind are ours to have because we have the Spirit living in us.

When my mental status is not good I would do my very best to recognize it as quick as possible and begin saying, “I do not have the spirit of fear in me but power and love and a sound mind.” There are other verses you can memorize such as Philippians 4:8; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 3:5 but 2 Timothy for me was fast and powerful. Recently, I have begun praying (Focus on Doing My Best Blog) over everything I do and I cannot tell you how much that has changed my mental status as well.

The only way we can change our thinking is to change our thinking! I know that sounds simply said but it is the biggest truth you will ever have to recognize. I know right now you are saying, “I cannot control what is in my head.” The Father says you can and, from experience, with full confidence I can say it too! Replace the negative thoughts filling your head and you will change the thoughts filling your head. Philippians 4:8 will be your train of thought if you make it so.

Practice Your Plan Prepared in Advance

Once I got mediocre at recognizing my down turn in thinking I discovered the need for rules of engagement during negative mental status days. I knew it was going to take some time for me to recognize it and change it so I needed a plan to avoid the regrettable things I would do. During the good times of thinking I knew that I would come upon one of those times when my thinking would spiral down so I devised a set of rules to save me. Engagement rule one was the most important rule for me: avoid any major decisions. Number two was no purchases above $25. Another rule was to avoid social outings if possible. I persevered at these rules and made new ones when warranted because I absolutely abhorred hurting people with my words or actions. It was during the implementation of these rules that I started writing life skills workshops (About me) to help me overcome.

I had nothing better to do in these times than to cry out to God. When you implement ways to assist in overcoming God starts talking. He revealed so many mysteries to me. Jeremiah 33:3 came to life to me (Read about that) and it will for you too. I cannot tell you enough – go to Elohim in prayer about this and He will help you recognize quicker and reveal to you what you need to do to overcome the negative and avoid the undesirable behaviours.

Practice Seeing the Insignificant Until it Becomes Significant!

The insignificant is the significant in this case. I was starting small to celebrate every single time I did something against what my self-serving soul wanted me to do. Every single time I made an advance in the direction of a sound mind I celebrated. I could see change almost every single day. I argued less, hollered less, spent less money, gossiped less and I cannot be sure but I think I hated people less too. I made a habit of seeing every insignificant step I made so I could document my progress. I needed to see my progress because I knew I would give up if I didn’t.

Each of us has to see our progress, as insignificant as it is, to remain encouraged about where we are headed. Job had heard of God, like we have heard of others who succeed at this, but Job went through all manner of negative mental statuses before God allowed him to ‘see’ Him. When Job was at the most receptive point in his struggle, God allowed him to see how deep His love is for Him and the world. When we persevere at seeing the insignificant, we can celebrate each one of them until we see the significance of God all around us. I cannot tell you how truly amazing that actually is, but as an overcomer, you can find that out for yourself.

You Can Do It Too!

Each day I dealt with my negative mental status, it became clear to me that using Scripture and God’s testimony was a major game changer. I tried in the past to use pithy sayings and quotes from people I admired but nothing changed my thinking faster and more permanently than the Words of God and the testimony of God. David said it perfectly in Psalm 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. This fact has given way to the person I am today and what I want to accomplish in His will. I am convinced you can use Scripture as well to mould your mind into the sound mind that God created in you. With practice and perseverance recognizing your negative thinking, using rules to control it and celebrating each success you too will be an overcomer and go beyond Heaven.