Reprogram your subconscious: How Neuroscience and the Bible Agree

Unlocking your brains potential!

In my last blog post I talked about how insight from neuro science helps us live in freedom as Christians.

In this blog post I want to unpack some of the scriptures that reference the mind and how neuro science supports what the Bible teaches.

Just for clarity purposes here is the difference between the mind and the brain:

The brain is a physical organ:

• It’s a tangible, biological structure located inside the skull.
• Composed of nerve cells, blood vessels, and physical tissue.
• Can be touched, observed, and studied directly.
• Controls involuntary bodily functions and processes sensory information.

The mind is an abstract concept:

• It’s an intangible, non-physical.
• Comprised of thoughts, emotions, consciousness, and cognitive processes.
• Cannot be physically touched or directly observed.
• Responsible for conscious experiences, decision-making, and abstract thinking.

Renewing the Mind

• Romans 12:2 – Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
• Transformed: This is the ancient Greek word metamorphoo – describing a metamorphosis. The same word is used to describe Jesus in His transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3). This is a glorious transformation!
• The only other place Paul uses this word for transformed is in 2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

The neuroscience connection: Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt, supports this concept.

It hasn’t even been until as recently as the 1960’s and 70’s that it has become more common knowledge that the brain has plasticity. This means that the brain is pliable and can be reshaped even after your early twenties.

If we really understand what scripture says here in Romans 12:2 we see that neuroscience is finally catching up to what the Bible has been telling us all along.

The mind has the ability to be renewed (reshaped). When the mind is being renewed there is a transformation that is happening in our lives that Paul describes as being just as glorious as the transfiguration on the mount.

Overcoming Negative Thought Patterns

• Philippians 4:8 –Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

The neuroscience connection: The brain has a very strong negative bias. Therefore it is no wonder that we have very specific instructions in the scripture on how we should meditate on all of these good things. This word meditate is likened to a cow chewing on their cud. Mulling over and over in your mind the positive uplifting thoughts is a powerful way to overcome the negative bias that all of us as humans deal with.

When I coach my clients I have a process I take them through to train them to overcome this negative bias. Massive shifts happen when the brain gets trained in this way.

One of the ways you can do this is to begin, just like in this verse above, meditating on whatever is of good report in your life. Yes there will always be hard things we experience in life, but when we focus on what is going well in the midst of the hard it changes so much. This will help you to pull yourself out of the negative bias which in turn will make such a difference in how you engage with your life.

Emotional Regulation

• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

The neuroscience connection: Your thoughts create your emotions.

I know this verse is often used to talk about spiritual warfare and rightfully so. The specific part of this verse I want to focus on is take every thought captive. Why does it say take every thought captive and not every emotion captive?

The emotions we feel are often what we focus on. For example- we might be feeling anxious about something. So we get caught up in the anxiety and we can get stuck there. Or maybe we try and address the anxiety by praying more, talking to a friend, etc. While all of this is good, there is a key here that is really important to note.

Brain scans show that when we face a situation, a thought fires first in the prefrontal cortex and then an emotion fires from the limbic system- the emotional center of the brain. This means that our thoughts we think are what create our emotions.

What we get to do is grow in our awareness of our emotions and then view them as signals. Then when we feel an uncomfortable emotion like anger or loneliness, we recognize that signal and we can take a look at the thoughts we are thinking about ourselves or our situation. If those thoughts are negative or untrue, we get to address them and change them to what is good and true. Over time, this will help us to get unstuck.

Who you are:

Proverbs 23:7 – As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Neuroscience connection: Your thoughts about yourself are who you become

Your beliefs are formed when your thoughts combined with your emotions are repeated often enough. And out of that belief level is where you make your decisions and take action, which ends up being the results you see in your life.

So the scripture in Proverbs is true- as we think in our heart (mind) is who we become. If we are dissatisfied with our results then we get to go back and change our beliefs that we have about ourselves.

Common negative beliefs are:

• I’m not good enough
• Others don’t love me
• I’m a failure
• I’ve messed up too much
• I’m not worthy
• I’m not competent
• I don’t belong

Just like the verse in proverbs says, if we have these belief patterns running on automation in our subconscious memory, that is who we become.

In conclusion, the fascinating field of neuroscience has finally caught up with what the Bible has been telling us for centuries. By understanding how our brain works, we can unlock the secrets to living a more joyful, peaceful, and purposeful life.

As we continue to explore the connections between the Word of God and neuroscience, it is such a good reminder that God’s Word is indeed “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). When we combine what true science shows us with the infallible Word of God, we have a potent fusion of understanding that propels us into victory and freedom which allows us to live purposeful lives filled with deep satisfaction and fulfillment.

If you are ready to dive into learning how to reprogram the subconscious, Click here to get set up a free call with me