Reprogram your subconscious: How Neuroscience and the Bible Agree

Unlocking your brain’s potential!

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

In this blog post, I want to unpack some scriptures that address the mind and how neuroscience 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, which describes 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 wasn’t until the 1960’s and 70’s that it became common knowledge that the brain is plastic. 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 can be renewed (reshaped). When the mind is renewed, a transformation is happening in our lives that Paul describes as 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 scripture gives very specific instructions on how we should meditate on all these good things. The word meditate is likened to a cow chewing its cud. Mulling over positive, uplifting thoughts in your mind is a powerful way to overcome the negative bias that all of us humans deal with.

When I coach my clients, I guide them through a process to help them overcome this negative bias. Massive shifts occur when the brain is trained 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 pull yourself out of the negative bias, which, in turn, will make 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 to 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 first fires in the prefrontal cortex, and then an emotion fires from the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain. This means that the 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 can look at the thoughts we are having 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 from that belief level, you make your decisions and take action, which leads to 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, we can go back and change the beliefs 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 as the verse in Proverbs says, if we have these belief patterns running on autopilot in our subconscious, 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 set up a free call with me