Thirst with Sheryl: season 2- Holistic Change

Stop It!

Thoughts are important because they directly influence our emotions, behaviors, and decisions, essentially shaping our perception of the world and dictating how we navigate life; Listeners, “what we think" becomes "what we do," so we need to make our thought patterns, a powerful tool for creating positive change or overcoming challenges. 
Now for our Action Step:
Identify the thought you need to change
When you get the thought, say “STOP IT!” say it out loud or to yourself, but say it. This will stop the irrational thought; you cannot think 2 thoughts at the same time!
As we learned in episode, 3 ANTs or Automatic Negative Thoughts, make a covenant with God by turning the negative or irrational thought into an affirmation. REMINDER: IF YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO EPISODE 3, PLEASE GO BACK AND TUNE IN; 
If this thought is stopping you from completing a task, turn your attention back to what you are trying to do; if you are not trying to complete a task and you are just having this thought, use your imagination to turn that negative thought into a positive vision. For example: imagine yourself laying on a beach in the warm sand with the sun beaming and the ocean waves flowing in and out.
Calmly repeat this process every time you get an unhealthy thought.

ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts)

I want to discuss 5 ANTs or automatic negative thoughts.
Always Thinking: This happens when you think something that happened will always repeat itself. He’ll never stop drinking or getting high
Focusing on the Negative: this occurs when your thoughts only see the bad in a situation and ignore any of the good that might happen. -He is late picking me up, which means I’ll be up all evening cooking dinner; (not realizing he is late because he stopped to get her a dozen of roses to give her when he pulls up)
Fortune-telling: this is when you predict the worst possible outcome to a situation. -I’m not wearing this dress because people will laugh at me or think I look inappropriate.
Mind Reading: this happens when you believe you know what another person is thinking when they haven’t even told you. A lot of people do mind reading and more often than none, it gets them in trouble. -She didn’t say good morning to me today; she is mad at me.
Thinking with your feelings: This occurs when you believe your negative feelings without ever questioning them. - I probably won’t get the job anyway so I am not going to apply.

Setting the Tone

Action Step: 
Write down in your notebook or journal the challenges, attitudes or mindsets that have gotten in the way of your progression. 
Find the scripture in the bible regarding the challenge/attitude/mindset.
Write it down. Writing it down creates a Personal Connection to the material, further aiding memory retention.
Read it out loud 3 times. This is called Active Engagement. Writing information down forces you to engage actively with the material rather than passively reading it. This active involvement helps reinforce memory retention.

Begin with the End in Mind

Holistic is defined as encompassing the whole of a thing, and not just the part; as far as this podcast, the spirit, soul, & body; all 3 and not just one.
So, we are setting out to begin our journey and there are some essential requirements that are necessary: (don’t worry, not for this episode, but for upcoming episodes)
Your Bible
Notebook or journal
Pen/pencil and highlighter
Intentionality-to be deliberate, conscious & purposeful
Faith- Heb 11:1 TLB version says faith is the confident assurance of something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it ahead.
Expectation- a strong belief that something will happen 
Let me bring to your attention 3 sneaky distractions:
Listening & not doing. And yes, we should be listening & doing/participating.  There is no since in listening and not doing! How are we going to make a holistic change without acting! Remember, I said that one of the items listed above that we need for each of these podcast sessions is faith. James 2:14 NLT version says What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? The scripture also goes on to say in verse 17 that Faith without the works is dead and useless.
Listening in an area or room that is cluttered.  Clutter creates visual distractions, constantly drawing your attention away from your study material, making it harder to stay focused on the task at hand. 1Cor 14:33 NIV says God is not a God of disorder but of peace. Some Christians believe that maintaining a clean and organized space reflects God's order and discipline in creation.
Unbelief/Doubt. I pray that everyone that is listening to this podcast, is not only a believer, but also believes that God’s Word is true? This will also be a distraction if you think that the bible is just a story book from the past about how this great guy named Jesus walked the earth healing and performing miracles. Heb 13:8 NIV says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  This means that healing is still taking place, deliverance is still taking place, miracles are still taking place! The bible is not a la carte, where you can pick & choose what is true.
Listeners, if you want to see and experience a holistic change, in the spirit, soul and body, then true change begins internally; it starts by what’s on the inside of you. If you want to see change outwardly, it has to begin on the inside…your attitude, thoughts and expectations. 
 

Thirst For Holistic Change Trailer

In each of us lies a profound desire—a thirst for a holistic change that honors God and transforms our spirit, soul, and body."
Welcome to Thirst for a holistic change, where every step of your journey is intentional and each choice brings you closer to wholeness. 
I’m your host Sheryl Tyner and this podcast is intended to give you, the listener, droplets of information to set you on a path to a healthier, more whole & restored “you”
So, if you want to quench your Thirst for a holistic change, join us on January 19th with a community of believers committed to living fully, authentically, & joyfully.  Embrace the journey & transfigure your life through Christ. This, is your moment to Thrive!
music credits: Music by Aleksandr Abrosimov from Pixabay

Emphasis on the Outro

It has been 53 episodes of Thirst with Sheryl.  We started out a year ago & it was made known that the podcast sessions were dedicated to my beloved mother, Alice Harriston, who went home to be with the Lord on October 15, 2023. 
I then set out on the journey of doing a weekly podcast, with God’s help beginning, December 26, 2023 ending with this podcast on today, December 16, 2024…53 episodes! God has been faithful and has kept me through many challenges with my work, health & my personal life.  To God be the Glory!
Hebrews 2:1 NIV We must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away.
2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Let Everything that has Breath!

Have you ever thought about the fact that you have breath, in your lungs, in your body, when you wake up?
Therefore you can function!
Do not take this for granted!
And because we have breath in our lungs, what better thing is there to do, than to praise him, by saying, thank you God for waking me up this morning? 
We are the recipients of the benefit of new mercies, that God gives us, every morning.
Lam 3:22-23 ERV
says the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness
.

Our Only Guarantee

This is what the Holy Spirit told me, “Sheryl there is not one human that you can totally trust in; I don’t care if it is your family, friend, spouse, Pastor. & Guess what, they can’t totally trust you either; But you can trust & depend on Me!”
Ps 118:8 Easy Read Version
says, It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people. The KJV says it like this, It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
 
Action step:
1. Ask God to help you fully understand this and to allow Him to be placed as a higher priority in your heart;
2. Listen to this podcast episode again;
3. Affirm: Lord you are my only guarantee and I place my confidence in You!
Remember: Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV says Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Complete Forgiveness

Will you choose to mend?
Listeners, we are deep into the season of autumn; and the falling leaves, serve as a natural reminder that letting go is a necessary part of life's cycle, making room for new growth and renewal. Just like trees shed their leaves to prepare for spring growth, we too as born-again believers must shed our bitterness, resentment, & holding of grudges to make room for spiritual growth.

His Mercy

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV says The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Steadfast according to Merriam-Webster,  means firmly fixed in place, immovable, and not subject to change
.  Therefore, God’s love for us is firmly fixed in place, immovable and not subject to change
. I want listeners to get that fixed in your mind! The verse continues by saying his mercies never come to an end.  Mercy is not receiving something you do deserve.