Change the Way You Think: Winning the Everyday Battles of the Mind

By Virginia Basye Carr

This Bible study will help the reader to learn how to control her thoughts and why that is necessary. It will accomplish this by identifying what the Bible has to say about thoughts and then reinforcing those points using interactive questions, personal application, and memory verses. The following quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson illustrates how important a person s thoughts are: Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. The foundation verses for this study are: 2 Corinthians 10:4 5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Release date: Oct 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781620200650

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Endorsements

Acknowledgments

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

WEEK 9

WEEK 10

About the Author

Change the Way You Think

Winning the Everyday Battles of the Mind

© 2011 by Virginia Basye Carr

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 9781935507826

Scripture quoted is in KJV unless otherwise noted.

Cover Design by David Siglin of A&E Media

Page Layout by Kelley Moore of Points & Picas

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Endorsements

What if in just a few short weeks, with biblical tips and down to earth reminders you could wage a war against doubt and self-defeat and all the things that leave you a road-weary warrior wondering what to do next? The answer is that you can and Virginia Carr offers you some light and some valuable perspective to help you with the task. Change the Way You Think is built on studied biblical principles and offered with a sincere desire to make your faith more real and your heart more aligned with the Will of God. This is your opportunity to set your mind free and all you have to do is Change the Way You Think!

~Karen Moore/Author of Wellspring 365 Meditations to Refresh the Soul

With powerful quotes, personal application, and in-depth study, Virginia Carr guides us on a journey of taking our thoughts captive in order to develop the mind of Christ. We don’t have to fall for Satan’s lies!

~Vonda Skelton, speaker and author of Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe

Taking control of our thoughts is not an easy task especially if we are operating from years of learned behavior. In Change the Way You Think, Virginia Basye Carr offers an in depth study that reshapes the reader’s thinking toward a sound biblical viewpoint. An excellent resource for personal or small group Bible study.

~Keiki Hendrix, The Vessel Project

Keiki Hendrix

Owner, VP Virtual

Editor, The Vessel Project

In Change the Way You Think, Virginia Carr has set forth a game plan for all believers that gives divine truth a luster and makes wisdom smile. The purpose of her book is to equip each reader with biblical solutions they can use to regain control of their thoughts and actions, to the glory of God and for the benefit of others.

As you read, be prepared for some changes in your life. These fresh, creative ways to walk the path of life will be helpful not only to fledgling authors but also to all followers of Christ our Lord, Who said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

When it comes to carrying out research, living the Message, and writing it with power for others to read, Virginia’s work is nonpareil.

~Norman B. Rohrer

Founder, Christian Writers Guild

Acknowledgments

To God, Who is not only able but Who also has done exceeding abundantly above all that I dared ask or think according to His power that works in me—to Him belongs all the glory.

A Bible study should be presented with clarity, confidence, and concern—concern for the participants in whose lives the author wants to make a difference. This book was made possible because a group of ladies wanted a closer walk with their Lord, and they allowed me to lead them through this study. I appreciate their feedback while we worked through the rough drafts. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Judy Erwin, Sallie Jayne, Linda Williamson, Barb MacCrae, Nancy Carroll, and Maralyn Kight. I could not have done it without you.

Thank you, Inez Parish, for proofreading the manuscript and Laurie Mitchell, for your design ideas. My friends amaze me, and I dearly love each one of them.

Thank you, Ambassador International. You were willing to take a chance with an unknown writer and, by doing so, have allowed me to publish my heart’s desire.

WEEK 1: Introduction

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return, and you may remain in ignorance.¹

—William Wirt

Day One

Someone once said curiosity killed the cat, but sometimes there are benefits to being the curious type. Are you fascinated with what other people find important enough to display on their refrigerators for anyone to see? I keep coupons, various magnets, a calendar, and a picture of my cat (God rest her). One day while visiting my brother, I became interested in all the photos of family and friends, newspaper clippings, and Scripture verses on his refrigerator, and I shamelessly perused the display. One scripture in particular caught my attention and spoke to my troubled spirit:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). Pay attention to that last phrase, as it sets the stage for our study.

Every time I visited my brother, I read and re-read those verses, puzzled as to how one brings a thought into captivity. After all, a thought is not a tangible thing. We can’t grasp it in our hands as we can a mischievous kitten and whisk it off to lock it in a cage.

At the time, my life was a mess because of negative thinking. Was it possible to change that? What an incredible challenge that would be—to bring every thought into captivity. What exactly was the Apostle Paul suggesting by such a statement? What was he referring to with casting down imaginations?

I knew within my own power I was helpless. I was afraid it would be useless to attempt to corral my every thought. I believed if I tried and failed, it would confirm to everyone that I was a failure. No, I couldn’t do it. There was no need to try. Still I wondered. . . . Each time I came close to thinking maybe I could do it, Satan’s imps danced around me, shoving No, you can’t; no, you can’t thoughts into my mind. Time and time again, when I would begin to see a hint of light on the horizon, a dark cloud of doubt would arise and take its place. Months passed. My darkness continued. Desperate, I finally asked God to show me how to apply this verse to my paltry life.

At the time I discovered these verses on my brother’s refrigerator, I had battled chronic depression for years. It had begun when I lost a job I loved and later worsened upon the loss of my marriage. I had accepted the distinct probability of needing antidepressants and counseling for the rest of my life. At times I considered suicide.

Today, however, I am a new person with a brand new thought pattern, a positive outlook (with Jesus how could it not be positive?), and no need for antidepressants or counselors.

Chomp! Chomp!

While I pondered the verses in Corinthians, two other verses kept coming to mind: Proverbs 23:7 and Philippians 4:8. To paraphrase the psalmist, a person is what she thinks. Paul advised the Philippians to think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. In 2 Corinthians 11:23–28, Paul lists some of the physical cruelty he suffered for the sake of the gospel. From verse 28 it would appear he also suffered mental stress brought on by the care for all the churches he started. This