Daniel Moore: 0:03
Why is being mindful of God's presence so critical? What is Satan's target? What is Satan's weapon? Well, this week we discussed that and more in our study on spiritual warfare. On this episode of Connecting the Gap, we continue our series to battle within overcoming the invisible war. This week we are on part 15. We'll be back right after this. And a word from our sponsor. They say that it is darkest.
chataboutjesus.com: 1:04
Right before the dawn. So remember, no matter what battle you are facing, what war is raging the dawn is coming.
Daniel Moore: 1:20
Prepare for battle, prepare for victory, prepare for battle, prepare for victory. Be sure to visit our sponsor's website at wearewarriorsapparelcom. Hey guys, welcome back. We've made it to another episode of Connecting the Gap. I'm Daniel Moore, the host for this podcast. Thank you, guys, for joining us this week. We've been in an extensive study for the last couple of months on spiritual warfare the battle. Within this week we are in episode 15 of that series and we've only got two more left to go after this one. And then we've got some awesome cool stuff lined up for after this series is over.
Daniel Moore: 1:59
So please subscribe and share if you want to make sure you catch all of that. As it happens here over the next couple of months and we'll be starting a new series later this summer as well Lots ahead of us here on Connecting the Gap. If you haven't checked out my merchandise shop yet, please do so. My website's connectingthegapnet. You can go there and check out our merch store. There's also a bookstore there. There's a page on how to be saved if you are curious about that, and, of course, a contact page. We'd love to hear from you guys. Reach out to us, let us know things you like about the podcast, maybe give us some ideas of things we can discuss in the future, but we'd just love to hear from you, so go check that out at connectingthegapnet. We're also on social media and you can find us on Facebook and X with the handle at ctgap online. Well, as I said, this week we are in part 15 of our series on the battle within overcoming the invisible war, and we're going to be getting close to wrapping up this series here within the next couple of weeks.
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Why is being mindful of God's presence so critical? Well, what I'm about to tell you may seem offensively simple, but it's indescribably important. Are you ready for this? Because I don't want you to miss it. If you forget God is there, you're not going to talk to him. That's simple, right.
Daniel Moore: 3:35
But it's also true when we fail to focus on God's presence, it becomes easy for us to neglect prayer and rely solely on our own strength and abilities, in our own self-sufficiency. We often forget the importance of seeking God's guidance and intervention that he has in our lives. This can lead us down a path of isolation, stress and limited perspective. In Philippians, chapter 4, verse 6,. It serves as a reference for this idea. The verse states Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. This verse reminds us that prayer is not limited to specific moments or situations, but should be a continuous and regular practice in our lives.
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When our thoughts and focus veer away from acknowledging God's presence, our lives quickly follow suit. We find ourselves relying on our own wisdom, facing challenges alone and succumbing to anxiety and worry. We may even question whether God is truly there for us. Can you guys relate? I know I've been there and I'm sure you have as well.
Daniel Moore: 4:51
However, when we become aware of God's presence and recognize His unfailing love for us, our perspective changes. We realize that we have the privilege to talk to Him, to share our joys and our fears and our desires. We understand that even in the most challenging times, we have a loving and caring God who is ready to listen and respond During difficult situations. We find peace and comfort in knowing that we can turn to God in prayer. We can lay our burdens before Him, knowing that he understands and cares deeply about our struggles. Through prayer, we experience the assurance that we are not alone in our circumstances. Recognizing God's presence in our lives encourages us to develop a consistent and ongoing prayer life. We understand that prayer is not merely a last resort or a desperate plea for help, but a constant line of communication with our Heavenly Father. We realize that prayer is a powerful tool that invites God to work in our lives, transforms our perspectives and aligns our will with His. If it is big enough to worry about, then it is big enough to pray about. If it's on your mind, then understand this it's also on God's heart. So what else can you do? We just need to get down and pray when negative thoughts begin to haunt and consume our minds, turning to prayer can be a powerful way to seek peace, clarity and guidance in our lives. To prayer can be a powerful way to seek peace, clarity and guidance in our lives.
Daniel Moore: 6:26
There's a few examples of negative thoughts that people commonly experience in everyday life, and here's a few of those. Maybe you have thought such thoughts as I'm not good enough, or I'll never succeed, or I always mess things up. You know those kinds of thoughts can weigh heavily on our self-esteem and destroy our confidence. Maybe you're worrying about the future, dwelling on worst-case scenarios or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of life, and it's leading you to a constant state of anxiety. Maybe you have thoughts like I'm afraid of failing, or maybe thoughts like I'm not safe or something bad is going to happen. Thoughts like this can provoke fear and they can also hinder us from moving forward.
Daniel Moore: 7:16
Comparing ourselves to others by thinking that I'm not as successful as they are or I wish I looked like them or everyone is doing better than me can breed discontentment and dissatisfaction with our own lives. You know, maybe you guys are having thoughts of past mistakes, dwelling on regrets and feelings of guilt or shame. They can consume your thoughts and they can prevent us all the time from experiencing freedom and forgiveness, and they can prevent us all the time from experiencing freedom and forgiveness. Negativity and pessimism will destroy you by constantly focusing on the negative aspects of situations, always expecting the worst or having a pessimistic outlook on life, and it can cloud our minds with negativity. Or maybe it's loneliness, you know, maybe you're having thoughts like I am alone or nobody understands me or I don't have anyone to rely on, and those thoughts they can create a sense of isolation and they can create sadness.
Daniel Moore: 8:17
In moments when these negative thoughts arise, turning to prayer can help shift our focus and invite God's presence and guidance into our lives. Through prayer, we can surrender these negative thoughts to God, seeking His wisdom, his peace, and he gives us reassurance of His unconditional love and grace. Within prayer, we can ask for strength, clarity and a renewed perspective, allowing God to work in our hearts and minds to overcome these negative thoughts and replace them with His truth and hope. You know, in my time on the prayer team at my church, and looking back on other moments in my life, I've learned that a lot of people don't even know how to pray. I mean, I was even in that category at one point in my life, and I'm still not an expert. You know, a lot of times they think do I address God as my omnipotent creator? Or they may be thinking is praying in King James language mandatory? Or do I have to sign off with the whole in Jesus name part? You know, is that old fashioned word hearken? Is that required? Well, I hope not, because I'm not sure what the word hearken even means. I have to look that up in the dictionary. The answer to these, of course, is no.
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There is a biblical way of praying, though, and we're going to take a look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane In this powerful example found in Matthew 26, 36-44, jesus demonstrates a biblical model of prayer. He pours out his heart to God, expressing his anguish, fear and surrender. However, he also submits to God's will, saying not as I will, but as you will. This shows the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty and aligning our desires with His divine plan in our prayers. In 1 Peter, 5, 6-7, peter encourages believers to humble themselves before God, casting all their anxiety on Him because he cares for them. This verse shows the significance of approaching God with humility, acknowledging His care and concern for our very well-being. It teaches us to bring our worries, our concerns and burdens before God, trusting in his love and that faithfulness that only he can provide with comfort and guidance.
Daniel Moore: 10:40
In Philippians 4, 6, paul advises believers to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, we are to present a request to God. This verse emphasizes the importance of bringing our worries, our concerns and needs before God in prayer. It encourages us to be specific in our request, expressing our heartfelt petitions to Him. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of a heart filled with gratitude, thanking God for His goodness, his faithfulness and the provision. Even before we see those answers come to our prayers.
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The principle that we have to put into action in our life is to pray harder and longer. If we prepare our heart, god will help us prepare for everything that life or Satan may try to throw at us. If we live out this strategy, we will find that we are less anxious and that we have more assurance through Christ. Prayer will remove panic and replace it with peace. Prayer works. Prayer absolutely changes things. Perhaps even more important is that prayer changes you. Prayer also will change your brain.
Daniel Moore: 12:00
Decades ago, neurologists believed that the brain's structure and function remained relatively fixed after adolescence. This concept, known as the static brain, suggested that the brain's neural connections and circuits were established during childhood and remain unchanged through adulthood. However, scientific advancements and research have shown that this belief is not true. Scientific advancements and research have shown that this belief is not true. Our understanding of the brain has evolved and we now know that the brain is highly adaptable and has the ability to change, which is a phenomenon that they call neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize its neural pathways, establish new connections and adapt its structure and function in response to learning, experience and environmental factors. It is a constantly ongoing process throughout our lives.
Daniel Moore: 12:54
Neuroplasticity occurs at several levels within the brain. First, there is structural plasticity. This involves physical changes in the brain structure. It encompasses the growth of new neurons or neurogenesis, that's, the formation of new synapses, which is synaptogenesis, and rewiring or strengthening of existing connections, which is dendritic branching. These structural changes can occur in response to learning, acquiring new skills, recovering from brain injuries or adapting to changes in the environment. Then there is functional plasticity. This refers to the brain's ability to shift functions from damaged areas to undamaged regions. If certain brain areas are injured or impaired, other healthy regions can take over and compensate for those lost functions. This process allows individuals to recover and regain lost abilities through rehabilitation or training. And finally, there's synaptic plasticity. Synapses, or the connection between neurons, play a crucial role in information transfer within the brain. Synaptic plasticity involves the strengthening or weakening of these connections, based on the activity and effectiveness of neuropathways. This process is influenced by factors such as repeated use of certain pathways, learning and the release of neurotransmitters that facilitate or inhibit synaptic transmission.
Daniel Moore: 14:29
Neuroplasticity is driven by various factors, including learning and practice, environmental enrichment physical exercise has an effect on it emotional experiences and even changes in thought patterns and behaviors by engaging in activities that challenge and stimulate the brain, such as solving puzzles or learning new skills, or even engaging in physical exercise, we can promote neuroplasticity and enhance our brain's adaptability. The discovery of neuroplasticity has significant implications for neuroscience, psychology and rehabilitation. It highlights the brain's incredible capacity for growth and change, offering hope for individuals recovering from brain injuries or dealing with neurological disorders. It also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, mental stimulation and healthy lifestyle habits to support brain health and cognitive function. So what does that all mean? Besides the fact it's a bunch of big, long words that we can barely pronounce, I really don't know, except that your brain is changing and prayer changes your brain.
Daniel Moore: 15:40
Dr Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist and researcher, has conducted studies focusing on the effects of prayer on the brain. In his book how God Changes your Brain, he explores the relationship between spiritual practices, brain activity and our overall well-being within prayer. His research suggests that engaging in prayer can have a measurable impact on the brain's chemistry and functioning. Engaging in prayer can have a measurable impact on the brain's chemistry and functioning. According to Dr Newberg's studies, prayer is akin to a physical workout for the brain. When individuals engage in prayer, certain brain regions associated with the tension and focus are activated. At the same time, activity in the agamagdala, which is related to fear and anxiety, decreases. This also helps to reduce stress and promote a sense of calm and peace. Furthermore, dr Carolyn Leaf, in her book Switch on your Brain, discusses the concept of neuroplasticity and how focused prayer can lead to significant changes in the brain. She suggests that engaging in only 12 minutes of focused prayer daily over an eight-week period can produce measurable changes that can be observed on a brain scan. Dr Leaf's research aligns with the broader understanding of neuroplasticity, which highlights the brain's ability to rewire and reshape itself in response to various experiences. Thoughts and behaviors shape itself in response to various experiences, thoughts and behaviors. By consistently focusing on prayer over time, individuals can reinforce neural pathways related to faith, gratitude and a sense of connection with God.
Daniel Moore: 17:16
Your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts. Worrying and toxic thinking will change your brain and will move your life in a direction that you really don't want to go. Prayer moves your life in a positive direction. We have to flip our thought process. When we are trying to do things for God or spending our times in prayer or Bible reading, we may get the thought but I really don't want to do this tonight.
Daniel Moore: 17:46
How many of you guys have been in that position? I know that I have many times. That's very common for that to happen because Satan and his forces, they, don't want us to retrain our brain, to want to pray, or even to study scripture. We have to remember, though, that we have to remember, though, that we have to push through those times and praise or rejoice anyway. We're going to take a break here for a moment and let our brain rest for a few minutes here from all of those long words and definitions that we just went through there. We're going to be back here in a little bit, and in second half of this week's podcast, we're going to take a look at Paul. We'll be back right after this.
chataboutjesus.com: 18:40
Have you ever been falsely accused, your reputation tainted, your good name besmirched, blamed for something you just didn't do? It leaves us shaken, angry and frustrated. We know we're being unfairly judged and don't deserve this treatment. Jesus knows all about that. When he went to the cross, he was dying for sins he had never committed. When he went to the cross, he was dying for sins he had never committed. The Bible says he never sinned, but God laid on him the iniquities or the sins of us all. Jesus died for the sins he didn't commit, so that you and I could be forgiven for our sins. Jesus needed to do this if we're to be able to be forgiven, as we have no other way of paying that price for ourselves. If you'd like to know how you can begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I invite you to call or text us at 888-NEED-HIM. That's 888-NEED-HIM.
Daniel Moore: 19:57
Welcome back to this week's episode of Connecting the Gap. I'm Daniel Moore, your host, and we are in part 15 of our extensive study on spiritual warfare the battle within overcoming the invisible war and this week we've been talking about neuroplasticity how our brain does change with the activities that we do, and that includes when we have our prayer time. If we pray and read our Bible, it's actually visible on brain scans. It is that consistent with the way that God created us. And, as I mentioned here before we left the first half there for that little bit of a break in the second half, let's take a look at Paul In Philippians, chapter 4, it states this verse highlights Paul's unwavering commitment to find joy in the Lord at all times. It reveals his perspective of focusing on God's goodness rather than his external circumstances.
Daniel Moore: 20:58
Acts 16, verse 22-25 narrates an incident where Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and thrown into prison. Despite this grievous trial, it is mentioned in verse 25 that about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them. This passage illustrates Paul's ability to praise God and find joy even in the midst of suffering and adversity. Through these two verses we can understand Paul's mindset and the reasons behind his ability to rejoice in difficult trials. First, paul recognized that his true source of joy was in the Lord. He understood that genuine and lasting joy comes from a relationship with God, not from external circumstances. Therefore, he intentionally focused his mind on God's goodness, god's faithfulness and his love, rather than dwelling on his current hardships. Paul sought to worship and to praise God. Additionally, paul's rejoicing was rooted in his unshakable trust in God's sovereignty and plan for his life. He understood that God was in control of every situation and that trials and sufferings were not meaningless but had a purpose. Paul's unwavering faith enabled him to see beyond his immediate circumstances and trust that God was working all things together for his good. Paul's rejoicing was not only a personal act, but also an impact on those around him. In Acts 16.25, it is mentioned that the other prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas as they prayed and sang hymns. Here, paul's unwavering faith and joyous attitude became a testimony to others, even in some of their most darkest moments. His praise and worship of God brought hope, encouragement and inspiration not only to his fellow believers, but also to those who were yet to know Christ.
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You know, I wonder if it is possible that you've been praying for God to show up for you in some way, thinking you'll be grateful and praise him when he does, while God is waiting for you to be grateful and praise him and he won't show up until you do as his word says. We must rejoice always. It's time for us to fix our thoughts on God, to give him praise for who he is, regardless of what he may or may not be doing. When we praise him, he will show up. If we change our thoughts, we change our lives. You know, craig Groeschel shared a story one time that kind of goes along with this topic.
Daniel Moore: 23:42
He said I have a confession to make. Well, actually he had two confessions to make. First, craig says I thought you were lying. Actually, I thought every single person on planet Earth was lying. Lying about what you ask? Well, the magic eye. Magic eye is the picture with little dots all over it that looks like nothing but a mix of colors. Yet some people, or actually many people, claim that if you look at it in the right way, then a 3D image will pop out. Suddenly, you're seeing a circus or horses or an eagle soaring through the sky. Well, craig said, I could never see the magic 3D image. So I thought everyone was lying. But his second real confession was he thinks he was a magic eye challenged. He accepted his inability as a cross that he would have to bear until one day when the stars aligned.
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On a family vacation he said he visited a wax museum which he wasn't really proud of. But amid all the wax statues there was, yep, a magic eye picture. So Craig decided that he had come to the museum for such a time as this. He was not going to leave until he saw something in 3D. He would die in that stupid museum if he had to. Craig said I needed a magic eye guide to lead me into the promised land. So I asked a teenager who worked there to help me.
Daniel Moore: 25:09
So he began to instruct Craig in a Bill and Ted kind of way. He said bro, you just have to kind of look like. Well, squat down, like you know, like you're about ready to catch a ground ball. Well, craig played ball. So he got down into the ready position. Then the kid told Craig Okay, bro, now don't look at it, you look through it.
Daniel Moore: 25:31
Well, craig was confused. How in the world do you look through it? Well, somewhat impatiently, the kid encouraged Craig you know, look through it, like not at it, like beyond it, look beyond, just look through. Well, craig says he looked through it. Like not at it, like beyond it, look beyond, just look through. Well, craig says he looked through it and he kept looking through it and he looked through it so long he thought he finally got drunk. He wasn't sure if he was technically really drunk, looking through a magic eye picture, but that's what happened to him. He said he was squatting ready to catch a ground ball, looking not at but through, like beyond. When it happened, three-dimensional dolphins jumped off that picture. Craig said he was so excited he threw up his hands in victory. He once was lost but now he was found. He was blind but now he could seed dolphins. Well, when craig threw his hands up in the air, he lost it. He lost the dolphins and he never saw them again. But there is no denying that what happened between him and that kid and that picture was real. He felt it, the dolphins felt it. He said my bro guide felt it. We may never meet again but we'll always have that wax museum.
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Craig said if you're a magic eye impaired like me, but want to have a dreamy rendezvous with some friendly sea creatures. He said let me be your guide. Look through or beyond there is no look at. He said developing magic eyes is all about perspective. Craig said when we practice God's presence, always mindful that he is near, we will pray. And when we pray, that leads us to praise. Praising God is all about perspective. A change of perspective leads us to praise God and praising God changes our perspective. Craig continued. The fourth tool that he's learned that has powerfully impacted his thinking in his life was the rejoice principle. Revive your soul, reclaim your life. Craig said I stay mindful of God's presence and I praise him. He said when I've had enough, I pray, putting my concerns in God's box. Craig said I praise God for the who, not the what, even when I don't want to. And Craig said when he thought like that, he had a sense that his perspective was changing. You know we talk about that. It brings up here the rejoice principle. We should now be able to see our perspective changing.
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In Philippians, chapter 1, verses 18 through 21,. Paul reveals his perspective. In response to his undesired circumstances, he says but what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true Christ is preached, and because of this I rejoice. Yes, I will continue to rejoice, for I know that, through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that, now as always, christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live as Christ and to die as gain. That's a huge statement.
Daniel Moore: 28:54
In these verses, paul's focus and perspective shift from his personal desires and circumstances to the greater purpose of proclaiming Christ. Although Paul desired to be in Rome preaching and not in a prison cell, he recognized that his current situation provided an opportunity for the gospel to be further spread. He did not allow his circumstances to hinder his ministry or dampen his spirit, but instead rejoiced in the fact that Christ was being preached regardless of his own limitations. Instead, rejoiced in the fact that Christ was being preached regardless of his own limitations Paul's ability to rejoice and maintain a positive perspective in the midst of challenging circumstances. That stemmed from his deep understanding and acceptance of God's sovereignty and God's providence. He trusted that God would use whatever situation he found himself in for his deliverance and for the advancement of the gospel.
Daniel Moore: 29:52
Additionally, in Philippians 4, 4-7, paul emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the Lord always. He says Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again rejoice, Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Here in these verses, paul's instruction to rejoice in the Lord is not based on external circumstances, but has a constant attitude of the heart. He encourages believers to bring their anxieties and requests before God through prayer and with thanksgiving. By doing so, they can experience the peace of God that surpasses understanding, even in the midst of difficult situations. From these passages, we see that Paul's ability to change his perspective from complaining to praising God was rooted in his unwavering trust in God's sovereign plan and his focus on the greater purpose of proclaiming Christ and his willingness to rejoice in the Lord always. By shifting his focus and trusting in God's faithfulness, paul was able to maintain a positive outlook and find joy, even in less than ideal circumstances.
Daniel Moore: 31:10
You know, I don't know what problems you may be staring at right now. You might have a big one, a complicated one, it might even be an annoying problem and I'm not trying to minimize your issue, because I know they are real. I've had them myself and I go through them all the time. But don't forget to look through. Look at the whole picture. Do you have family, friends, a church, your health, a home, food in the fridge, some money in the bank or, above all, your faith? Don't just look at what's wrong. Look at what's right. Maybe take a moment to write down all the good things, literally count your blessings and thank God for them.
Daniel Moore: 31:54
A change of perspective leads us to praise God, and praising God changes our perspective. We often see this in Psalms. The psalmist might begin by recounting what's wrong in his life. You know enemies are attacking he, is feeling rejected by by god. He's being falsely accused. You know he probably has spotty self-uncoverage. If we dig into it deep enough, then he commands himself. You know what? I'm gonna praise god anyway.
Daniel Moore: 32:24
In psalm 42, 5, it says why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in god, for I will yet praise him, my savior and my god. This verse shows a change of perspective. The psalmist acknowledges his current state of distress and discouragement, but he chooses to redirect his focus towards God and put his hope in Him. By recognizing the presence of God as the ultimate source of comfort and salvation, the psalmist's perspective shifts, leading him to praise God.
Daniel Moore: 32:57
In Psalm 103, 1-2, it says Praise the Lord, my soul, all in my inmost being. Praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all of His benefits. Here the psalmist urges his soul to praise God with all its being, emphasizing the importance of remembering God's numerous blessings and the benefits that he's given. By intentionally shifting the focus towards God's goodness and faithfulness, the perspective changes from dwelling on personal troubles to recognizing and praising God for his abundant blessings.
Daniel Moore: 33:30
In Psalm 146, 1-2, it says Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. This psalm here is a declaration of the psalmist's intention to praise God continually and for the entirety of their life. By choosing a posture of constant praise, the perspective is shifted towards an attitude of gratitude and awe towards God's enduring presence and God's faithfulness.
Daniel Moore: 34:02
In Psalm 42, 8, it says by day the Lord directs His love. At night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. In this verse, the psalmist acknowledges how God's love and song are always present, regardless of the circumstances. This change in perspective enables the psalmist to view each day as an opportunity to experience God's love and to worship Him in prayer and song. And finally, in Psalm 103, 19 through 22, it says the Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you, his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord. All his works are everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. These verses remind us of God's sovereignty and universal authority.
Daniel Moore: 35:01
When we shift our perspective to recognize God's reign over all creation, including angelic beings in the entire universe, it leads to offering wholehearted praise to God. All these scriptures in the Psalms demonstrate that when we consciously change our perspective from focusing on our own circumstances to acknowledging God's goodness, his faithfulness and sovereignty, it leads to praising Him. Conversely, by praising God, our perspective is transformed, allowing us to see beyond our immediate troubles and recognize His presence, love and provision in our lives. Thus, a change of perspective leads to praising God and praising God in turn changes our perspective. Praise, like prayer, affects the agamagdala, diminishing the fight-or-flight mechanism. The agamagdala diminishing the fight-or-flight mechanism. Worshiping God has even been shown to decrease heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose levels and serum markers of inflammation. Remember Dr Newberg, that brain scientist that we were talking about earlier. He has proven that praising and worshiping God leads to quantifiable changes in brain volume and metabolism. Being God leads to quantifiable changes in brain volume and metabolism, especially in a part of the brain called the cingulate vortex. It turns out an increase in the volume of the cingulate vortex results in increased capacity for compassionate thinking and feeling. So, basically, the more the cingulate grows, the more empathetic you become. You will feel more compassion for struggling people. Praise will change your perspective.
Daniel Moore: 36:37
Please remember that your mind is under attack. Don't drop your guard. You must be alert and vigilant. In 1 Peter 5, 8 it says Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to be vigilant and aware of the spiritual battle that we face. The devil seeks to undermine our faith and tempt us towards sinful actions or thoughts. By staying alert and having a sober mind, we can guard against his schemes and remain steadfast in our faith.
Daniel Moore: 37:14
In Philippians 4, 6-7, it says Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Here, the focus is on surrendering our worries and anxieties to God through prayer, by seeking God's intervention and pouring out our concerns to Him with an attitude of gratitude. His peace is promised to guard our hearts and minds. This peace acts as a protective shield, preventing anxious thoughts and distractions from compromising our spiritual guard. Then we have Ephesians 6, 10-18.
Daniel Moore: 37:55
This passage describes the spiritual armor that we've been discussing, that believers should don to withstand the schemes of the enemy. It encourages us to stand firm, gird ourselves with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, take up the shield of faith, wear the helmet of salvation, wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and remain prayerful in the Spirit. In James 4, 7, it says Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. By submitting to God and resisting the devil's temptations, we can maintain our guard and protect ourselves from falling into sin. We can maintain our guard and protect ourselves from falling into sin In 2 Corinthians 10, 3-5,.
Daniel Moore: 38:39
This passage speaks about the spiritual weapons at our disposal for tearing down strongholds and capturing thoughts that are contrary to God's truth. By actively engaging our minds and meditating on God's word and capturing every thought to the obedience of Christ, we can effectively guard against deceptive influences. Just remember we are not in this battle alone. God helps us, not drop our guard. He provides various means of support. He gives us the Holy Spirit, which guides and empowers us to discern truth from deception and grants us the strength to resist temptation. You can read about that in John 14, 26 and Galatians 5, 16. He gives us God's word, which serves as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us in righteousness and keeping us steady. That's Psalm 119, verse 105. God's faithfulness and promise is to never leave or forsake us. It provides confidence and assurance in times of spiritual warfare. You can read about that in Deuteronomy 31, verse 6, and Hebrews 13, verse 5. The body of believers, the church. They provide support, encouragement and accountability in our spiritual journey. That's in Hebrews 10, verses 24 to 25.
Daniel Moore: 39:56
Peace guards your heart and mind. Peace is preceded by prayer and praise. In a fight, you need to keep both hands up to protect yourselves. Think of one hand as prayer and the other as praise. We need to keep both hands raised.
Daniel Moore: 40:14
The devil's target is your mind. His weapon is his lies. He will never stop trying to deceive you. There are lies that he has been telling you your entire life. Right now, he is seeking out opportunities to tell you new lies. He is probably taking swings at you right now, as you are listening to this episode, and he will continue to take swings for the next days, months and years. So what do we do? We keep our guard up. We go to God with prayer and we go to God with praise, surrender and victory.
Daniel Moore: 40:52
Well, that's going to wrap it up for this week, for this episode of Connecting the Gap. This is part 15 of the battle within overcoming the invisible war. Remember that in our battle against Satan, he wants to depress us, he wants to give us anxiety, he wants to take away our peace and he wants to take away that feeling that we have that sure foundation in Christ and that nothing is going to work out for us and our foundation is going to crumble beneath us. But if we keep our hands up towards the sky, praying to Christ, praying to God, asking him to help us in these battles, in these times that we feel like we are being defeated, through prayer and praise we can defeat anything. That's when God moves. He moves with the prayers of his people. My word for you this week is to stay strong, stay on your knees and fight from that position. In that way, you cannot be defeated. I'm out of here for this week. Next week we'll continue this study as we're slowly wrapping this up. We've just got a few episodes left in this series. Hope you've been enjoying it. The transcripts for today is on my website at connectingthegapnet, as well as the transcripts for the rest of the episodes in this series. I'm out of here for now, until next week. Don't forget that God's word never fails us. God's word has stood the test of time and through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap.
Daniel Moore: 42:16
You've been listening to Connecting the Gap podcast. I'm Daniel Moore, the host for this podcast, and I personally thank you for listening each week. In this world, there are many disconnects that cause chaos in our lives. This podcast is birthed from the desire to share hope and restoration of the power of the gospel by being transparent and open in our biblical walk with God. Each week, we take a few moments as we navigate God's Word and peer into other people's testimonies and encourage each other to connect the gap.
Daniel Moore: 42:43
We upload a new audio podcast every Thursday and a video version of it on YouTube and Rumble. We are also on the Christian podcasting app Edify. You can subscribe to our podcast on many of the available podcasting platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, deezer, spotify, amazon Music, iheart Radio, tunein Radio and many more. We are also available on your Alexa enabled devices. If you would like to give us feedback or would like to contact our ministry for any reason, including prayer, visit our contact page at wwwconnectingthegapnet and send us a message. We hope you are blessed by this ministry. This is a production of Connecting the Gap Ministries.
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