Lesson Five
Automatic Negative thoughts, What is that?

Many suffer with anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness, which deep seated, will
go into depression to even suicidal thoughts.   So if you struggle with
depression and suicidal thoughts,   I would suggest seeking medical attention.   
The experience of abortion thrusts one into post-partum which may produce
many hormonal and chemical changes.

You will go through a grief process after your abortion - most woman do.  But I
ask you, where does one go for healing?  Most woman just think they are in a
state of depression without mentioning the abortion to the medical doctor.   
Without a healing process for the abortion many suffer for years.   So continue
with both, and you will see God's healing power will lift your darkness.

My depression and darkness was really deep for the first six months.  I was
fifteen - I learned to bury my emotions and learned to laugh on the outside,
while I felt like I was dying on the inside.   After the healing process and
freedom, I learned what God thought of me.  I countered my ANTS or automatic
negative thoughts with the Word of God and challenged the automatic negative
thoughts; slowly I worked my way out of that dark place in my life; but it took
work and building myself up to overcome this, with God's help.

A good first step is to read over the information and identify what your self-talk
is telling you.   Follow this lesson day by day and you will turn your life around.   
You may need medication to overcome your depression so seek medical
attention too, but also work on your ANTS.....  I believe when you find healing
with this study, you may see that your depression lifts for you.  I remember the
day that it lifted I felt like a butterfly - so light with no cares in the world; it was
the best feeling of my life.


ANTS: Automatic  Negative Thought System


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Automatic Thoughts just seem to come into your mind without any
effort.

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Distorted Thoughts are always supported by the things you know        to
be true to you.

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Unhelpful Thoughts keep you feeling depressed, and make it difficult to
change.

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Believable  - You accept them as facts and do not question them.

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Involuntary - You do not choose to have these negative thoughts,
which are very difficult to stop.

When your brain automatically thinks a negative thought, you believe it without
even stopping to think. What does God say about this situation?   Is this really
true?  

This ANTS,
automatic negative thought system is like multiple freeways built into
your brain, which always assumes that this is how it is going to be without
challenging the system.   The Word tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “ to take every
thought  captive.”    You have thirty seconds every time you think a negative
thought to redirect it in your brain.    Can you change the direction of your
thoughts?  Sure you can.  First, take every thought captive and then make a
conscious effort to counter challenge what is the opposite of the automatic
negative thought pattern.  

Example:  ANT = I feel so worthless!  -    Take those negative thoughts captive:  
My worth is in Christ: He said that I am precious in His sight.  I was created by
Him.  He loves me.  He gives me worth.  

Your self-talk, reiterates the words spoken upon you as a child.  “I am stupid or
lazy.  Nothing ever good comes my way.”   When parents or teachers spoke this
upon you over and over as a child, you internally absorbed their negative talk.  
You must obtain a different prospective for you to believe differently about
yourself.   Words have power! Spoken words seed negative thoughts in us;
thus, to establish a Godly perspective of yourself, you must ask:  What does
God say about me?   Is this really true?

Will this take work?  Oh yes, it will.  Do we just settle on negative thoughts,
ANTS?  
Find out what God thinks of this situation.     Question your negative thoughts?  

If you want something new in your life, you have to do something you
have never done before or do what you’re doing now, differently.    
 

Awareness is the first thing to recognize you have negative self-talks in your
life.  God is so amazing as He made our brains so that we can take our thoughts
captive in the first thirty seconds, before we run on the ANTS of the brain.  

CHALLENGE YOUR ANTS:
STOP AND ASK ONE OR ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS:



1. Are these really the true facts here?

2. Am I jumping to conclusions?

3. Am I blaming myself for something that is not really my fault?

4. Am I taking things way too personally?

5. Am I expecting myself to be perfect?

6.  Am I overestimating the chance for disaster?

7. I am assuming I can do nothing to change my situation?

8. Am I trying to predict the future?

9.  What does Jesus think about this situation?

10.  Am I trusting God to help me to see things in His eyes?



Keep a journal of the negative thoughts that enter into your thought process.  
Those that repeat over and over are the first ones that can have the potential
to change.  Find a scripture that will help you to overcome this thought
process.  


Example: If fear plagues you counter it with:  2 Timothy 1:7  “For God hath not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  


Speaking out loud will re-route your brain connection to the Truth of the Word.  
Keep in mind, this is a process and will take time; however, God is faithful to
help you change.  

Say the truth until you believe it; eventually, you will say it
because you believe it.   

Saying the truth before you believe it is not pretending is
practicing.   by Chip Judd


Feel free to email me your ANTS that  plague you... Keep in mind  you are not
alone we all deal with ANTS.....
Elisha's Home and Ministries
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