BE EMPOWERED

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and includes the opinion of the author. Information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease. It is simply information found through experience and/or research. Always follow the directives of a licensed health professional. Neither Anita Bastian nor the publisher of the information takes any responsibility for actions readers take in regards to how they use or perceive the information. Readers are encouraged to do their own research.

We live in the information age. Information is made of words. Words can serve many purposes. Words can empower. Words may bring laughter or tears. Words can make you fearful or upset. With all of the information bombarding us, many people are left feeling confused and afraid.

In this article, we will see how vital it is to monitor the words we consume. I am going to take a journey through what I see happening in regards to words used in the messages we hear today. I will also share what I have found helpful to stay at peace, so I can keep calm and move on. If you’ve been feeling a little frustrated, confused, or fearful about what you hear or have seen on the various media channels, I hope you will read this article to the end. Blessings!

Question for you.

Are you letting others think for you? I’m sure most of you would say, “No.” I think for myself. Please read on.

When we are in a state of fear, our ability to think clearly and rationally is highly impaired, and we don’t even realize it! We can think we are making rational decisions, but our decisions may be driven by fear rather than sound judgment. Fear seems to cause rational people to do things they say they don’t want to do, because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t. Fear is one of the greatest marketing techniques and social pressure techniques utilized today. When you think about it, peer pressure is fear pressure. Fear is very powerful. It causes people to do things that deep down they know are not good. In essence, fear can cause people to let others think for them instead of thinking for themselves. Have you ever let others think for you? I know I have.

We can all raise our awareness of how fear may be impacting our thoughts and actions. If we never question the messages of the world, aren’t we limiting our lives to what others think?

What if fear is coupled with confusion?

 If we receive mixed messages, we become confused. We don’t know what to believe. We hear some “experts” say, “You have to do this.” Others say, “No, don’t do that.” It’s good for you. No, it’s bad for you. This is perfectly safe and effective. Oh, maybe it’s not as safe or effective as we thought. Ahhh! I don’t know what to do! The confusion this creates can contribute to fear. The combination of fear and confusion is a strange but effective marketing tactic.

How can confusion be an effective marketing tactic?

When we are confused, we turn to others for help. Who better to turn to than those we are told are “experts.” You don’t need to think for yourself. Let the experts tell you what to do. Trust them. We saw this used in 2020, and we still see it used today because it is so effective. The more you become aware of these sneaky tactics, the more you can see through them, question them, and not let them move you.

Generally speaking, I have noticed that if a message is repeated over and over again, it is likely that this message is something people want you to believe so that you will respond in the way they want you to. It is not necessarily the complete truth.

We need to take full responsibility for what we consume. We need to stop inundating ourselves with daily news that can be untrustworthy, social media that creates division and strife, and commercials that are sprinkled with powerful subtle messaging. We need to unplug as much as possible.

What we choose to listen to really affects us. Words affect our heart, soul, body, and mind.  I once heard it said that it takes 39 positive thoughts to replace or overcome one negative thought. Uffda! If that is true, we really need to guard our hearts and minds. We need to immerse ourselves in positive truthful thoughts, and not take in words that guide our thinking in a way that leads to fear and confusion. God is not the author of fear and confusion. The other guy is.

Imagine if we flipped our content-intake. What if we spent more time in God’s Word and less time taking in words from the world?

It is no coincidence that in God’s Word ,we find the words “Do not fear” or “Do not be afraid” around 365 times. God knows our tendencies. We need to be reminded every day to not be fearful. He also knows just what we need to overcome our fear. When we focus on what God says, it removes fear. Instead, we can be lavished with love and filled with peace.

To help me step into my day with a positive and uplifted mindset, I start with devotion, prayer, and time to meditate on God‘s Word EVERY SINGLE DAY. I need to. This habit helps keep me grounded. Then during the day when a little fearfulness creeps up on me, I can recall Scripture or say a quick prayer to help me reset.

Here are some of the verses that have helped me push through challenging times and kept me from being fearful. These are words that I have taken to heart and can readily recall to help me.

Trust in the LORD with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6 NKJV) All of us make so many decisions every day. Often, we aren’t 100% certain what to do or say in various situations. When we walk with God, we are not alone in making our decisions. We may still mess up, but our heart is set on serving Him and others out of love. We can trust that our ever-faithful and loving God will help us sort out what to do. If it looks like things aren’t going as planned, He will help us through that too. In these words, I find peace.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). There is such power knowing that through Christ I can do all things. His power strengthens me spiritually. I have found spiritual strength far outweighs physical strength. I know I am never alone. In these words, I find strength.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14 NIV) In these words I find hope and love.

The word “fearfully” in this verse does not mean fear as in afraid. Rather, it means “awe-inspiring.” When we think of how amazing our bodies are, we are struck with awe. We were created by an almighty God who deeply loves us and who has wisdom and power far beyond ours. Our bodies are far more complex than any high-tech electronic device that will ever be made.

All who know me know how near and dear this verse is to my heart. Having gone through multiple health struggles, I found these words to be truly transformative when I repeatedly took them in and chewed on them. When we praise God and acknowledge just how magnificently we are created, we can be filled with strength and hope. Our faith in God and how He made us can carry us through and open our hearts and minds to receive what will truly help us be well.

For me, it led me to make choices to use natural solutions that worked in harmony with how God created us. It also led me to remove or detox that which was hindering me from being who God created me to be.

I’d love for all people to know and fully appreciate just how amazing the human body is. How the body was created with mechanisms to allow it to reverse and recover from far more than we can imagine. God has created us in His image. Sometimes I think about how perfectly Adam’s and Eve’s bodies must have worked. They lived in a garden with perfect, fresh food. No pollution. No toxic herbicides or pesticides in their food. No radioactive elements or chemicals in their drinking water. They didn’t eat bread containing toxic leavening agents or consume toxic treats and candies. They enjoyed food the way God intended them to.

Fast forward to 2023. So many toxins have crept into our world. We live in a time when we are being driven to consume food products that are far removed from the way God created them. We are being told that plant-based is best. Yet, upon closer inspection, we can see that many plant-based food products are filled with a plethora of artificial, chemically derived ingredients. To date, there are no true studies showing that these man-made food products are superior to the ones God made for us. However, there are oodles of studies showing the negative impact of toxins in our food and water supply.

It is for this reason that I would love to see everyone learn about the power of detoxing. In order to thrive in this toxin-filled world, we have to be aware of the negative impact of toxins. Toxic words that lead us to be fearful or confused negatively affect all aspects of our being. Toxic food ingredients impair our brain function, and toxins in our water can cause dysfunction at the cellular level. God made us to shine like the stars. (Philippians 2:15) We can’t do this if toxins have wreaked havoc on our brains, our hearts, and our guts. Toxins can really dull our shine!

If you are having health issues, I encourage you to write the words of this verse down.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14 NIV). Memorize it. Say it multiple times a day every day. Let the Holy Spirit work through the word in your heart and mind. You may be surprised by the positive shift you make in regards to your faith and your physical health. If there was any fear about your condition, it can be removed. Your fear can be replaced with trust in the almighty God who made you. When you focus on praising God and how He has made you instead of on your condition, your mind and body will follow your thoughts. You can’t praise God and simultaneously feel miserable. As you renew your mind daily with these powerful words from Scripture, you are moving toward greater health in all aspects of your being.

It’s really no wonder why so many are struggling with health issues. We have unknowingly allowed ourselves to be taken by powerful marketing tactics and entities we thought we could trust. We consume toxins in our food and water daily. We are unknowingly believing many lies passed off as truth. When we get back to God, we find truth. We find hope. We find life. We can enjoy life to the full. 😊

We do not need to fear what is ahead, but we do need to guard our hearts and minds from negative messages that lead to fear, confusion, or apathy. Instead of daily reading social media posts or watching the news, I encourage you to read Scripture. God’s Word will never lead you astray. It will always serve to build you up, strengthen you, and protect you. It is a great use of your time.

Amen!

Keep on keepin’ on in God’s wisdom, power, and love,

--Anita