It is a fact of life that we all go through suffering at some point in life. This issue is, what do we learn from it? How do we take the disappointments of life to build us up, make us stronger, increase our influence, grow in our trust in God?

Many times, we hear about the miracles. We celebrate the successes. We are drawn to God showing up big. But, what if there is something better on the other side? Did you know that the greatest act in the history of mankind was the result of unanswered prayer?

“I think it’s time for our relationship to reach the next level.” This is usually code for it’s time for us to get sexual. Also, there is question of how many times do you go out before you have sex with someone. In this podcast, we get very real and very candid about sex. Ken shares everything that he wishes he had known and hopefully it helps you avoid some of the mistakes he made in life. If you are married, he also gives suggestions on how to rekindle your flame.

Look at the circle of people you have in your life; do you think you can rely on them when the going gets tough? Do they challenge you and make you a better person? If you don’t have those people, how do you find them? What do you look for?

If friendships and relationships were bricks, then trust would be the mortar that holds them together. How do we develop that trust in a healthy way? How do we know that someone is trustworthy? Link to see Relationship Attachment Model: www.encountercommunity.church/podcasts/2022/2/17/how-to-build-trust-without-breaking-your-heart

We have seen the story too many times. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl jump into a relationship far too quickly. Boy and girl break up because they never truly knew one another. This is not just true of dating and marriage. What is the secret to truly knowing someone and being known by someone?

Everyday, we face a battle right between our ears. The lies we believe not only impact our responses, emotions, and actions. They can create negative character traits that cause us to struggle. Have you ever been frustrated because you try to change but continue to fall back into old patterns? Today, we wrap up the winning the war in your mind series by looking at practical tools to reclaim our brains back from the lies that believe.

Negative experiences of our past tend to color our perspective on the circumstances of our present. How do we disarm the pattern of thinking that can undermine our success, relationships, friendships, career, etc? Grab a pen and be ready to take notes on what can lead to your breakthrough.

If our greatest battle is in our mind, how do we change our thoughts? How do we drown out the lies that hinder our lives? This week, is a week we rediscover hope and break free from that negative train of thoughts that hinder and defeat us.

Our thoughts are powerful. They change our perspective, impact our decisions, and influence our habits. But what do we do when we become trapped by our thoughts, unable to escape negative and unhealthy thinking? Let’s learn what it means to win the war in our minds. Questions for the thought audit: DEFENSE (protecting your mind): Are my thoughts tearing me down?Do I think worried thoughts?Does my self-talk cause me to shrink back in fear?Do my thoughts cause me to keep people at a distance?Are my unhealthy thoughts keeping me from the life I want?Are my unhealthy thoughts keeping me from the life God wants for me?Are my thoughts negative, toxic, or self-deprecating?Does my inner voice tell me I’m helpless or that life is hopeless?Do I find myself skeptical of others? [Your Notes] Do I lean toward imagining worst-case scenarios? OFFENSE (moving towards God): Are my thoughts building me up?Do I think peaceful thoughts? Does my self-talk inspire me to take faith risks? Do my thoughts help me get closer to others? Do my thoughts reflect my faith? Are my thoughts God-honoring? Do my thoughts reflect my hope in Christ? Do they inspire me to believe I can make a difference in the world? Do they equip me to become more like Jesus? Do my thoughts connect to the vision God has for my life? Groeschel, Craig. Winning the War in Your Mind (pp. 23-26). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To contact Ken: [email protected]