Feeling Unheard, Mindsets, and Renewing the Mind
Most of the women that we help are alcoholics and addicts. There is a chasm between what they planned to do and what they end up doing (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201507/the-mind-addict). She may think, “If I can’t trust myself, then how could I trust God, or others to do the next right thing?” These women hear themselves talk the most and if they can’t believe themselves, how could they believe others? They may have never been able to trust anyone, because they have not received much cuddling, face-to-face time with an adult, and love for who they really are. Feeling unheard and feeling like they don’t deserve to be heard is a huge problem for at-risk women. They often see the cup half-empty instead of half-full and they may be waiting for the other shoe to drop. They may think, “tonight I will go ahead and drink, but tomorrow is another day.”
Last night these women may have decided they will not drink or use tomorrow, yet they wake up deciding the next morning there is no stopping the thought about the next drink or fix that they can attain, because they don’t trust their thoughts. One more time, they go ahead and take that drink or drug and then they end up not trusting themselves or others. Sometimes, this can be the one too many times and they don’t come back and totally lose their minds, wills, and emotions. They may end up losing their families, occupations, and their very lives. What can we do?
These women are teaching themselves to not believe their own thoughts. But what if these might not be their thoughts? According to Joyce Meyer, there is a “Battlefield of the Mind.” Satan wants to take these women out for good. 1 Peter 5:8-10 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Ephesians 6: 16 says, “. . . hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” The “fiery arrows” are the thoughts that the devil is just waiting around to throw into these women’s minds.
We at Reformation at the CrossRoads are teaching these women through counseling, Bible Study, mentoring, and how to change their neuropathways, which is all part of renewing their minds. This takes counselors, teachers, and curriculum (books, audio, lesson plans, etc.) which require time and money. We can use hands and donations to help us continue this work. We will be talking more about the curriculum in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information about this curriculum.
