If the process of hacking means gaining access to a data system to undo or redo something, let’s venture into our souls that way.
We have an inner data system of “spirit, soul and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) that includes mind, will, and emotion; the intricate and mysterious human system. I wonder if we can “hack” it to begin to undo what’s embedded and bring in new data.
I have a friend who had a sad miscarriage and swam in grief for about a year. It began to define her. She couldn’t seem to get above water. They couldn’t get pregnant again. It was drowning her, sloshing her usual outgoing self. In a prayer time with someone, she decided to give the miscarried baby to God. She felt that opened up space in her heart. They conceived shortly thereafter! Of course, this isn’t and won’t be everyone’s story.
But I’m interested in going after the expectations or demands that we unknowingly hold in our souls and that consequently keep us from joy. We all hold expectations that aren’t unveiled until we find ourselves in deep disappointment. Then we can decipher our assumptions.
One of my hacks from my early days of faith realigned my perspective. I had read of Joni Ericson’s accident that put her in a wheelchair for life and I wondered how I would have handled that. As I faced a new day, I would imagine this fate as an alternative to what God was holding before me that day. It shocked me into praise, accepting what my day held and walking into it with Him. It was a helpful exercise giving me perspective to choose what to allow in my thoughts and what attitudes to take on.
We can intentionally carve new pathways in our brains that defy our defaults. In my coaching practice, I often refer to carving out a new path in the jungle of our souls. The old path is still there luring us. It’s much easier, already beaten down from use. But if we want change we have a choice to carve a new path by new heart & mind habits.
“…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God.”
Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV
Refusing the old path, we stand and consider the new way. (For example, instead of an uncontrolled outburst, we can pause to pray, ask a question, or breathe).
We can
- reverse the spiral of self-disdain to value what God has made
- flip the switch from self-protection to curiosity and care
- triumph over triggers by acknowledging visceral reactions and looking underneath them to be transformed
Sounds easy until you try it! Our heart and mind habits are deeply engrained and will take work and practice to hack into our souls. Just as an athlete envisions and drills toward excellence, we will need to envision and practice a new path. We are given the choice and the power for this as we work together with God.
“…present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.”
Romans 6:19 ESV
We are under obligation to live by the Spirit. It’s our choice to walk in His power! Romans 8:12
What is one spiral, switch, or trigger that you’d like to hack into in your soul data system?
“You [God] desire truth in the innermost being…”!
Psalm 51:6 NAS