Think Again!

Chapter 6: The Father’s Philanthropy • 65

what Christians have known for years: we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rom. 12.2). 34

The human brain is made up of real, physical, electromagnetic, quantum, and chemical flow that switches groups of genes on or off in a positive or negative direction based on our choices and subsequent reactions. Since our bad reactions have been wired in by our choices, they can also be wired out. Our DNA changes shape according to our beliefs. Thinking destructively wires in toxic DNA that damages the body and the mind. On the other hand, DNA codes can be reversed by thoughts of love, joy, appreciation, and gratitude. 35 Because we are made in the image of God, we can stand outside our feelings and exercise control over our response to stimuli. We can decide how to interpret the meaning of events and avoid being a victim of our circumstances. Like a person looking in through a window, we can observe a traumatic event and cause its harmful effects to wither and die, replacing it with a healthy perspective based on God’s truth. The substance of toxic memories in our brains can be weakened, replacing damaging mental events with the Word of God. Neurons that don’t get enough attention start falling apart, destroying the emotion attached to the trauma. In their place, dopamine (which increases focus and attention) and serotonin (which increases feelings of peace and happiness) start flowing, leading to the formation of new brain connections. 36 Despite what anyone says, you are not controlled by your heredity! Because of the Father’s philanthropic design, you are not stuck being the person you are today. While the genes you inherited do give you a predisposition to certain behaviors, they are not your destiny! Your thoughts can change the structure of your brain at every level: molecular, genetic, cellular,