Thoughts Become Actions

Teachable Woman Podcast

Transcript: Thoughts Become Actions

Reverends Michele Owes and Diana P. Cherry

Rev. Michele Owes [00:00:00]:

Welcome to The Teachable Woman Podcast. I am Reverend Michele Owes, and I’m here with Reverend Diana P. Cherry. Together, we are Teachers of Good Things. We are so excited to have you with us today. Reverend Cherry, please greet our podcast family.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Hello, podcast family! It's a wonderful delight to be with you once again, and we pray that you will be blessed as we share what God has placed on our hearts.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen. In our last session, we shared that God is not concerned about outer appearances—He looks at the contents of our hearts, the thoughts, and the intents within. We focused on 1 Samuel 16, where we read about David being anointed king. Jesse, his father, was asked to bring all his sons to Samuel for the sacrifice, but he didn’t get David. Jesse only brought his older sons; when the eldest son came forward, he was tall and good-looking. Samuel thought, “Surely this must be the one,” but God said, “No, I have rejected him.” God clarified that man looks at the outer appearance, but God weighs the heart. Eventually, Samuel had to ask if Jesse had another son, and Jesse admitted, “Yes, he’s out with the sheep.” Isn’t it interesting that David, the one who men counted out, was the one God counted in?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:02:00]:

Yes, indeed. David, though described as ruddy and not as outwardly impressive as his brothers, had a heart that God could use. We must remember that sometimes we judge by outward appearances and make decisions based on what we can see, but God looks much deeper.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Exactly. We challenged everyone to weigh the contents of their hearts and to allow God to show us the hearts of others. Reverend Cherry, would you take us further into this teaching?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:03:00]:

Absolutely. In our last session, I gave you all an assignment: I asked you to monitor your thoughts for a week and reflect on what you’re thinking about. This exercise is important because our thoughts shape our actions. Today, we’ll be starting a new teaching on the importance of correct thinking. You see, our thinking, if not aligned with God’s will, can be one of the greatest enemies to our relationships with God, with others, and even with ourselves. We must develop correct thinking, as it is crucial to our spiritual and personal well-being.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen!

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:04:00]:

What I want everyone to know is that how we think is a choice. Since God gave us free will, we have the divine ability to choose our thoughts. Unlike animals, who operate on instinct, we humans have the unique gift of choice. Dogs bark, cats meow, and cows moo because they must do what they were created to do—they don’t have a choice. But God gave us the freedom to choose, and I call our will “the divine center of choice.” This will allow us to either obey God or go against His will.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes!

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

And that’s one of the challenges in our world today. People are constantly making choices, and not all of them align with God’s will. But the fact remains that we do have the ability to choose what we think, what we say, and ultimately how we act. As Christians, we have the responsibility to train our minds to think correctly according to God’s Word.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:05:00]:

That’s right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

We have the right, the responsibility, and the reason to think correctly. Philippians 2:5 tells us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” We can choose to have the mind of Christ, and that means aligning our thoughts with God’s Word. Correct thinking leads to correct words, and correct words lead to correct deeds. If we’re not careful, incorrect thinking will result in unkind and ungodly words, and those words will manifest in our actions.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Absolutely.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

So, we must take responsibility for our thoughts, and in doing so, we take responsibility for our actions. Our thoughts shape our words, and our words shape our deeds. It all starts in the mind.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:06:00]:

I love that you said we have a responsibility. I think that’s not highlighted enough in today’s world. Many people don’t realize that we’re playing the long game in life, especially in raising children. We’re not just responding to a moment but shaping a lifetime. How we manage our thoughts and actions today can affect the entire course of someone’s life.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Absolutely. It’s about thinking beyond the moment and realizing the long-term impact of our choices. And as you mentioned earlier, correct thinking isn’t about going along with the crowd or doing what everyone else is doing. It’s about asking God, “What would You have me do in this moment?” Often, what we think we should do is the total opposite of what God would instruct us to do because, as Scripture tells us, His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:07:00]:

That’s right. Our thoughts are limited and often self-centered, but God’s thoughts are higher. And if we pause to ask Him, He will guide us in ways we wouldn’t have thought of ourselves.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. We have to be willing to surrender our thoughts to God’s will. When we start to feel our emotions rise—when we feel the anger coming, or the frustration building—that’s our cue to pause and call on the Lord. Our bodies give us warnings when something is about to happen, and that’s the perfect moment to surrender to God’s wisdom.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, and sometimes the most powerful response is silence. There’s gold in silence, especially when we know our thoughts or words could lead to destruction.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:08:00]:

Yes, taking thoughts captive is so crucial. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” What does that mean exactly? It means that we must be intentional about evaluating every thought that comes into our mind. Not every thought we think is from God, and not every thought is beneficial to us. Some thoughts need to be thrown away immediately.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Exactly.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Sometimes, we hold on to harmful thoughts, which start to shape our mood, words, and actions. When you allow a thought to linger that doesn’t align with God’s Word, it begins to affect how you feel. And what happens when you feel a certain way for too long? You begin to act out of that emotion.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so true. Our emotions are powerful, and if we let them run wild, they can lead us into situations that God never intended for us. But when we recognize that a thought is out of line with God’s truth, we have the power to stop it right then and there.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:09:00]:

Exactly. We are not helpless when it comes to our thoughts. The enemy would love for us to think that we’re powerless, that once a thought comes, we have no choice but to follow it. But that’s a lie. We have been given the authority in Christ to stop negative thoughts in their tracks and replace them with the truth of God’s Word. This is what it means to take our thoughts captive.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen! And I love how practical this is. You’re saying we can make a decision in real-time. Right in the middle of whatever we’re going through, we can pause, evaluate the thought, and decide, “Is this from God or not?”

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes! And once you make that decision, you must replace negative thoughts with truth. Here’s a practical example: Let’s say you have a thought like, “I’ll never get through this” or “I’m not good enough.” As soon as that thought comes, you have a choice. You can let it fester, or you can immediately recognize that it’s not from God. Then, you replace it with the truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) or “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). You replace the lie with God’s Word.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:10:00]:

Yes, that’s powerful. And it’s something that everyone can do if they’re intentional about it. We don’t have to be slaves to our thoughts. God has given us everything we need to think correctly and live in victory.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Absolutely. But it takes discipline. Correct thinking isn’t something that happens by accident. You have to be deliberate about it, and that’s why it’s so important to know the Word of God. You can’t replace a negative thought with the truth if you don’t know the truth. So, we need to be in our Bibles regularly, meditating on the Word, and allowing it to shape the way we think.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, and I know for me personally, I’ve had to catch myself many times. There are moments when negative or fear-based thoughts try to creep in, and I have to remind myself of God’s promises. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary if we want to live the abundant life God has for us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:11:00]:

That’s right. And I want to add that taking thoughts captive isn’t just for when we’re feeling down or discouraged. It’s also important when things are going well. Sometimes, pride or complacency can slip in, and we need to capture those thoughts too. Thoughts like, “I don’t need God right now,” or “I can handle this on my own,” are just as dangerous as thoughts of fear or insecurity.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, yes. Pride can be very subtle, and before you know it, you’re operating out of self instead of relying on God.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. So we need to stay vigilant, guarding our minds at all times. When we’re constantly submitting our thoughts to Christ, we’re staying in alignment with His will for our lives.

Rev. Michele Owes:

And the beauty of this is that it becomes a habit over time. The more you practice taking thoughts captive and replacing them with God’s Word, the easier it becomes. Your mind starts to be renewed, as Romans 12:2 says. You’re transformed by the renewing of your mind, and you begin to think like Christ.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:12:00]:

Amen! It’s a process, and God is patient with us as we grow. He knows we won’t get it perfect every time, but the more we seek Him, the more our thoughts will align with His thoughts.

Rev. Michele Owes:

And the more peace we’ll experience as a result. There’s so much peace that comes from knowing that your thoughts are in alignment with God’s truth. You don’t have to be tossed around by every emotion or circumstance. You can stand firm, knowing that you’re grounded in God’s Word.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, peace is one of the fruits of correct thinking. When your mind is focused on God’s truth, there’s a peace that surpasses all understanding, as Philippians 4:7 says. It’s not dependent on your circumstances—it’s a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control and you’re walking in alignment with Him.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:13:00]:

Yes, we’ll dive deeper next time. But before we close, I want to leave everyone with something practical to do. One of the best ways to start renewing your mind is through gratitude. When we thank God, we are shifting our focus from what’s wrong to what’s right. We’re focusing on the goodness of God instead of the lies that the enemy is trying to feed us.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so good. Gratitude is powerful. It changes your perspective and your attitude.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Absolutely. When you wake up in the morning, instead of allowing your mind to go to the stresses of the day, start by thanking God. Thank Him for waking you up, for His protection, for His provision, for His love. Whatever comes to mind, just thank Him for it. You’ll notice how your whole mood changes when you start with gratitude.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:14:00]:

Yes, and that’s something we can all do. No matter what’s going on, we can find something to be grateful for. And when we do, we’re positioning ourselves to hear from God more clearly. When your mind is focused on what He’s already done, it’s easier to trust Him for what’s next.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. And trust is key. When you’re in a mindset of gratitude, you’re reminded of God’s faithfulness. You begin to realize that if He brought you through before, He’ll bring you through again. That’s how we build our faith.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen. Gratitude and faith go hand in hand. The more we thank God, the more we recognize His presence in our lives, and the stronger our faith becomes. It’s all connected.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:15:00]:

Yes, and that’s why I love the Word of God so much. It’s all connected, like you said. Gratitude, faith, trust, peace—it’s all part of the same journey. And the more we practice these things, the more we’ll see God move in our lives.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so true. Well, Reverend Cherry, I just want to thank you for this powerful conversation today. I know it’s blessed so many people, and I’m looking forward to continuing this series.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Thank you for having me, and I’m excited to continue this journey with you and with everyone listening. God is doing great things, and I can’t wait to see the transformation that will come as we all renew our minds and align our thoughts with His truth.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen to that! And to everyone listening, make sure you tune in next time as we go even deeper into this topic. There’s so much more to unpack, and I know God has something special for each of you. Thank you again, Reverend Cherry, for being with us today.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

My pleasure. God bless you all!

Rev. Michele Owes [00:16:00]:

Alright, everyone, that’s all for today’s episode of “Teachable Moments.” Remember to take some time this week to practice gratitude and to capture your thoughts. Until next time, stay blessed and stay encouraged. Goodbye!

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Rev. Michele Owes [00:16:00]:

Alright, so we’re shifting gears now. I want to go a little deeper into something you touched on earlier, Reverend Cherry. You mentioned the power of the mind, and I know we’re going to cover more of that in our next episode, but I wanted to talk specifically about how we can start recognizing the thoughts that don’t line up with God’s Word.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, that’s such an important question, Michele. Because the reality is, the enemy is subtle. He plants thoughts in our minds that seem normal or even helpful, but they can actually be destructive. So, we need discernment to recognize when a thought is from God and when it’s not.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so true. It’s like, sometimes we don’t even realize we’ve been believing a lie for years. It just becomes part of how we think and act.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly! And that’s why the Word of God is so crucial. It’s our measuring stick. Every thought we have should be compared to the truth of the Word. If a thought doesn’t line up with scripture, we need to reject it. But here’s the challenge: many of us don’t spend enough time in the Word to even know when a thought doesn’t align.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:17:00]:

Ooh, that’s good. Spending time in the Word gives us the discernment we need to know the truth from a lie.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, it does. And it’s not just about reading the Bible casually; it’s about meditating on it, allowing it to saturate our hearts and minds. When we do that, we build a strong foundation. And when the enemy tries to throw a lie at us, it won’t stick, because we’re grounded in truth.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, because the enemy is constantly trying to feed us lies, isn’t he? Whether it’s through media, other people, or even just our own self-doubt. If we’re not careful, those lies can take root.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:18:00]:

Absolutely. The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy. He’s after our peace, our joy, and our confidence. And one of his primary tactics is deception. If he can get us to believe something that isn’t true, he’s already won half the battle. That’s why we have to be so vigilant with our thoughts.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s powerful. So, how do we begin to uproot the lies we’ve been believing? Because like you said, some of us have been living with these lies for so long, we might not even recognize them anymore.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

The first step is prayer. We need to ask God to reveal the lies we’ve believed. Sometimes we don’t even know we’re walking around with thoughts that are contrary to His Word. But when we ask the Holy Spirit to show us, He will. He’ll bring things to the surface that we didn’t even realize were there.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s a great starting point—asking God to open our eyes to the lies.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:19:00]:

Yes, and once He reveals them, we have to replace them with the truth. This is where scripture comes in again. For every lie the enemy has planted, there’s a truth in God’s Word to counter it. So if you’re believing the lie that you’re not enough, you go to the Word and remind yourself that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. If you’re believing the lie that you’ll never be free from your past, you find the truth that says, “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so good. It’s about intentionally replacing the lies with God’s truth. You can’t just leave an empty space once the lie is uprooted.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. You have to fill that space with the truth. And here’s the thing: the more you do it, the easier it becomes. At first, it might feel like a battle. You might have to remind yourself of the truth multiple times a day. But over time, as you continue to speak God’s Word over your life, your mind starts to align with it. And eventually, those lies lose their power.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:20:00]:

That’s encouraging, because I think sometimes we get frustrated when we don’t see change right away. But it’s a process, right?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Oh, absolutely. It’s a journey. Renewing your mind is not a one-time event; it’s a daily discipline. Every day, we have to be intentional about what we’re allowing into our minds and what we’re meditating on. But the good news is, with God’s help, we can change the way we think. And when we change the way we think, we change the way we live.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so true. I love that you said it’s a daily discipline because that takes the pressure off. We don’t have to have it all figured out overnight.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. It’s step by step, day by day. And God is patient with us in the process. He knows we’re going to mess up sometimes. But He’s always there, ready to guide us back on track.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:21:00]:

That’s such a comforting thought. God’s grace is truly amazing. No matter how often we fall, He’s always there to pick us back up and help us move forward.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, and we need to remind ourselves of God’s grace daily. It’s easy to get discouraged when we feel like we’re not making progress fast enough, but His grace is sufficient. He’s not expecting us to be perfect; He’s just asking us to trust Him and keep moving forward.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen to that. And for anyone listening who feels stuck, I want to encourage you today—God’s grace is enough. No matter what you’re dealing with or how long you’ve believed the lies, God’s grace is bigger. And like Reverend Cherry said, it’s a process, but it’s a process that God is walking through with you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:22:00]:

Yes, you’re not in it alone. God is with you every step of the way, and He’s committed to your transformation. He won’t give up on you, so don’t give up on yourself.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so good. So, as we get ready to wrap up, Reverend Cherry, what would you say is one practical step someone can take this week to begin renewing their mind?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

One practical step is to start journaling your thoughts. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes at the end of each day and write down the thoughts that dominated your mind that day. Were they thoughts of peace, or were they thoughts of fear? Were they aligned with God’s Word, or were they contrary to it? This is a great way to become more aware of what’s going on in your mind.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:23:00]:

That’s so good because awareness is the first step. If we’re not aware of our thoughts, we can’t do anything to change them.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. And once you’re aware, you can start taking action. You can take those negative thoughts to God in prayer, and you can find scriptures that speak the opposite of those lies. And little by little, you’ll begin to see a shift in your thinking.

Rev. Michele Owes:

I love that. Journaling is such a simple yet powerful tool. It really helps you see patterns in your thinking that you might not notice otherwise.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, and it’s something anyone can do. You don’t need anything fancy, just a notebook and a pen. But it can be life-changing if you commit to doing it consistently.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s a great tip. Alright, we’re just about out of time, but Reverend Cherry, I want to thank you again for joining us today. This has been such a rich conversation, and I know it’s going to bless so many people.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:24:00]:

Thank you, Michele. It’s been a blessing to be here, and I’m excited about what God is doing through this podcast. I believe lives are being transformed as we speak.

Rev. Michele Owes:

I believe that too. And for everyone listening, thank you for joining us today. Remember, renewing your mind is a process, but it’s one that God is walking with you every step of the way. This week, journal, pray, and meditate on God’s Word. And don’t forget to join us next time as we continue this conversation.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, I’m looking forward to it. God bless you all.

Rev. Michele Owes:

God bless!

**Rev. Michele O

Absolutely, let's continue with the transcript from minute 16 to minute 26 without interruption:

Rev. Michele Owes [00:16:00]:

Alright, so we’re shifting gears now. I want to go a little deeper into something you touched on earlier, Reverend Cherry. You mentioned the power of the mind, and I know we’re going to cover more of that in our next episode, but I wanted to talk specifically about how we can start recognizing the thoughts that don’t line up with God’s Word.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, that’s such an important question, Michele. Because the reality is, the enemy is subtle. He plants thoughts in our minds that seem normal or even helpful, but they can actually be destructive. So, we need discernment to recognize when a thought is from God and when it’s not.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so true. It’s like, sometimes we don’t even realize we’ve been believing a lie for years. It just becomes part of how we think and act.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly! And that’s why the Word of God is so crucial. It’s our measuring stick. Every thought we have should be compared to the truth of the Word. If a thought doesn’t line up with scripture, we need to reject it. But here’s the challenge: many of us don’t spend enough time in the Word to even know when a thought doesn’t align.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:17:00]:

Ooh, that’s good. Spending time in the Word gives us the discernment we need to know the truth from a lie.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, it does. And it’s not just about reading the Bible casually; it’s about meditating on it, allowing it to saturate our hearts and minds. When we do that, we build a strong foundation. And when the enemy tries to throw a lie at us, it won’t stick, because we’re grounded in truth.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, because the enemy is constantly trying to feed us lies, isn’t he? Whether it’s through media, other people, or even just our own self-doubt. If we’re not careful, those lies can take root.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:18:00]:

Absolutely. The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy. He’s after our peace, our joy, and our confidence. And one of his primary tactics is deception. If he can get us to believe something that isn’t true, he’s already won half the battle. That’s why we have to be so vigilant with our thoughts.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s powerful. So, how do we begin to uproot the lies we’ve been believing? Because like you said, some of us have been living with these lies for so long, we might not even recognize them anymore.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

The first step is prayer. We need to ask God to reveal the lies we’ve believed. Sometimes we don’t even know we’re walking around with thoughts that are contrary to His Word. But when we ask the Holy Spirit to show us, He will. He’ll bring things to the surface that we didn’t even realize were there.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s a great starting point—asking God to open our eyes to the lies.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:19:00]:

Yes, and once He reveals them, we have to replace them with the truth. This is where scripture comes in again. For every lie the enemy has planted, there’s a truth in God’s Word to counter it. So if you’re believing the lie that you’re not enough, you go to the Word and remind yourself that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. If you’re believing the lie that you’ll never be free from your past, you find the truth that says, “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so good. It’s about intentionally replacing the lies with God’s truth. You can’t just leave an empty space once the lie is uprooted.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. You have to fill that space with the truth. And here’s the thing: the more you do it, the easier it becomes. At first, it might feel like a battle. You might have to remind yourself of the truth multiple times a day. But over time, as you continue to speak God’s Word over your life, your mind starts to align with it. And eventually, those lies lose their power.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:20:00]:

That’s encouraging, because I think sometimes we get frustrated when we don’t see change right away. But it’s a process, right?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Oh, absolutely. It’s a journey. Renewing your mind is not a one-time event; it’s a daily discipline. Every day, we have to be intentional about what we’re allowing into our minds and what we’re meditating on. But the good news is, with God’s help, we can change the way we think. And when we change the way we think, we change the way we live.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so true. I love that you said it’s a daily discipline because that takes the pressure off. We don’t have to have it all figured out overnight.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. It’s step by step, day by day. And God is patient with us in the process. He knows we’re going to mess up sometimes. But He’s always there, ready to guide us back on track.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:21:00]:

That’s such a comforting thought. God’s grace is truly amazing. No matter how many times we fall, He’s always there to pick us back up and help us move forward.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, and that’s something we need to remind ourselves of daily—God’s grace. It’s easy to get discouraged when we feel like we’re not making progress fast enough, but His grace is sufficient. He’s not expecting us to be perfect; He’s just asking us to trust Him and keep moving forward.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen to that. And for anyone listening who feels stuck, I want to encourage you today—God’s grace is enough. No matter what you’re dealing with, no matter how long you’ve believed the lies, God’s grace is bigger. And like Reverend Cherry said, it’s a process, but it’s a process that God is walking through with you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:22:00]:

Yes, you’re not in it alone. God is with you every step of the way, and He’s committed to your transformation. He’s not going to give up on you, so don’t give up on yourself.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s so good. So, as we get ready to wrap up, Reverend Cherry, what would you say is one practical step someone can take this week to begin renewing their mind?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

One practical step is to start journaling your thoughts. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes at the end of each day and write down the thoughts that dominated your mind that day. Were they thoughts of peace, or were they thoughts of fear? Were they aligned with God’s Word, or were they contrary to it? This is a great way to become more aware of what’s going on in your mind.

Rev. Michele Owes [00:23:00]:

That’s so good because awareness is the first step. If we’re not aware of our thoughts, we can’t do anything to change them.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Exactly. And once you’re aware, you can start taking action. You can take those negative thoughts to God in prayer, and you can find scriptures that speak the opposite of those lies. And little by little, you’ll begin to see a shift in your thinking.

Rev. Michele Owes:

I love that. Journaling is such a simple yet powerful tool. It really helps you see patterns in your thinking that you might not notice otherwise.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, and it’s something anyone can do. You don’t need anything fancy, just a notebook and a pen. But it can be life-changing if you commit to doing it consistently.

Rev. Michele Owes:

That’s a great tip. Alright, we’re just about out of time, but Reverend Cherry, I want to thank you again for joining us today. This has been such a rich conversation, and I know it’s going to bless so many people.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry [00:24:00]:

Thank you, Michele. It’s been a blessing to be here, and I’m excited about what God is doing through this podcast. I believe lives are being transformed as we speak.

Rev. Michele Owes:

I believe that too. And for everyone listening, thank you for joining us today. Remember, renewing your mind is a process, but it’s one that God is walking with you every step of the way. Take some time this week to journal, pray, and meditate on God’s Word. And don’t forget to join us next time as we continue this conversation.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, I’m looking forward to it. God bless you all.

Rev. Michele Owes:

God bless!