Pattern to Life Through Christ & Heal (Pt. 2 of 2) | Christian Brain Retraining
In part one of this blog series, we explored what patterns are and how they help you heal. If you haven’t yet, start with part one and then meet me back here.
Now let’s dive deeper as we look at Jesus’ actual patterns and how you can embody these for yourself (and heal).
Patterning After Christ = Embodying Faith in Yahweh
Westerners are slowly coming around to the idea that the mind and body are intricately connected. In the same way, the spiritual and material realms are connected, too.
Previously, we talked about God (Spirit) right-ordering the formless world and taking it from chaos into organization, filling it with life (matter). Drawing upon this truth, I explained how following this right order, Christ’s pattern, will lead to full life and health. Re-patterning to Christ is a spiritual and material journey for each of us.
God’s healing pattern is acting on you as He transforms your being to be more like Him. And we need to learn to live from full reality—both spiritual and material realms—if we want to live the full life God intended for us.
This is just a teaser into getting the fullness of Christ into your body, so please head over to my YouTube channel to hear more on the topic!
Now let’s step into how to embody your faith in Christ. For example, how can you pattern your brain after Jesus to walk in health and freedom?
Jesus’ Patterns & Habits
When I began mimicking Jesus, my heart was not quite in the right spot. I was sick, desperate and merely trying to survive. Enlightened self-interest to reduce my pain and suffering was my first motivation.
But as I continued to seek Him through brain retraining, I practiced Jesus’ examples over and over again. My nous (spiritual receiver) was purified, and although I’m imperfect, I became more adept at discerning more of His patterns to follow.
Empowered by His Spirit of grace and holiness living inside me, He led me to reject anything less than Jesus’ patterns. My capacity to think of others and love them better grew as I grew stronger and spent less time in survival mode and more in Christ mode/thrive mode.
In the process, yucky old stuff broke off me—and I was healed. It was a snowball effect; as less sickness held me down in a self-protective survival mode, my heart became open to follow Christ’s pattern more. The more I followed His pattern, the stronger and healthier I became. And my capacity to abide in and pattern after Him only continues to strengthen more to this day!
So what kinds of patterns did Jesus demonstrate?
Jesus’s relationship with God came first, and He lived from His relationship with God. Here are some ways He did this:
Jesus asked: He brought his situation and concerns to the Father. (Matthew 26:36-46)
Jesus worshiped: He followed the forms of worship given by God to the Israelites. (John 4:22).
Jesus complied: He followed God’s commandments and lived a sinless life. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Jesus was patient: He exemplified His Father’s patience, being even more patient than we are sinful.
Jesus accepted His identity: He accepted His role and position and lived it fully. (John 5:24-30, 10:17-18)
Jesus resisted temptation: He faced human temptations but stayed true to the Father. (Matthew 4:1-11)
Jesus knew His worth: Jesus confidently knew and expressed how much His Father loves Him. (John 5:20, 10:17)
Jesus was dependent: He lived in complete dependence upon His Father’s love, power and direction. (John 6:57 — “I live because of the Father”)
Jesus prayed alone: He took time for regular focused conversation with God, often away from others even when they were in “troubling” circumstances. (Matthew 14:23, 26:36, Mark 1:35, 6:46-47, John 6:15, Luke 6:12)
Jesus faithfully obeyed: He obeyed His Father. He only did what He saw His Father do, nothing more or less. (John 5:19)
Jesus believed: He regarded the words of the Hebrew Bible as undoubtedly true, quoting scripture as proof many times. (Matthew 22:29)
Jesus gave: Because God values all people, Jesus respected all people as worthy of His time and attention and gave to them. (Matthew 8:16, Luke 4:40, John 15:30, 32)
Jesus humbly served: He never thought of Himself as better than anyone else, instead with His position and authority given He served other people. (John 13:1-7)
Jesus lived in bold righteousness: He boldly proclaimed righteous living and lived it even when it was not popular or dangerous to His welfare. (Matthew 3:15 — Jesus’ consent to being baptized foreshadows the fulfillment of all righteousness through the cross.)
Next Steps—How to Pattern After Christ
Now let’s get practical. How can you begin to pattern your life after Christ while using your brain retraining tools? How can you participate with God?
A lot of Christians talk about knowing their identity in Christ. And it’s a good thing. But to know your identity in Christ is not about reciting a list of qualities over yourself (blessed, holy, healthy, loved, accepted, etc). These patterns are functions for you to embody, to boldly put into action the personhood of your full humanity through Jesus Christ. This is what it means to put on Christ—through works of faith. Yep, I used the dirty word “works.” Let’s talk about the work that needs to be done.
The Bible tells us twice, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25, emphasis mine)
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life as He told us, but our “seemer” tries to knock us out of following His patterns. But I’m here to tell you that this spiritual receiver, the nous, is a real organ in your human being, and it needs to be exercised (worked) in the right patterns of Christ to be purified so that you can perceive love, truth and wisdom more keenly and walk in life.
When you can discern the right way to go, and God is promising you victory in your life in every area, then you can’t lose. You will live your fabulous life, rightly ordered and healthy. You will fulfill God’s purpose.
A structured brain-retraining practice is a discipline that will purify your nous. God will enlighten your darkness to walk in His spirit and inherit His promises. So come learn how to do this and get started today. If you are already in your brain retraining journey, I encourage you today to follow Christ’s pattern to further your enlightenment and to bring His Kingdom to this earth.
One simple way to follow Christ’s pattern today
Jesus gave us so many patterns to follow. For starters, I encourage you to choose one of His patterns listed above and apply it to your own life. But if you ever get stuck and don’t know how to apply yourself to His patterns, come back to this powerhouse example:
Love the person right in front of you. Whether it’s a stranger, friend or family member, love them. No matter who they are, choose to see them through Jesus’ eyes. They are the image of God Himself so giving to them is akin to giving to God. Perhaps you can give them your time and attention, listen to them as you want to be listened to. Maybe give them a compliment, encourage them that God loves them, pray with them, sacrifice your time and to-do list to help them today. Do this with the understanding that Christ’s purifying reality is acting on you at the same time.
This “simple” task of loving others is something God has given me, and the more I obey, the more tremendous fruit it has brought to my life and those around me—in health, relationships, peace, finances and ministry. Try it! Lean into Jesus and see what happens!
Friend, the final word is this: if you’re wanting to heal permanently and grow closer to the Lord, the patterns in your mind and life need to change. This isn’t legalism, it’s just the truth. And these changes can only happen by encountering and knowing Christ Himself more and more.
Jesus is the Healer. Following Him is easy (well, easier at least!) when you know His pattern and are actively seeking to know Him in every part of your life. Remember, you are engaging in spiritual warfare here. But the victory is yours through faith in Jesus. Christ is the power that sets you free.
If you feel like you have lost your connection with Christ no matter how hard you try, pray or read the Bible, I encourage you to reach out to me. By engaging in a disciplined brain retraining practice grounded in God, you can build your faith, pattern your life Christ’s way and reconnect with the Father.