Brain ANTS

 A few weeks ago our Pastor did a really good message on brain ANTS. If you just read that and thought what? Then you know how I felt when he first said it--lol. 

🐜 ANTs is an acronym for Automatic Negative Thoughts. Before I dive in let me give due credit to DR. Aaron Beck as our Pastor did--it's his list and work. Pastor preached a message on it and included Scripture. I'll make the disclaimer that I don't know that much about Dr. Beck, so I'm sharing this because it helped me but I do not necessarily agree with everything Dr. Beck says/stands for.

Let's admit it. We all have more negative thoughts than we want to own up to. At least I struggle with them. And it's not just about other people, more often I find myself thinking negatively about myself--or criticizing myself.  What's the solution for this? Does the world have the answer right that I just need to think more positively about myself and have a higher self-esteem? The Bible says no.  Romans 12:3,

"For I say to every man that is among you, through the grace given unto me, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

 

We are neither to wallow in self pity, (I'm a failure. I'll never amount to anything,) nor are we to think highly of ourselves, (I am good enough, I can do this because I am smart). The answer is to recognize the ANT (automatic negative thought/thinking) for what it is and go the Scripture to refute it.  God has given us the most powerful tool on earth and/or in heaven to defeat all of Satan's lies--His Word: the Truth. 

ANTs are a result of our fallen nature. Our thoughts are important. They are the foundation of our actions. Here is Dr. Beck's list of 9 brain ANTs:

🐜1. Always Never Thinking. 

"She always does that. He never listens."  This thinking is rarely accurate and emphasizes negative feelings and destroys relationships and demolishes hope. Think depression--my situation is never going to change.

🕮Truth: People and circumstances can change. Nothing is impossible with God.  Matthew 19:26 and Philippians 4:8.

 

🐜2. Focusing on the Negative.

"No one cares anyway; so it doesn't matter." Blowing the "bad" out of proportion and focusing on it only.

 🕮Truth: You can choose what you think on.  Psalm 34:1 and Romans 8:28.

🐜3. Fortune Telling.

Predicting the worst possible outcome. "Nothing good is going to come from this." Pessimistic outlook on life. Worry

🕮Truth: Our lives are in God's hands and we can trust Him with our future. Matthew 6:24. Concentrate on reality instead of creating in your mind what might happen. 

🐜4. Mind Reading.

Assigning motives and intentions to others. "I know what you're thinking. They meant to hurt me."

🕮Truth: Only God can see the heart. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Romans 12:17-18 and Matthew 7:1.

🐜5. Thinking with Your Feelings. 

These ants come from the nest of memories. "I feel like a failure."--if you've failed before. "I don't feel like I'm loved." This type of thinking often leads to hopelessness and often ignores evidence to the contrary. Our feelings and emotions change but God does not. Going by how you feel is not wise.

  🕮Truth:  I know I am loved because God tells me so in His Word. 1 John 1:3 and Hebrews 13:8.

 

 🐜6. Guilt. 

Motivating others or ourselves with guilt. "I'm not a good Christian unless I witness to that person," or "I have to do this." This focuses on obligations and duty rather than joy. "With the Lord's help, I'm going to be a better witness for Him." 

There is a just guilt according to Scripture. If we sin we ought to feel guilty. And the correct response to God-given guilt is to confess and repent.

 🕮Truth:  I am blessed to be able to serve the Lord. It's my joy to grow in Him. Psalm 100:2.

🐜7. Labeling 

Calling a child ADHD just because they have to work harder to sit still and concentrate. Or calling someone dumb because they take longer to learn. Labels tend to stick with us to adulthood and cause us serious problems. Labeling someone treats them like their a victim and can't help who or what they are. It takes the personal responsibility off and can become a handy excuse. We even label ourselves. "I'm not that smart."

Labeling creates expectations that almost seem to guide the results. If we label ourselves a failure--we're quicker to give up and tend to exaggerate our own failures.

🕮Truth: God created us and only He has the right to name us. In Scripture we often see the Lord giving someone a new name and changing their heart. Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Peter, and Paul all had their names changed by God. How special! Revelation 2:17.

🐜8. Personalizing

Giving simple and common events personal meaning. "Pastor didn't speak to me. Maybe he's upset with me." Taking things personally that were not done intentionally to harm or offend. the most devastating form can be when a loved one commits suicide and those left behind might wonder if they did something to contribute to the fatal decision.

 🕮Truth:  Give others the benefit of the doubt and don't try to assign motives. Only God can see the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7.  Luke 13:4.

 

 🐜9. Blaming

Probably the worst ANT, came shortly after the fall of mankind. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. When you blame something or someone you have made yourself a victim--in other words you're not responsible. If you're not responsible than you don't have to change--or not able to change.  It's out of your hands--it's not your fault. We have to take personal responsibility for our own problems before we can hope to change. That thought is the very foundation to the Gospel. The idea of salvation is that we recognize that we are personally responsible. We quit blaming the environment, our parents, our circumstances, society, or even the time of history we were born in and come to grips with the fact that ultimately we made our own free choice and have to answer for it.

 🕮Truth:  Every man shall give an account of himself at the judgment day. We're accountable to God for every thought and action--regardless of what others have said or done to us. Romans 14:12.

 

ANTs become habits (a learned routine by practice and done without thought). What ANTs do you struggle with? It's more than one for me. The answer to squashing these ANTs is to first look for them and then squash them with the Truth! Automatic Negative Thoughts destroy our relationships, plauge our minds, and deteriorate our lives and happiness.