Tuesday, 7 August 2012

August 7 Devotion - Renew My Mind - Step 10 - Diet, Exercise, Relaxation, and the Spiritual Aspect


In the last nine devotions I wrote:

In the next 10 devotions I will share with you 10 steps to detoxify the brain. I am learning about these steps and learning to apply them. These steps are adapted from a book by Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian author and other teachings I learned.

This is the last devotion in the series.



Step 1: Consciously Control Your Thoughts

Step 2: Frame Your World with Your Words

Step 3: Express Those Emotions

Step 4: Take Responsibility and Take Control

Step 5: Dream On!

Step 6: THINK Forgiveness

Step 7: Love – Tune into Your Heart

Step 8: Hugging

Step 9: Laughter

Step 10: Diet, Exercise, Relaxation, and the Spiritual Aspect

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ: «إِنِّي قَدْ أَعْطَيْتُكُمْ كُلَّ أَصْنَافِ الْبُقُولِ الْمُبْزِرَةِ الْمُنْتَشِرَةِ عَلَى كُلِّ سَطْحِ الأَرْضِ، وَكُلَّ شَجَرٍ مُثْمِرٍ مُبْزِرٍ، لِتَكُونَ لَكُمْ طَعَاماً.

Genesis 1:29

He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth,

أَنْتَ الْمُنْبِتُ عُشْباً لِلْبَهَائِمِ وَخُضْرَةً لِخِدْمَةِ الإِنْسَانِ، لإِنْتَاجِ خُبْزٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ،
                                                                         Psalm 104:14



So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.”

فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «أَهَكَذَا أَنْتُمْ أَيْضاً لاَ تَفْهَمُونَ؟ أَلاَ تُدْرِكُونَ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا يَدْخُلُ الإِنْسَانَ مِنَ الْخَارِجِ لاَ يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يُنَجِّسَهُ،

 19 لأَنَّهُ لاَ يَدْخُلُ إِلَى قَلْبِهِ بَلْ إِلَى الْبَطْنِ، ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى الْخَلاَءِ؟» مِمَّا يَجْعَلُ الأَطْعِمَةَ كُلَّهَا طَاهِرَةً.

 20 ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ، هُوَ يُنَجِّسُ الإِنْسَانَ.

Mark 7:18-20


Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

أَمَا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ جَسَدَكُمْ هُوَ هَيْكَلٌ لِلرُّوحِ الْقُدُسِ السَّاكِنِ فِيكُمْ وَالَّذِي هُوَ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللهِ، وَأَنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمْ لَسْتُمْ مِلْكاً لأَنْفُسِكُمْ؟

 20 لأَنَّكُمْ قَدِ اشْتُرِيتُمْ بِفِدْيَةٍ. إِذَنْ، مَجِّدُوا اللهَ فِي أَجْسَادِكُمْ.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «تَعَالَوْا أَنْتُمْ عَلَى انْفِرَادٍ إِلَى مَكَانٍ خَالٍ، وَاسْتَرِيحُوا قَلِيلاً».
                                                                               Mark 6:31


I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I know that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I ask in the name of Jesus that You teach me and strengthen me to do Your will in taking care of it, because it is Your commandment and because You have put all these commandments out of Your love for me. I know that eating the right food, exercising, relaxing and praying are actions that will help in achieving Your commandment of renewing my mind. God please bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and continue to renew my mind in all the ways that help transform me to Your image. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
O my soul, you have said to the Lord,
“You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
Psalm 16:2
قُلْتُ لِلرَّبِّ: «أَنْتَ سَيِّدِي. خَيْرِي لاَ شَيْءَ غَيْرُكَ».

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

Monday, 6 August 2012

August 6 Devotion - Renew My Mind - Steps 8 & 9-Hugging and Laughter


 Renew my Mind



Step 1: Consciously Control Your Thoughts



Step 2: Frame Your World with Your Words

Step 3: Express Those Emotions

Step 4: Take Responsibility and Take Control

Step 5: Dream On!

Step 6: THINK Forgiveness

Step 7: Love – Tune into Your Heart

Step 8: Hugging 

A vast body of research shows that touch releases endorphins and enkephalins from the area of the brain called the periaqueductal grey (PAG), and which breaks the feedback loops. Studies show the benefits of touch, not only for depression, but for illnesses that have physical symptoms as well. Good touching releases the body’s natural chemicals in a healing process that optimizes your feeling of well-being.



Step 9: Laughter


Many studies show why laughter deserves to be known as ‘the best medicine’. It releases an instant flood of feel good chemicals that boost the immune system. Almost instantaneously it reduces the levels of stress hormones. For instance a good laugh can make cortisol drop by 39%, adrenaline by 70% and ‘the feel good’ hormone endorphin, increases by 29%. Other research shows how laughter boosts your immune system and protects against respiratory tract infections.


the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

وَكَانَ الْجَمْعُ كُلُّهُ يَسْعَوْنَ إِلَى لَمْسِهِ، لأَنَّ قُدْرَةً كَانَتْ تَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ وَتَشْفِيهِمْ جَمِيعاً.

Luke 6:17-19


He Who sits in the heavens laughs;

لَكِنَّ الْجَالِسَ عَلَى عَرْشِهِ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ يَضْحَكُ

Psalm 2:4

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
   and your lips with shouts of joy.

يَمْلأُ فَمَكَ ضَحِكاً وَشَفَتَيْكَ هُتَافاً،

Job 8:21

 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
   our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
   “The LORD has done great things for them.”

عِنْدَئِذٍ امْتَلأَتْ أَفْوَاهُنَا ضِحْكاً، وَأَلْسِنَتُنَا تَرَنُّماً. عِنْدَئِذٍ قَالَتِ الأُمَمُ: إِنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ أَجْرَى أُمُوراً عَظِيمَةً مَعَ هَؤُلاَءِ.

Psalm 126:2


I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, touch me with your healing loving hand. Put in my life Godly loving people who hug me and whom I can hug, so that we can help heal each other. Fill my heart with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy in appreciation of your blessings and for healing and feeling great. God please bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and continue to renew my mind in all the ways that help transform me to Your image. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

Friday, 3 August 2012

August 3 Devotion - Renew My Mind - Step 7- Love



Step 7: LOVE - TUNE INTO YOUR HEART

Getting in touch with your heart and learning to live in the love that flows from it are definite ways of healing toxic thoughts and emotions. When you experience emotions such as love, appreciation, care, and compassion these create physiological changes leading to improved health and increased longevity.

The heart has the ability to pull every other system in the body to its own rhythm. When the heart is at peace and is filled with love, the entire body under the direction of the brain feels peace and love as well.


The best way to communicate with your heart is to:


·      Think of all the blessings in your life

·      Develop an attitude of gratitude

·      Spend time with people who bring you joy and happiness

·      Focus on happy memories or anticipating happy events

·      Listen to the message from the heart without clouding it with fear

 When you feel the love of God and people, health travels from the brain to the heart in electrical signals and then through to the rest of the body.


“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
«أَحِبّ الرَّبَّ إِلهَكَ بِكُلِّ قَلْبِكَ وَكُلِّ نَفْسِكَ وَكُلِّ فِكْرِكَ!
 38 هَذِهِ هِيَ الْوَصِيَّةُ الْعُظْمَى الأُولَى.
 39 وَالثَّانِيَةُ مِثْلُهَا: أَحِبّ قَرِيبَكَ كَنَفْسِكَ!
 40 بِهَاتَيْنِ الْوَصِيَّتَيْنِ تَتَعَلَّقُ الشَّرِيعَةُ وَكُتُبُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ! »

Matthew 22:37-40

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails.
الْمَحَبَّةُ تَصْبِرُ طَوِيلاً؛ وَهِيَ لَطِيفَةٌ. الْمَحَبَّةُ لاَ تَحْسُدُ. الْمَحَبَّةُ لاَ تَتَفَاخَرُ وَلاَ تَتَكَبَّرُ.
 5 لاَ تَتَصَرَّفُ بِغَيْرِ لِيَاقَةٍ، وَلاَ تَسْعَى إِلَى مَصْلَحَتِهَا الْخَاصَّةِ. لاَ تُسْتَفَزُّ سَرِيعاً، وَلاَ تَنْسُبُ الشَّرَّ لأَحَدٍ.
 6 لاَ تَفْرَحُ بِالظُّلْمِ، بَلْ تَفْرَحُ بِالْحَقِّ.
 7 إِنَّهَا تَسْتُرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَتُصَدِّقُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَتَرْجُو كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَتَتَحَمَّلُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ.
 8 الْمَحَبَّةُ لاَ تَزُولُ أَبَداً.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
وَصِيَّةً جَدِيدَةً أَنَا أُعْطِيكُمْ: أَحِبُّوا بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً، كَمَا أَحْبَبْتُكُمْ أَنَا، تُحِبُّونَ بَعْضُكُمْ.
 35 بِهَذَا يَعْرِفُ الْجَمِيعُ أَنَّكُمْ تَلاَمِيذِي: إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً».

John 13:34-35 

We love because he first loved us
وَنَحْنُ نُحِبُّ، لأَنَّ اللهَ أَحَبَّنَا أَوَّلاً.

1 John 4:19-20

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I praise You and glorify You. Thank You Lord for loving me. God fill me with Your love and Your Holy Spirit so that I can love You, and others, the way You want me to. Help me to continue praying to You to fill my heart with love. Lord, thank You for giving me a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Thank You Lord that Your commandments are for my well being and health and joy. Lord, Your love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God, Your love never fails.

Surround me Lord with believers who love me, build my faith, care for me, bring me joy and happiness and show me compassion and appreciation; and strengthen me to do more for them. God, change the way I think in my heart so that I can change. Guide me and strengthen me to seek Your face and get to know You and Your thoughts; bringing all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ, in whose holy name I pray. Amen.
O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

يَارَبُّ ارْحَمْنَا. إِيَّاكَ انْتَظَرْنَا، كُنْ عَضُدَنَا فِي الصَّبَاحِ، وَخَلاَصَنَا فِي أَثْنَاءِ الْمِحْنَةِ.
Isaiah 33:2

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

August 2 Devotion - Renewing My Mind- Step 6 - Think 4-Give-ness

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

ولا تشاكلوا هذا الدهر. بل تغيّروا عن شكلكم بتجديد اذهانكم لتختبروا ما هي ارادة الله الصالحة المرضية الكاملة.
Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)



Step 6:THINK 4-Give-Ness

Forgiveness enables us to release all these toxic thoughts of:

·       Anger

·       Resentment

·       Bitterness

·       Shame

·       Grief

·       Regret

·       Guilt

·       Hate

Most importantly as long as these unhealthy toxic thoughts dominate our mind, we will not be able to grow new healthy thoughts and memories.

 Dr. Don Colbert (author of Deadly Emotions) says forgiveness is like an emotional shower: it cleanses and frees the entrapped soul.


Forgiveness in his (and others) view is:

·       Not making excuses for someone’s behaviour, but it is forgiving despite behaviour.

·       Not ignoring pain or hurt, but it is choosing to let go of the person who hurt you.

·       Not letting someone off the hook, but it is leaving that person in God’s hands.

·       Not a weakness, but it is a sign of great courage.


It is often said that forgiveness leads to the ability to love. We cannot love if we have not really forgiven and released those who have wronged us.

Scientific research shows that love is good for our health. Ongoing results of the “Forgiveness Study” by researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that those who develop an ability to forgive, have greater control over their emotions and are significantly less angry, upset and hurt, and consequently much healthier.



What Jesus says about forgiveness:

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”

ولكن لكي تعلموا ان لابن الانسان سلطانا على الارض ان يغفر الخطايا

Mathew 9:6


Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him,
“I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

عِنْدَئِذٍ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ بُطْرُسُ وَسَأَلَهُ: «يَارَبُّ، كَمْ مَرَّةً يُخْطِيءُ إِلَيَّ أَخِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ؟ هَلْ إِلَى سَبْعِ مَرَّاتٍ؟»
 22 فَأَجَابَهُ يَسُوعُ: «لاَ إِلَى سَبْعِ مَرَّاتٍ، بَلْ إِلَى سَبْعِينَ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ!

Matthew 18:21-22

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
فَإِنْ غَفَرْتُمْ لِلنَّاسِ زَلاَّتِهِمْ، يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ أَبُوكُمُ السَّمَاوِيُّ زَلاَّتِكُمْ.
 15 وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرُوا لِلنَّاسِ، لاَ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ أَبُوكُمُ السَّمَاوِيُّ زَلاَّتِكُمْ.

Matthew 6:14-15

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”إِذَنْ، كُلُّ مَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُعَامِلَكُمُ النَّاسُ بِهِ، فَعَامِلُوهُمْ أَنْتُمْ بِهِ أَيْضاً: هَذِهِ خُلاَصَةُ تَعْلِيمِ الشَّرِيعَةِ وَالأَنْبِيَاءِ.

Matthew 7:12


I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Heavenly Father, Your commandments are all for our benefit. Because You love us, You gave us directives to protect us from hurt and sickness. A non forgiving soul is hurting and sick. Help me to apply what You teach us to pray And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us’. واغفر لنا خطايانا لاننا نحن ايضا نغفر لكل من يذنب الينا.'

Help me to THINK forgiveness ALL the time. I know I cannot do this on my own, I ask the Holy Spirit indwelling in me to take over and manage my thoughts, life, feelings and  actions. In Jesus’ name I pray to You Abba Father, detox my brain and bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ so that my mind can be renewed and I can be transformed to Your image. Amen.
O my soul, you have said to the Lord,
“You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
Psalm 16:2
قُلْتُ لِلرَّبِّ: «أَنْتَ سَيِّدِي. خَيْرِي لاَ شَيْءَ غَيْرُكَ».
Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein