Unsinkable Faith Study Guide

God-Filled Strategies to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live

Tracie Miles

• Publisher: David C Cook
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780830775910
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

When life feels hard, sometimes negative thoughts take over and we find ourselves sinking under their weight. The Unsinkable Faith Study Guide gives you biblical insights that help you change the way you think so you can change the way you feel, which will positively change your life and your destiny. Although it's not easy, it's possible to rise above your circumstances, embrace a positive attitude and live with joy and hope, even in the midst of difficult adversities. Whether negative thoughts cause you to sink every day or only once in a while, this companion study to Tracie Miles' Unsinkable Faith book will help point you to God's truths so you can rise back to the surface and live a healthier, happier life.

Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to how you look at things.

—WALT DISNEY

Walt Disney is known to have had one of the most optimistic outlooks in history. But it wasn’t because his life lacked the presence of problems.

Most of us think of Walt Disney as an incredibly inspiring man of success, who persisted in making his dreams come true and accomplished amazing things. But his success and accomplishments didn’t come easy.

Before Disney World became a reality and before Disney became a household name, Walt endured endless problems. He was fired from a newspaper because they said he lacked ideas. His first few animated movies, like Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Bambi, all either failed to generate much revenue or turned into a financial loss at first. His staff was hired out from under him to go to another company. His idea for a theme park was rejected by the city of Anaheim, California, for fear that it would attract crowds and problems. And these are just a few of the rejections, criticisms, disappointments and negative experiences he endured over his lifetime.

But despite all his setbacks, disappointments, and failures, he never gave up, and he never allowed a negative attitude to keep him from thinking positive and pushing forward, continually believing that good things were yet to come. He believed a positive mind was the key to success.

Instead of seeing failure as a stopping point, he viewed it as an opportunity to begin again. He looked at his circumstances as challenges to overcome, rather than problems to trip him up.

He never stopped trying, and embraced optimism in his personal actions, attitudes, and leadership style. It was Walt Disney’s optimism that helped him push past all the difficult circumstances in his life, which happened year after year, and overcome his challenges and failures.

Who spoke words of criticism to you in the past which caused you to feel like a failure, or lose confidence, and possibly give up on your dreams?

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Write out a prayer confessing those hurts to God and asking Him to fill you with confidence and hope and restored faith in yourself, and who you are in to Him.

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If you’ve put any dreams or goals on the back burner as a result of negative feedback or criticism, what were they, and how could you reignite your passion for them today?

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How does Walt Disney’s unwavering optimism inspire you today?

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How does his attitude about his circumstances and how he handled them motivate you to keep pushing forward and expecting and believing that good things are to come?

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CHAPTER ONE STRATEGIES

Your Feelings Aren’t the Boss of You: When You Feel Like You’re Sinking

When negative thoughts are controlling us, there is hope. When we learn to change the way we think, we can change the way we feel.

MIND TRANSFORMING REFLECTIONS

If negative thoughts are controlling you, take comfort in knowing there is hope. When we learn to change the way we think, we can change the way we feel.

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What situation in your life today triggers the most dissatisfaction or distress? Or ask yourself what it is that makes you feel the least positive lately, and/or steals your ability to think optimistically. There may be several, but just start with the top one.

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Close your eyes and take a moment to pray over the situation or circumstance you wrote above. Ask God to specifically begin working on transforming your thoughts as they relate to it. Confess your true feelings and surrender your negativity or hopelessness to God.

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Picture God’s gracious hands receiving your burden and gently holding this concern for you. If you’re feeling artsy, sketch a picture of hands in the space provided, and write your burden in the cup of His palms. Keep this visual of God holding your burden, so each time you find yourself worrying or thinking negatively about it, you’ll be aware you are trying to take that burden back. No matter how many times it takes, continually visualize yourself placing it back into God’s hands.

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If desired, write out the words of your prayer below, along with your drawing, below. Hold this image in your heart and mind in the days and weeks to come.

It would have been easy for Tracie to blame someone else for her distressing feelings shared in Chapter One.

Make a comprehensive list of other people you have blamed for your circumstances, and record their names below. Remember that while some may deserve that blame, focusing on blame will only keep you stuck.

Pray through each person, releasing them to God. Record beside their name any specific prayers you said to God, or anything God brings to mind a you are praying to release them from blame and free yourself from the bondage of negativity and anger.

Imagine the chain of blame being attached to an anchor pulling you down, and when you let go of those thoughts, being released from captivity.

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Tracie experienced a defining moment when she realized she didn’t want to spend her life stuck in negativity and unhappiness. Can you think of particular conversations, interactions, or private moments when you knew that something needed to change within yourself? Did someone else notice your negativity, or did you? Record those encounters—with others, with God or with yourself—that made you want to live differently.

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What could be different in your life if you committed yourself to this process? Describe how you would be different, inside and out.

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MIND-RENEWING MEMORY VERSES

A key strategy for transforming our minds involves replacing lies and negative thoughts with promises and truths from God’s Word that refute those lies and fill our minds with hope instead. Below are some verses for you to write out in this journal, or on a notepad or even on notecards, so that you can read them throughout the week and commit them to memory. Look up each verse, write it out below, and then commit to memorize it. Yes, you have homework!

Keep in mind that committing these verses to memory will build a spiritual arsenal you can call upon when negativity strikes – and it will strike – so this is an important step in winning the war for your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:4

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James 1:2-5

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Isaiah 26:3

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Proverbs 23:7

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CHAPTER ONE CHALLENGE

Begin keeping track of each time you find yourself struggling with a negative thought or emotion. Keep your journal handy at all times, or carry a small notepad around with you. But be sure not to judge yourself for them – no matter how times you notice negativity! Simply notice and record them.

Each time you record something, ask God to intervene and begin equipping you spiritually to think and feel differently. Over time, you’ll gradually become more aware when negativity is trying to strike and therefore more equipped to fight back before it destroys your outlook and attitude.

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The quality of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

—A. R. Bernard

Alphonso R. Bernard was born in Panama, the son of a father who was a Castilian Spaniard and a mother who was an African American(Panamanian). After his father left them, he and his mother moved to Brooklyn, NY in 1957. Bernard was bused across town for school, and had to work in the...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Chapter One
• Chapter One Strategies
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Two Strategies
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Three Strategies
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Four Strategies
• Chapter Five
• Chapter Five Strategies
• Chapter Six
• Chapter Six Strategies
• Chapter Seven
• Chapter Seven Strategies
• Chapter Eight
• Chapter Eight Strategies
• Chapter Nine
• Chapter Nine Strategies
• Chapter Ten
• Chapter Ten Strategies