Repeat this scripture out loud because it is your prescription to overcome your past negative programming: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Right now, those negative emotions are still coming up because you have a stronghold in your mind that is still controlled by the way your mother taught you to view yourself and deal with life. It was understandable as a child because that was all you knew. But now that you are an adult, you have a choice. You can choose to reject your mother’s way of thinking and renew your mind to what God says about you and ordering your life in a way that glorifies and honors him. What will you choose?

In the scripture, it tells you to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. So here is how you can make this practical. Let’s say that right now you are faced with a plate of food and the thought “If I clean my plate, my mother will like me” comes up. Think about it. Is that true?

You take that thought captive immediately because you don’t want to live a life based on lies.

Cast that lie down by challenging it: “No, that is a lie. My cleaning my plate has nothing to do with whether my mother likes me or not. I can’t control what she does. I can only control myself. I choose to elevate God’s influence in my life so that I can live in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). I choose to glorify God in my body and spirit because they belong to him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)”.

The only way to renew your mind is with the Word of God – every day. Many people think that when they give their life to Christ, their minds are automatically renewed. But they aren’t – we have to consciously do that work.

So keep showing up in front of the mirror and confront those negative emotions. I suggest studying Matthew 4:1-11 also and you will see how Jesus used the word to defeat the enemy. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you as well. But it is up to you to develop it and use it.

God bless you!