Written by Jill Monico
I recently sent an email about how to respond when you’re triggered to my email list as part of a FREEDOM DEVOTIONAL. I write as often as God leads me. I’ve received so many messages about how it helped people that I thought I’d make it a blog post with a few additional thoughts. (If you want to receive future devotionals please join my email list.)
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I was triggered last week by someone I used to work with. Their comments didn’t impact me at first but when I had downtime a few days later I noticed some anxiety coming up.
So if I know this person has a history of stirring up strife then why did it trigger me?
A trigger is something that causes an intense negative emotional experience. The frontal cortex of my brain knew the truth and could make sense of it. But my amygdala — the fight, flight, fawn, and freeze part of my brain — was trying to warn me by recalling an old experience that caused fear. Sometimes it happens right away and overtakes what you’re currently doing. And other times it comes up when you slow down enough to tune in.
I am convinced this is why the Scriptures tell us to have the mind of Christ (I Cor 2:16) and that we are instructed to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2).
I believe having the mind of Christ means we ask God to show us how He sees so we can think the way He thinks. That includes other people and ourselves. It impacts everything! We feel differently, see differently, respond differently, and love differently.
Here are 3 things having the mind of Christ can CREATE when you’re triggered by a negative event or person:
- Humility – Philippians 2:5-8 explains, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
- Compassion – Matthew 9:36 shows Jesus’ compassion for the people, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
- Dependence- Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
I will come back and write more about what you can do when you’re triggered. Until then, when you are triggered remember you are not broken, you are healing. God is completing a good work in you. (Phil 1:6) Rejoice because Jesus will use this for your deliverance (Phil 1:19). Lean on the truth that He is giving you a greater capacity and revelation of humility, compassion, and dependence upon Himself … those are character qualities that will continue to be fruitful in your life. Let the trigger inform you and shape you into the image of Christ by having the mind of Christ Jesus.
Let God reveal the area of your life where you need His presence by going to Him in prayer.
Let’s pray:
Father God, today I need your presence. I want to have the mind of Christ in every area of my life. Help me to see people as you see them. Shift my perspective to understand situations with heavenly wisdom. Increase my discernment today so I can sense the enemy’s plan and your counter move. Make me a watchman on the wall and entrusted with keen eyes to see potential attacks and be prepared to call upon you.
I repent of the times I’ve judged people without knowing what they were going through. Forgive me for being quick to label ________ as _________ (however you described them). I thank you for your redemption in my life and ask that you continue to bless ________ with _________ (the opposite of what they did or are doing).
Please be near me today as I heal from ________. Remind me when I’m triggered that you are bringing attention to it so I can walk in wholeness. I ask for a supernatural work and rewiring of my brain so that the enemy can’t have a single second of my time or an open door to entertain his interpretation of negative events in my life. Reveal to me the work you are doing in me and how you want me to respond.
I want to think like You. Feel like You. See like You. Respond like You.
I want more of You Lord … Oh, that I would long to know you more and more this day. Show me something about You that I haven’t known before. More of your presence. More of your peace. More of your love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.