You've Been Hijacked

We were designed with a natural reward system called the mesolimbic pathway.

It is a network of areas in the brain that helps us learn what feels good, safe, meaningful, or worth repeating. When we do something positive or helpful, our brains release chemicals that create pleasant feelings. Within this reward system, the primary chemical messenger is dopamine; its job is to regulate pleasure, drive motivation, and reinforce behaviors. When we experience a rewarding feeling from something like a good meal, finishing a puzzle, receiving praise, or mastering a new skill, dopamine is released. The brain then remembers this feeling and is compelled to repeat the action so we can feel it again and again.

When overstimulated or hijacked, the reward system creates unnatural, massive surges of dopamine.

Over time, the brain adapts by becoming desensitized, which destroys the ability to feel pleasure from every day, natural rewards while driving intense, compulsive cravings. 

God; the architect of mankind, created our brains with this mesolimbic pathway for a reason.

When untampered with, we thrive, but when overstimulated or hijacked, our systems malfunction.

The enemy is crafty; he’s been around a lot longer than us, and he’s always used deception to disrupt our lives.

He sets the trap, and many times we fall in.

His current plan, which is fully active right now, is tricking the brain. Some neuroscientists and addiction experts describe this as a form of "biological deception." Wow!

Let’s go deeper.  

When it comes to the drug of choice we hold in our hands every day—our phones—the scrolling of social media and the receiving of likes and comments online, along with constantly picking our devices up throughout the day to avoid any moment of boredom, that trains the brain to look for instant gratification. This drastically reduces our attention span and destroys our ability to focus on complex, rewarding tasks that take time to complete, such as reading a book or praying for more than 5 minutes. 

One thing we MUST understand is the enemy is a legalist, the Bible calls him “the accuser of the brethren,” in Revelation chapter12. It also says “he goes before God night and day” against us, making his case.

If we're completely honest with ourselves, we know that he has a strong case against us.

We are guilty!

The things we’ve been accused of are true and even worst, self-inflicted because we've been hijacked.

It doesn’t matter that the one accusing us is the very same one that’s tricked us into the destructive behavior.

God is a just Judge. 

How Drugs and Sugar Affect Us

Sugar is detrimental to the brain's reward system because it triggers unnaturally large spikes in dopamine. Over time, chronic exposure causes the brain to adapt by reducing the number of dopamine receptors. This requires us to consume more sugar/drugs to achieve the same "feel-good" effect, while simultaneously making every day, natural rewards less satisfying. 

Food Affect the Reward System

Processed, fried, and unhealthy foods damage the brain's reward system by flooding it with unnatural surges of dopamine. Because of it pleasure and motivation decline over time, this desensitization dulls the reward system, making healthier, whole foods seem less satisfying. This trap leads to a decline in general motivation while keeping us locked in cycles of constant cravings

THAT'S PRETTY SCARY, BUT IT CAN BE RESET!

Like me, you may feel the need to do a dopamine detox.

A reset naturally, spiritually, and physically. 

Romans 12:2 says:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"

How do we renew the mind to combat this?

We can actively rebuild our brain's relationship with reward through strategies like:  

A Digital Detox:  

• Putting the phone down - aka - daily social media breaks.

• Reading an physical book or the Bible 

• Doing a crossword puzzle 

• Playing a game (chess, checkers, cards) 

• Sitting in the boredom. You'll be surprised at the ideas that will come and the things you'll begin to create.

  
  

Single tasking: 

• Dedicate your full attention to one activity at a time without interruptions 

  
  

Set delayed gratification goals: 

• Instead of choosing something easy or pleasurable right now (instant gratification), endure short-term discomfort. Example: No TV until 6pm.   

Time Blocking:

• When you do watch TV limiting it. Example: less than 2 hours a day.

Food/Sugar Detox: 

• Eliminate processed foods and sugar for a period of time. On a consistent bases.

• Eating more natural, single ingredient foods 

  • Instead of eating mostly processed foods and only having one single-ingredient item throughout the day (like chicken, beef, broccoli, or cabbage), do the exact opposite.

Prayer, Fasting, and Consecration: 

• Choose a length of time to sit before God.  

• Repent for allowing yourself to be deceived.  

  
  

You may be thinking, 'why do I need to repent if I was the one deceived?'

Because the devil is a legalist.

Matthew 5:25 says:

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 

Just agree and repent.

• After repenting ask the Holy Spirit to help you create new habits. Repeat this as many times as needed.  

It's time take back territory and that begins with our minds.

Blessings,

Nae🫶🏽