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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2, ESV).
What is a Miggy Moment?
Our brain has a section called the amygdala. You may have heard of the “flee or fight” response to life’s situations. These reactions take place in our brain’s amygdala. I call them “Miggy Moments,” describing our overreactions and often not thoughtful responses.
We need to reduce our Miggy Moments.
How parts of the brain functioned remained a mystery until the usage of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technology began in the medical field around 1977.
Through the years—because we can now watch the brain—what was once known as the “flee or fight” response of the brain has now become flee, fight, freeze, flop, and faun reactions.
These five “f’s” are how the amygdala responds to danger or threats. I’ve summarized them all by calling them Miggy Moments.
- Miggy Flee Moment: We run away as fast as we can.
- Miggy Fight Moment: We stand our ground.
- Miggy Freeze Moment: We become stiff and paralyzed.
- Miggy Flop: This is similar to the “freeze,” except muscles and responses go silent. Our loose body doesn’t absorb as much damage, and our memory can be shut down.
- Miggy Faun: We attempt to befriend enemies or abusers to calm them.
Fortunately, the five “f’s” are needed to survive emergencies, but unfortunately, the strong chemicals released by the brain during the five “f’s” wear grooves of addictive behavior. We then become cowards, angry, unresponsive, emotionally bound, and co-dependent—all because of continued amygdala overstimulation.
Miggy Moments can become our pattern of living. What science doesn’t or can’t explain in these Moments is our free will.
This is why the Apostle Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” There are parts of the brain that allow rational, contemplative, and controlled behavior.
Biblical meditation can renew our minds to avoid Miggy Moments.
When we encounter danger, we want the Miggy to take over, but the rest of the time, we want patience, peace, and God’s will to dictate our responses. How do we put the amygdala in its place? How do we keep Miggy Moments from being the signature reaction of our brain in all of life’s situations?
We allow God to renew our brain through prayer and Biblical meditation!!!
Let me wear a groove in your brain by repeating this again—we enable God to renew our brain from Miggy reaction to Spirit reflection.
The Bible teaches controlled response. Let’s consider a Psalm written 3,000 years ago…
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do (Psalm 1:1-3, NLT).
Let’s reduce our Miggy Moments by renewing our minds. Start by memorizing Psalm 1 and repeating it over and over until your mind renews itself!