Procedural Memory: How God Redeems Reflexes, Rewrites Patterns and Renews the Mind

The Intentional Parents Podcast

Intentional

Biblical, Help, Fatherhood, Kids & Family, Child, Christian, Children, Parents, Parenting, Kids, Leadership, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Mothers, Bible

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, we explore procedural memory — the unconscious, long-term memory that drives us to perform actions automatically. Shaped by childhood experiences and behaviors modeled by our parents, procedural memory often feels like running on autopilot or slipping into default mode, especially in how we respond under pressure. It’s that reflexive reaction, internal or external, that surfaces when we’re provoked — sometimes leading to an action you once promised yourself you’d never repeat, perhaps because it’s something you watched your parents do.

Once we define the concept, we unpack how to break harmful procedural memory patterns and how, in turn, we can form healthier reflexive habits. While acknowledging our shortcomings and the reality that we will inevitably pass down some forms of negative behavior to our children, we quickly reach a place of incredible hope.

We examine the process of transformation and redemption outlined in Scripture, drawing from the hopeful call in Romans 12:1-2 to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

By sharing personal stories of generational healing and redemption within our own family, we testify to the ways God has reshaped our hearts and minds, unveiling His power, patience, and grace in the process.

This episode is packed with practical tips, scriptural truths, raw vulnerability, and radical hope.

Prayers to Pray:

“God, help us unlearn what hurt us and relearn what heals us.”

“Help us live in ways that our bodies, our families and our children will remember as love.”

Scripture Mentioned: Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 5:14, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 1:17, Romans 5:8, Psalm 118:27, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 4:9, Matthew 12:34, Romans 7:15-20, 1 John 3:19-20, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:6, Genesis 50:15-21, Romans 5:10,

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Transcript

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0:00.0	We want to invite you to the intentional motherhood retreat, 2025.
0:05.2	For the past two years, hundreds of mothers from around the country have gathered with us for a weekend of worship, teaching, and connection, and really to seek God together.
0:16.0	And we can't wait to do it all again at this year's motherhood retreat, this time in Portland, Oregon, October 23rd through 25th.
0:25.6	We know that motherhood is both beautiful and it's hard. It's both life-giving and exhausting,
0:31.6	and it's full of both joy and sacrifice. It stretches us and forms us more than anything else. This retreat really is
0:40.4	a spiritual formation retreat for us mothers. We aren't going to give you a bunch of tips and
0:45.9	tricks for how to be a better mom, but we are going to press into how motherhood gently leads
0:51.5	us to spiritual formation, how relationships are essential for the journey,
0:56.0	and how our connection with God spills over to our connection with our families.
1:01.0	This retreat is for women who desire to be mothers someday all the way to grandmothers and anyone in between,
1:08.0	mothers of babies and toddlers, young children, teenagers, and even adult children.
1:14.5	This intergenerational gathering is a chance for all ages and stages of mothers to learn from one another,
1:20.7	to encourage each other and to simply be together, because motherhood isn't meant to be done alone.
1:28.4	The late Dallas Willard said spiritual formation can't be a private thing.
1:33.5	It is a matter of whole life transformation.
1:36.8	You need to seek out others in your community who are pursuing the renovation of the heart.
1:42.8	And that is exactly what we are going to do together. So come
1:46.6	join us, October 23rd through 25th, for the Intentional Motherhood Retreat in Portland, Oregon.
1:53.1	We can't wait to see you.
2:06.2	You're listening to the Intentional parents podcast brought to you by Intentional.
2:09.9	Intentional is all about spiritual formation in the family.
2:13.8	We desire to bring biblical hope and practical hope.
	...

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