For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
Thoughts about our who we are determine the direction of our lives.
At a difficult time in my life, I had an opportunity to apply for a position as an assistant professor teaching law to undergraduates at a university.
It was my dream job. But I was struggling with health issues and a business that had just failed.
I remember looking at the ad in the newspaper and shaking my head. “I wasn’t qualified. They wouldn’t want me” my inner voice said.
If my future wife, Karen, hadn’t called from Hong Kong and encouraged me when I shared about the job, I never would have applied.
That is a perfect example of a Christian, losing sight of his true identity. My failures and limitations had become my identity in my own mind.
I was going to disqualified myself.
The crazy part was, I had already taught law and business courses at 4 colleges and universities in China for over 2 ½ years.
Our Thoughts can steal our future.
Almost everything we say and do begins with a thought.
Just one thought. As we rehearse a thought and have some experiences, we form beliefs.
Those beliefs can keep us from seeing who we really are and God’s plans and purposes for our lives.
Beliefs are powerful forces in our lives.
If we are going to change what we believe, we need to understand how beliefs are formed.
How Beliefs form:
1. We have Experiences
2. That we give meaning to.
3. Then we live from that meaning.
Strong beliefs are formed by strong emotions.
E.g At a party a guy is telling a really funny joke about a mysterious person wearing red pants. Just as he gets to the punch line, you walk in the door wearing red pants. He gives the punch line and everyone doubles over in laughter. It’s so funny that all night people take one look at you and laugh.
How would you feel?
How long would you stay at that party?
Most of us would leave feeling, ”There is something wrong with me. Or maybe that those people just don’t like me.” We would be hurt and confused.
What happened?
You had a very strongly emotional experience.
To which you gave meaning. (The meaning we give to events or our understanding of events can be wildly wrong.)
Then, you formed a belief about that experience and the meaning you gave to it.
We often form beliefs to protect ourselves. From that experience, you might create beliefs that would keep you from getting close to people. “If I don’t get close, I won’t be hurt.”
Much of the pain we experience in our lives comes from our beliefs. Our beliefs can be false. But we are reluctant to change them.
We Must Find Our Identity in Christ, Not in Our Own Thoughts or Beliefs
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
Ephesians 1:11 MSG
For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 EXB
Activation –
Renew Your Mind with Ephesians 1:11 MSG and Colossians 3:3 EXB. Read the scripture aloud. Personalize it. Say “I” for “you” or “we” in each verse.
Ask Jesus: “Who do You say I am?” Listen. And write down His answer. Live from that.