Quit Lying to Yourself

Scripture Focus:
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you." — Proverbs 23:7

Moving Forward:
A lot of people quote this verse as a mantra for ‘positive thinking’. But there is something more going on then just a positive thinking exercise. In context, the verse is warning the reader not to be deceived by those who present themselves one way but inwardly they are operating under a different guise. The principle here is people are not who they say they are but who they really are. 

This is why the name it claim it camp fall short. You can’t talk your way into success — at least not success that is enduring. In order to change your future, you must work on you. You have to work on your belief system. 

It is true that you will never live beyond beliefs. Changing your words is not a bad thing. Meditating on good thoughts is a helpful practice. But merely changing your words or having meditation moments won’t change you. 

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Not just thoughts. But the center of your being that produces thoughts. Work on the core of who you are. Your belief systems. 

The question is how? How do you renew your mind? How do you transform your belief systems. 

Here are a few suggestions:

• Fruits vs. Roots. Look at the fruit and then attack the root.
  
  Oftentimes we are only focused the outward realities. We may strive to make more money but each time we get a financial breakthrough we simply burn through the dollars and settle back into our poverty. This is why people who win the lottery will end up broke not long afterwards. Their situation changed but they didn’t.
  
  

• Learn to turn. Once you discover a faulty belief system, learn a truth that corrects.
  
  Dig into God’s Word and begin to focus on the truth of the matter. Memorize Scriptures. Listen to messages. Read books. A belief system is not easily corrected. He takes attacking it with the Word or as it is called the ‘sword of the Spirit’.
  
  

• Repent. Don’t just cry about it.
  
  Repentance is not simply feeling bad or shedding tears at an altar. Repentance is ‘changing your mind’. In order for this repentance to take root in your heart, you have to acknowledge that it is wrong or faulty. Confess your ‘faults’ to God and then ask for His blood to cleanse you. Repentance is not just human sorrow. It is aligning yourself with God and allowing Him to initiate true spiritual transformation. It is the place of your confession and God’s correction meeting to produce transformation.
  
  

• Act on truth — not feelings.
  
  In order for repentance to do it full work, you have to act on the truth not your feelings. Feelings come and go. The feeling of ‘sorrow’ for your sin or faulty mindset will go away. You want feel bad about it forever. As a matter of fact, sometimes the feeling shifts within minutes. Then, you have to make a decision will you obey the truth or do what you want to do in the moment. 

Quit lying to yourself. Changing you means changing why you are you. Oftentimes, that means you have to go to war with the part of you that is sabotaging your true identity. Be true to the you God made you to be. This is where true purpose is fulfilled. 

Challenge Question:
Do you find yourself doing things that you told yourself you wouldn’t do anymore? You do what you don’t want to do and don’t do what you know you should?

Journal Prompt:
Look deep within yourself. Identify the FRUIT that is directing the course of your life. Write down belief systems that constantly impose themselves on you. Next, write down the Scriptures that correct this lies. 

Additional Scriptures:

• Romans 12;1,2
  
  

• John 8:32
  
  

• 1 Peter 1:13-22
  

Prayer:
Jesus, I have a problem. The problem is deep inside me and I need you to help me to change. I have a wrong belief systema about _________________. I confess that is wrong and based on lies. Therefore, I ask for your blood to cleanse me of this fault within. I ask you to grant me the courage and the power to obey truth. Help me not to do what I want but to surrender to your ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen.