The false
identity is a controller unless we are exposed to the truth about it’s
nature and then neutralized by revelation of God’s truth. The fallen
nature is corrupt and in control from conception and until reckoned dead
with its co-crucifixion with Christ. Unless a person is born again
through God’s quickening Spirit they are subject to the whims of the
fallen nature.
Avoiding
pain is the reason people find themselves out of control and without peace
of mind. The instinct of fight or flight to regain control is natural.
A person has to escape or overcome the implied or real threat through
physical violence or by fleeing the scene. Self-preservation is
autonomous even when the perceived threat is imagined. The image(s) need
to be exposed in terms that will explain the origin of their fear or
anger. The root cause is not often the presenting problem of the client.
Addictions are formed from double-mindedness. The struggle is caused from
being torn between obeying God and the spiritual forces that are exerting
their influence on people’s false identity or corrupt nature. The carnal
nature cannot obey God and is at war with the Spirit of God. People which
have not surrendered their rights to God must obey the desires of the
false identity and therefore cannot walk in the Spirit. As Christian’s we
are to surrender to God, reckon false identity dead, and walk in Spirit
which leads us to freedom and obeying God.
When a
person gains their freedom in Christ there is reason to have joy in the
promises of God which lends itself to happiness and feelings of pleasure.
Joy is the result of knowing that our relationship with God has been
restored while happiness is based on happenstance or the events
surrounding our righteous standing with God. Knowing our faith in God’s
plan for our life with Him is on course is all the reason we should need
to feel pleasure. Whether pleasure or pain can be a motivating factor to
get us motivated and act upon a goal the ultimate motivation should be ‘to
bring glory to God’s name.’
Godly
character will produce godly behavior and subsequently will gain godly
rewards. Godly behavior - i.e. walk in the truth, think, believe, and
actions produces godly rewards - i.e. joy, happiness, freedom,
righteousness, clear conscience. When our actions do not line up with
what God’s word declares their is reason to be concerned. What has
happened to our reasoning ability and logic? What pleasure do we receive
by taking action? What is the loss if we take no action? What are we
trying to escape from? Or, what are we angry about?
Homeostasis is the balancing point where the body, soul, and spirit of man
are content. The body is a vehicle with senses to communicate to the mind
the state of affairs in our environment. The information is received by
the soul of man. We will include the mind, our thinker or reasoning
ability; the will, our ‘chooser’; and our emotions, the positive or
negative energy in motion that is a response or reaction to the
environment about us for a simple explanation of the souls functions.
The
spirit of man is the eternal life force we are given at conception. It is
dead to God until we receive eternal life in Christ. The spirit is the
true child of God within us. We are all eternal beings from the moment
the fertilized egg receives their spirit from God. God is the Father of
all life.
The
determining factor that transforms a person into a son or daughter is when
the ‘spirit of man’ is quickened by the Holy Spirit being born again of
spiritual seed, which is the Word of God. There are only two states of
spiritual consciousness for the sake of clarity – either a person is
spiritually alive to the Spirit of God or in a state of eternal separation
or death toward God. In the remainder of this work we shall only consider
people who are spiritually alive toward God. If we are born again we have
the Holy Spirit living within us.
Now we
shall determine what our behavior is driven by in order to get control of
our lives and continue to grow in the riches of the grace of God our
Father. Our response or reaction to events going on in our life is
conditioned through learned behavior.
The
behavioral patterns are an expression of our past experience from the
memories we retain. Our ability to recollect these memories has an
integral part in determining the ways we respond or react to life’
circumstances. Therefore if we recollect incorrectly we will not respond
to a given situation in the manner we would have if we had the facts
straight. Therefore the truth may be distorted and we, like sheep, are
all led astray.
Through
the process of sanctification the Spirit of God is renewing our minds by
infusing us with the Word of God. However the process requires our
willful cooperation. God does not determine for us what we shall do,
because of His love for us we have been given the freedom of
self-determination. Our destiny is of our own choosing. We can choose to
believe the evidence of God’s word working in our lives or reject the
truth and be subject to the refining influence of our Father’s love
through discipline.
Now let’s
gets subjective. Are we determined to please God or please ourselves? If
we suffer loss who do we blame? Surely not God for we choose to obey or
not to obey Him.
What is
the motivation behind our inner desire? Whatever pain or pleasure we
experience in obedience to God will determines the association we tie to
the memory. When we are confronted with a similar set of events our
behavior in part has the propensity to be determined by the memories we
recollect. A rational or logical decision based on the facts would be the
appropriate response. Therefore the generated “feelings”, our emotions
would be a pleasurable experience. An irrational or illogical response
would solicit negative emotions or pain.
In order
for us to be transformed through the renewing of our minds we must change
our associations to pleasurable feelings to obeying the Word of God. At
the same time we need to learn to tie the pain we experience to
disobedience to God’s will. Through the positive reinforcement of God’s
promises we can tie pleasurable feelings to our acts of obedience and
control our thinking; therefore we take charge of our emotions until God
begins to work on another area of our character.
When our
wills are turned by the Holy Spirit working with us and in us we will be
able to achieve God’s highest desire for our life. We would do what Jesus
did, obey the Father. We would reflect the life of Christ through our
daily walk.
When we
assimilate the Word of God into the core of our being and draw our life
from Christ as our only source; we will find the experiential reality of
our faith will jettison our level of motivation heavenward.
All
things work for the good of those who are called according to God’s
purposes. No matter what circumstance we find or place ourselves in,
through blind obedience or human mischief, God knows what we are doing and
will work it out for our benefit. Yes, even if that means we need
discipline.
One of the largest
problems counselors face is exposing denial for a client. We need to
acknowledge there is a problem.
We must own the problem;
therefore we are responsible for the response or reaction..
Accepting the reality of
there being a problem benefits us by defining, ‘Where we are right now!’
The hardest thing to do
sometimes is to ‘Tell yourself the truth.’
Omission is a form of
denial; we neglect the evidence that there is a problem.
Overt or outward forms of
denial result in procrastination.
Self-defense mechanisms
short-circuit the resolution process and may block the awareness of a
problem existing.
Honesty demands that we
see our part in the problem.
We need to acknowledge our
negative behaviors; what is not working and change what does not work.
We change our perception
by confronting the destructive forces with God’s Truth.
We need to admit our part
and own the problem to overcome denial. We determine many of our own
experiences.
We overcome by defining
the problem, owning it, and writing it down.
We need to allow ourselves
to be less than perfect. Then we need to surrender the problem to God so
He can change us.
What is the benefit of the
behavior? What is in it for them?
When people change the
behavior, they change the results.
Why we do is different
than how we do things? Our approach is the key factor to determining
results.
Reason and logic are the
things that determine the course of action for a positive payoff.
If we don’t determine the
‘Why’, we won’t determine the reason for the negative results.
When we question a
person’s behavior, we must keep asking ‘What’s the payoff?’
Why is the negative
behavior working? On what level is there a payoff? What is the ‘root
cause’ for the behavior?
Challenging the behavior
is one way to figure out the payoff. Analysis results in the root cause.
What is the incoming
benefit? Why are we repeating the behavior?
Negative behavior results
in possible emotional, physical, and spiritual damage.
We may be blind to the
payoffs! We need to find the benefits and values for not changing
negative behaviors.
To break the cycle, we
must reveal the truth. There are payoffs for all behaviors.
Trials and tribulations
are part of life.
We are our own stewards;
we are responsible for the quality of our life.
Ready, aim, fire =
action.. Practice what you preach. ‘Be ye doer’s of the Word’
The rewards, our Father’s
blessing or discipline or just punishment is a result of the actions we do
or do not take.
Intentions are not
rewarded; it is what we do with our life that counts and is rewarded.
Grace allows us to be
human and God’s mercy covers a multitude of shortcomings.
We are accountable for the
way people treat us. We need to measure the response and weigh the
actions of others toward us. Are the outcomes what we desire?
The Law of ‘Be, Do, and
Have’ apply to accomplishing any goal? We need to ‘Be committed, Do what
it takes, then we’ll Have what we want.
We must be doers’ of what
the word says to get the payoffs we desire! When are you going to pull
the trigger?
Our tendencies are set in
motion and momentum is gained when we continue to work toward the goals.
There are two motivators:
Pleasure or Pain. Pleasing God or suffering loss from disobedience is our
choice.
We want to escape pain;
while we want to satisfy our craving for pleasure. The false identity
wants ‘Instant Gratification’.
Godly knowledge,
understanding and wisdom eliminate the fear of taking risks and walking in
faith towards God. We can take risks knowing that God is with us. Or, we
can loose the rewards by playing it safe and staying in our comfort zone.
Fear debilitates while
faith towards God enables. Perfect love casts out all fear. We will know
God’s promises enable us to do all things in Christ. We are worth our
hopes and dreams. God’s people perish for a lack of vision. What are
your dreams worth?
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