Why are thought processes so difficult to change?
To Earn or to Receive. That is the Question.
Why are thought processes so difficult to change? They require a new nature, a new way of thinking, discipline, and time.
What do I mean by a new nature? Let's say that you wanted to change your life; however, everything you've tried to do has failed. What if you're just like a frog stuck in dirty pond water? How can you change your life if you're still in the dirty pond water?
So you've got to get out of the dirty pond water, right? You need a prince or a princess to come along and kiss you, so you can turn into the prince or princess too.
The great news is that this happened 2000 years ago when Jesus came. He came, lived a perfect life, and then died for your sins to pull you out of the dirty pond water to give you a new nature as a prince of the kingdom.
He literally wants to turn you into a son of the Kingdom of God. So when we talk about the ultimate level up, what's better than getting a new nature and getting a relationship with the Father of the whole universe?
After you receive Jesus as your Lord and get a new nature, you have to begin to receive the new way of thinking. What do I mean by receiving the new way of thinking?
The world says you've got to work for stuff. You've got to pull yourself out of the dirty pond, and you've got to be the one to transform yourself. We all know how that's worked. It hasn't.
So the difference between the way the world thinks and the kingdom of God thinks is by receiving what's already been paid for. Jesus already paid for your freedom of thinking by paying for it with His blood, and His blood wasn't cheap.
If Jesus already paid for something, what makes us think we can earn it? Why would we want to pay double for something someone else has already paid for anyway?
Now that we know this way of thinking isn't something we have to earn, but it's something we receive, we have to learn how to receive it.
Discipline
We receive the new way of thinking by being disciplined to get into the written Word of God, the Bible, to see what God is saying. We look at what He says about us and how to live.
Then we apply the written Words to our everyday life. For every circumstance we face, we place the Word of God above that circumstance.
I'm afraid. No, the Word says, I have not been given a spirit of fear. I am in need. No, the Word says God will provide all my needs. And so on.
And this is where the discipline comes in. The enemy bosses will come at you one after another. You've faced them for so long, they are like roommates. You eat together. You sleep together. You do all of life together. And they need to go.
The great news is that you overcome by the precious blood that Jesus paid for your victory and the written Word of God.
Time
Then it requires time. Some people see the freedom immediately. I know a guy who was always compelled to drink. One day, he met Jesus. He's never touched a drink since.
The time part is just always keeping your eyes on Jesus. Whatever comes your way, eyes on Jesus. What would He do in this situation?
Praying for Others
An extra Easter egg for you: One thing I've also loved in changing my thinking has been to immediately go into prayer mode for others. If the enemy is going to come after me, I'm going to start praying for those who I know need prayer.
This is a battle; however, we've already got the victory. We pray from a position of victory, seated in heavenly places.
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