Temptation : Why Can't I Say No?نموونە

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THOUGHT PATTERNS I NEED TO BE SET FREE FROM?

The battle for freedom from wrong beliefs that lead to wrong behaviours is one of the biggest battles we face as Christ-followers. This affects our holiness, and how we view God and relate to Him. It also affects us daily in how we relate with others.

Let us look at only three patterns or idols of the heart that become strongholds of thinking. An idol is, anything we over-desire and desire more than God.

LOOK GOOD

This is all about keeping up appearances. You live life pretending to be someone else. This happens when we do not live out of our identity in Christ. You lie, cheat, deceive, and create false impressions. Because you want people’s approval, you find it difficult to say “NO” because you want to maintain the image of the ‘nice guy’. This idol will mask itself in good works. Also, I indulge in comparison and unhealthy competition, because I want to feel good about myself.

FEEL GOOD

We live in a very sensual world. You can make some harmful lifestyle choices if everything is about making you feel good. You can’t always feel good. God has given us a lot of emotions. We feel angry, grieved, jealous, sad, happy, joyful, etc. So, while we are NOT ruled by our emotions, they are markers about how we are experiencing the world around us.

Our feelings are a response to our thoughts which are dictated by our beliefs. If we believe that all negative emotions are from the devil or an indication that we do not have faith; the result will be that we deny those emotions and live with unreality. I suppress my true feelings masking it with religious mumbo jumbo. There is a place for the right confession. While we declare the truth we do not deny the fact. E.g.) I am sad that my daughter is unwell (FACT) but I know God can and will heal her (TRUTH). I am sad I lost my job (FACT) but I know God is my provider (TRUTH).

Feeling driven people don’t like to move out of their comfort zone. Comfort and pleasure are idols. The need to feel good can also result in self-medicating addictive behaviours that give you that constant “high”. This is seen with the overconsumption of social media, movies, gaming, and porn.

BE RIGHT

This behaviour is fuelled by the belief that I need to be perfect. Perfectionism drives what I do and how I relate with people. It keeps me from being who I truly am because I cannot show any weakness. So, we need to be right at any cost. This leads to lying, cover-up, deceitful behaviour, rationalizing our faults, blaming others, and inability to take responsibility for our behaviour. Apologizing and owning up is the hardest thing for one to do because their identity and self-worth are attached to what they do and not to who they are in Christ.

All of us have elements of all 3 of these wrong belief systems. But as we renew our minds, we will get healthier and learn to walk in true freedom.

REFLECTIONS

With which of the three idols of the heart can you relate?