November 24-25, 2012
Transformational Thought
A pretty interesting book was written about ten years ago titled The Knowing-Doing Gap. It highlighted an everyday phenomenon we see all around us and sometimes even in our own lives. In general, the bottom line of the book is that we all know what we should and should not do, but there is a huge gap between knowing it and actually doing it. We shouldn’t smoke … but we do. We shouldn’t overeat … but we do. We shouldn’t worry … but we do.
At Lighthouse Network, we call this our Intellectual Creed vs. our Behavioral Creed. Our Intellectual Creed is what we know we should do, or more exactly, what we know the Bible teaches us to do. Our Behavioral Creed is what we actually do in a given situation. Maturity, growth, and transformation are measured by how much our Behavioral Creed becomes more and more like our Intellectual Creed.
Our Intellectual Creed: we shouldn’t worry, no matter what the adversity because God is sovereign and in control of all things. Our Behavioral Creed: we end up worrying about events, the opinions of others, or other life elements that are out of our control. But they aren’t out of God’s control. Worrying interferes with everything in our life … our relationship with God, our interactions with our self and others, and it actually injures our brain chemistry. In fact, for many, trying not to worry is like trying not to think about something. The more we try, the more anxious we become. So, we even begin to worry about worrying. Trying to fight this battle alone gets to be so counterproductive.
Perspective on how we view ourselves, God, and the circumstances He allows in our lives is the key to good decision-making. Decision-making is knowing what the right thing to do is, and then actually doing it. The key to making a good decision is the answer to this key question. Will you have God’s perspective or your own? Big difference. Sometimes it’s hard to have God’s perspective, but the more time you spend with Him, getting to know Him, the clearer His perspective becomes to you. Stop focusing on worry and put your energy into communicating with God. This strategy will help you achieve freedom from all sorts of negative behavior, including worrying. The idea is simple: replace hurtful, self-defeating tendencies with something wonderfully positive – communicating with your Creator and Savior.
Today, don’t just talk to God … listen to Him as well. He speaks to you through His Holy Word, through His Holy Spirit, and through other believers. Besides that, He constantly speaks through the circumstances He allows in your life. As you give yourself over to communicating with Him more and more, you will find your worry-time evaporates as the knowing-doing gap closes. Your Behavioral Creed will match your Intellectual Creed. Our curriculum and workshops are designed to help you develop those Godly lenses and do what the Holy Bible teaches us to do. Whether your Behavioral Creed matches up with your Intellectual Creed is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I come to You in prayer with a thankful and penitent heart. I confess that I struggle to find the time to communicate with You … yet I seem to always find the time to worry about so many things that are out of my control. I have battled this worry-beast for years and have made little progress. Help me, Father, to focus more on You and less on worrying. Help me to speak and listen to You. I know that both are so important. I pray in the name of the One whose Intellectual Creed was His Behavioral Creed, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Luke 12:25-26
Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:4-5