"We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ or farther away from it."
~ by John Ortberg ~
I have been thinking about the connection between beliefs, thoughts, and actions since I read the above quote. Our actions begin with a thought. Our thoughts are based on what we believe.
We have conscious and subconscious thoughts. Both are the springboard for actions. Let’s consider an example of each. We see a cookie and think how delicious it looks. We then eat one. This is a very basic example that shows how something as simple as eating begins with a thought. But what about subconscious thoughts? Take breathing for example. We don’t have to think about breathing. It happens automatically. Yet breathing still begins with a thought process in the mind.
What does this have to do with our belief system? The actions that our thoughts lead to are based on deep belief systems. How many of you have automatically reacted to a situation or person without even thinking about it? I would venture to say that we all have at one time or another. What I’d like to propose is that those times when we react without thinking we are still acting out of our belief system. We may not even consciously know what we are believing at the time, but we are acting on it none the less. If I react without thinking, it is because somewhere, deep in my thoughts, I have a belief that condones that action at that moment. Sometimes, we even make excuses for these beliefs.
How many times have you heard somebody say the following:
“Oh, she’s just a worrier. She always has been. That’s just how she is.”
Or how about:
“I’m just a worrier. I always have been. That’s just me.”
Some people don’t think anything about worrying. In their thinking it’s normal and no big deal OR they’ve developed such a habit of worrying that its second nature to them. They are acting out of their belief system which says it’s no big deal to worry. However, when we read Scripture we realize that God tells us not to worry. Why? Because worry is just fear disguised in more acceptable language. Scripture tells us that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear.
Now, before moving on, let me say that there may be times when we find ourselves worrying about something. Yet we know that we ought not to worry. This is not the same thing as excusing our worry as a normative character trait, as in the example I gave. In addition, there are times, the enemy can attack us with fear/worry from without. In those moments, we have to remember God’s truth and stand on it.
Having said all of this, we must, as the quotation implies, understand how important it is that we assess our thoughts and our beliefs. What we think is based on what we believe. Our actions are based on what we think. Therefore, we are what we believe, both consciously and subconsciously. We need to really look critically at what we believe and determine if our beliefs conform to God’s truth. If they don’t, then we will most likely move farther away from the Truth.
Therefore, let us all be challenged to really consider our deepest beliefs so that we can continuously move closer and closer to our precious Savior, Jesus Christ, and to our Father, who is our Maker.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8, (NIV)
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For more In "Other" Words posts, visit Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31.
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