Frequently Asked Questions about Thinking
Verses on thought
life - Rom. 8:5-7; 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 4:8-9; Col. 3:2; 1 Pet. 1:13
How do I combat false thinking?
Much of what you
are struggling with I tried to deal with in Hope for the Brokenhearted.
The chapter on “Why there is Suffering,” the chapters on “God's Love,” Biblical
Self-concept,” and on “Love” are designed to help straighten out your thinking.
The reason that it is so hard to sort out the lies is because they were told to
you while you were young and often. It was like brain washing. You have to
really sort out what sinful men have said and what God has said. Understand the
difference. Then ask yourself, “Is what God says true or what sinful men have
said true”? Take your time, work on, and come to grips with these issues.
Meditate on the verses that correct the lies of Satan and sinful men. Memorize
them if you need to. The chapter on a “Biblical Self-concept” is to help on how
you view yourself.
How do I straighten out the lies I believed?
Rom.
3 clearly tells what is in the heart of man and on the lips of men. When we are
young, it is easy to believe a lie. The
lies I am referring to are the wrong conclusions that we come to
regardless if they were spoken, communicated by actions or attitudes of others,
or our own wrong interpretation of what happened. When it is told to us
over and over again by someone who is supposed to be taking care of us, it
becomes like brain washing.
To
reverse these lies:
1)
Know that people tell lies.
Their
throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they
have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full
of cursing and bitterness: (Romans
2)
The source of these words is an evil heart.
And
he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:20-23 KJV)
3)
God's Word has more authority than man's word.
All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)
4)
Know that what God says is always true.
In
hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world
began; (Titus 1:2 KJV)
5)
Replace what man has said with what God has said. This takes memorization and
review of the verses (meditation)
And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)
What types of issues do I need to sort
out in my mind?
The things you need to resolve in
your mind are: the lies Satan tries to tell you and what is the truth, what is
love, what is sin, are you guilty or are you a victim of someone else's guilt,
where was God and what role does He plays in my present and my future, how to
deal with fear and stress, does God love me, the role of suffering, and
understand God's truth of forgiveness The way to help resolve the issues is to
keep repeating verses that deal with the issues.
Would I have been abused had I been more perfect?
Abuse comes from the heart of the abuser (Mark