THE POWER OF ACCURATE THINKING

 

  I.  We are what we think. 

             A.  Solomon tells us, 

                  “ As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  (Proverbs 23:7) 

             B.  Our thinking controls our emotions which, in turn, control our actions. 

                          1. Our thinking is basically determined by our perception of self.  The                                psalmist understood the importance of self-image and reminds us of                                our value in God’s eyes. 

                               “What is man that You are mindful of him and the son of man                                  that You visit him.  For You have made him a little lower than                                  the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.”                                   (Ps. 8:4-5) 

                                       a.   A person with high self-esteem and a healthy outlook on life                                              will tend to look for the positive and be less likely to entertain                                              dark, negative thoughts.                          

                                       b.  A person with low self-esteem and a negative outlook on life                                              will basically react just the opposite.                                      

                                       c.   If our goal is to change our actions, the first step is to change                                              our thinking.  This is not an easy task.                                      

                                       d.   Our thinking has been molded by a lifetime of experiences. 

                          2.   Healthy thinking is the key to healthy living. 

                                       a.   Behavior modification is difficult, but It is not impossible.                                       

                                       b.   Our thinking can be changed, but not without proper training                                               and a lot of hard work.                                                   

                                                    1)   There are steps to take and skills to be mastered.                                                    

                                                    2)   We must understand cause and effect with regard to 
                                                          our actions.                                                   

                                                    3)   Old established thinking must be restructured.                                       

                                       c.   With time and effort the learning process will eventually pay                                              off.

                                                    1)   Familiar habits will be replaced with workable                                                           methods.                                                   

                                                    2)  Confidence in spiritual concepts will be strengthened.                                                    

                                                    3)  Our mind will automatically focus on what is good, what                                                           is pure and what is noble.                         

                          3.   By changing our perception of self we will automatically change both                                 our thinking and our actions. 

II.    The four steps in human behavior: 

             A.  Perception:  How I view myself and what I tell myself, about myself. 

                          1.   Our ability to deal with emotional pain in a positive manner is totally                                 dependent on our perception of self.                                      

                                       a.  The molding of our perception of self begins in early childhood. 

                                       b.   Once imbedded in the psyche it is extremely difficult to                                                   change.                                      

                                       c.   The ability to change is directly related to the desire to                                                    change. 

                          2.   When we  are faced with emotional pain, our perception of self 
                                determines our thinking. 

                                       a.   A person with a positive self-image will automatically look for                                              and find any positive aspects in the situation.  

                                       b.   A person with low self-esteem will immediately filter out the                                              positive in order to focus on the negative.                                       

             B.   Thoughts:  What we tell ourselves about the situation.  

                          1.   When faced with a emotionally painful situation we immediately 
                                engage in self-talk. 

                                       a.   We tell self how we feel in regard the situation.                                       

                                       b.   We tell self what we think about the situation.                                       

                                       c.   We tell self which emotions we are going to call up. 

             C.   Emotions:  The feelings which we call up. 

                          1.  The emotions we call up will determine our actions.                         

                               “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is                                  impulsive exalts folly.”  (Proverbs 14:29) 

                                       a.   A person with a positive self-image will call up emotions that                                              are positive and non-destructive. 

                                       b.    A person with a poor self-image will call up dark and negative                                               emotions which will result in destructive actions. 

                          2.   What we say and do in a particular situation will result from the 
                                emotions we call up. 

             D.   Actions:  All actions carry consequences, either good or bad. 

                          1.  This is why Jesus warns us, 

                                “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the 
                                  heart, and they defile a man.” (Matthew 15:18) 

                          2    In this same vein Solomon tells us, 

                                “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.”  
                                  (Proverbs 29-11) 

                          3.  To this the Apostle James adds, 

                               “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” 
                                 (James 1:19) 

             E.    Example:  Getting honked at by an impatient driver. 

             It is easy to see why it is essential that we take control of any situation in              the very first step of human reaction.  Furthermore, it is extremely impor-             tant that we develop a positive self-image if we want to enjoy a life of              “Every State Contentment.” 

III.   The Seven Risks of unprocessed emotional pain. 

             A.   Discontentment: 

             “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Philippians 2:14)                “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling”  (I Peter 4:9)

                          1.  Discontentment results from any statement, action or situation                                     we perceive to be negative, hurtful or unjust, and which tends to raise                                the level of anger. 

                          2.  Discontentment must never be allowed to progress to the point                                    where it becomes depression.                                      

                          3.  Discontentment can and must be dealt with using the three                                           skills which Jesus has taught us. 

             B.  Depression  (Anger turned inward) 

                   “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good 
                   word makes it glad.”  (Proverbs 12:25) 

                          1.   Depression results from a prolonged accumulation of unprocessed                                  emotional pain. 

                          2.   Severe depression can require medication under the instruction of a                                 physician before the individual can be stabilized to the point where                                 they are capable of being taught how to process their emotional pain. 

                          3.   Persons on an anti-depressant must never discontinue their
                                medication without the consent of their physician. 

             C.   Escape behavior  (Addiction) 

                   “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,                      with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace                      of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts                      and minds through Jesus Christ.”  (Philippians 4:6-7) 

                          1.   Prolonged depression will build more and more stress. 

                          2.   When the stress build-up reaches the point of overload the mind will                                 demand an escape behavior. 

                          3.   The chosen escape behavior will usually be something to which the                                 pain carrier has easy access.  

                          4.   In time the escape behavior (addiction) will become a larger problem                                 than the one the pain carrier was originally attempting to escape. 

             D.   Broken relationships: 

                   “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for
                     their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to 
                     him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up.”                      (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) 

                          1.   Any escape behavior will create stress in all relationships. 

                          2.   Those closest to the addicted person will be affected by the addiction                                   just as much as the one with the addiction. 

                          3.   Over time, the stress created will cause one relationship after another                                 to be severed to the point where the addicted person will find himself                                 totally alone.  

             E.   Legal Complications: 

                   “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him,                      lest your adversary deliver you to the judge… (Matt. 5:25) 

                          1.   All destructive behavior carries consequences, and often the problems
                                created by stress and broken relationships will wind up in court.

                                       a.   Addiction will destroy a marriage and can often results in                                               legal action. 

                                       b.   It is not uncommon to see the state  remove abused children                                              from a home. 

                                       c.   Illegal drugs and alcohol are responsible for more individuals                                              being in court than any other single reason. 

                                       d.   Virtually all crime in our society is either the direct or indirect                                               result of unresolved emotional pain. 

             F.   Loss of freedom: 

                   “...and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into 
                   prison.”  (Matt. 5:25) 

                                       a.   Our jails and prisons are filled with individuals who committed                                              crimes to get money to support their addiction. 

                                       b.   Most individuals in jail and prison are not bad people, they are                                               people who made bad choices. 

                                       c.   The cost to society caused by the addicted individual is almost                                               incomprehensible. 

                                       d.    In extreme cases severe unresolved emotional pain can even                                               lead a person to take their own life.

             G.   Suicide:   (A permanent solution to a temporary problem) 

                   “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was 
                   remorseful...saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood’...and 
                   departed and went out and hanged himself”  (Matt.25:3-5) 

                          1.   It is a national tragedy that the largest group committing suicide in our 
                                nation today are those between nine and nineteen years old. 

                          2.   Our children are killing themselves and their classmates at an 
                                alarming rate. 

                          3.   Every suicidal person goes through the same progression of events.

                                       a.   Low self-esteem

                                       b.   Unprocessed pain

                                       c.   Depression

                                       d.   Stress

                                       e.   Hopelessness

                                        f.   Plan in place

                                       g.   Opportunity  

                          4.   The method for interrupting the progression is relatively simple if the                                  suicidal tendency is recognized in time.

                                       a.   Increase the person’s self-esteem.

                                       b.   Instill Hope. 

             High self-esteem is an attitude, and there are any number of ways to im-             prove how we feel about ourselves.  One of the best ways is to look for ways              to help others.  There is nothing that can do more for a person’s self-esteem              than receiving sincere gratitude from a person you have helped.  This is espe-             cially true if the person helped has no possible way in which he or she can re-             pay the favor.  This in itself should be enough to cause us to reach out to those              who are hurting and needing help.  The apostle Peter tells us, 

            “For this very reason, giving  all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love.”  (II Peter 1:5-7)