Every year in January, persons across America make New Year’s resolutions, deciding to change something about their life. I don’t know about you, but most of my resolutions have lasted a few weeks before ending up in the dust bin.
What accounts for this inability to change? Our core beliefs make the difference. Change is difficult because we have no direct control over these deep beliefs and we always live out of our deep beliefs.
In their book, In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God
it is a frustrating waste of time to try to believe something (or increase your belief) directly. Failure is virtually guaranteed. (p. 26)
Direct access is blocked. On the other hand, indirect influence is powerful and doable. Acting in partnership with God, we can learn the truth, remain honest about who and how we are, confess our sin as soon as we are aware, and practice disciplines to train body and soul. Working with the Spirit and our spiritual siblings, all the while maintaining honest with God, self, and others, transformation will occur.
Recommended
- In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God
- Forthcoming (Fall 2009) issue of the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care (Klaus Issler has an article on this topic that will be well worth a read).
