How to Reconfigure Our Irrational Assumptions With Scriptural Thinking - Rom. 12:1,2
Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the USA’s Federal Reserve Bank said of Americans in 1997, "I am afraid that too many have given in to the thinking of irrational exuberance."
Quote:Let the mind of the Master be the master of your mind.
Too many times we allow ourselves to be overly elated or discouraged because of irrational assumptions. Faulty thinking tends to lead to negative reactions about our problems, relationships or circumstances.
The following is a list of ten irrational assumptions drawn up by a famous counselor named Dr. Robert Ellis. These ten irrational views often lead to destructive feelings and behavior. He writes, "People are responsible for getting or remaining hurt if they keep thinking irrationally in the following ten areas." Only when we learn to replace, reconfigure and be renewed with scripturally based Spirit led thinking are we able to overcome any irrational assumption.
Let us ask the Lord to give us the wisdom to know how to reprogram our thinking so we can not only be renewed, by transformed into pro-actively looking at every situation with the mind of Christ Jesus.
Reconsider replacing the following faulty assumptions with scripturally based Spirit filled perspectives, assumptions and reactions to your problems.
1. "I must be loved and accepted by those who are most important to me and live up to their expectations." Too many people falsely assume that their well being is based on upon being loved and accepted by people. Instead, let us remember that our hope, help and ultimate love comes from the Lord. Jesus said, "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt. 5:11,12) Rejoice, reprogram and reactivate Christ’s example of being of good cheer since He overcame the world. Most of the time Christ was not shown love and acceptance by His obeyed God and overcame all. (John 16:31-33)
2. "I must be perfectly competent and successful in achieving before I can be happy with myself." Paul wrote, "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from god. He made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor. 3:4-6) Thank God that He equips, energizes and enables you to be competent for everything He asks you to be, do and think. (Phil. 4:12,13)
3. "It is easier to avoid certain difficulties and responsibilities rather than face them; if I ignore them, they may go away." Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)Most people are willing to pay a price for something they value. If we really prize being a follower of Jesus Christ we will be willing to deny ourself of our rights, shoulder the cross of responsibilities that Christ gives and follow Him wherever He leads.
Illustration: Mr. John Hall, pioneer missionary to the Tangale in Nigeria, used this theme song to help him take on the responsibilities God had given him in bringing the gospel to an unreached people group in 1920. As he bicycled to a land known to be inhabited by cannibals he sang, "Anywhere with Jesus, I can safely go. Anywhere He leads me in this world below. Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade. Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise." Anywhere, anywhere, fear I cannot know. Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go." Later Mr. Hall wrote the book, From Cannibals to Christ detailing how the Lord used him to start a people movement for Christ that now has more than three million Christians.
4. "Certain people are bad and deserve blame or punishment for their sins." Jesus said, ’Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24) Jesus prayed for people who are yet to know God in a personal way. He interceded for people who need to grow up in all spiritual, emotional and mental dimensions instead of condemning them. We should follow the fine example of our Lord Jesus by praying for people instead of writing them off.
5. "I must be prepared for the worst by constantly dwelling on what may be bad, dangerous or feared." Instead we should program our thinking according to I John 4:18 where John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts our fear...We love because He first loved us." Our thoughts should be filled with what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable and praise-worthy. Stop filling your mind with a scenario of the worst possible situations and concentrate on letting love overcome all fears, disappointments and troubles.
6. "I have been shaped by the past and it is too late to change." Paul wrote, "If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." Thank God that you do not have to be a prisoner to the past. Let the past be passed away. Paul wrote, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14)
7. "It is terrible when things to not go the way I have planned." Jesus said, "Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me; yet not what I will but let your will be done." (Mark 14:36) God has the capacity to make all things work together for good as long as we love Him and fit in to His plans. (Rom 8:28,29)
Illustration: The old song writer penned these wise words, "God is still working on me. He’s still working on me. It only took a week to make the stars and the sea. But He’s still working on me."
8. "I have no control over my own happiness; what happens to me determines my happiness." Paul wrote, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed by not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Cor. 4:7-9)Overcomers have a way of overcoming their difficulties through the empowering of the Spirit and the word of God.
9. "I must find the quick and perfect solution to my problem." Paul wrote, "Let gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:5-7) Allow the Lord to work out His greater will in and through your life according to His schedule not your own. Joseph allowed God to carry out His greater will through his life as it took nearly twenty years before His purposes became evident.
10. "It is easier to keep doing things the way I am doing them without taking on new commitments." Paul wrote, "Love is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, it rejoices with the truth... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (I Cor. 13:5-7) God always wants us to keep growing, progressing and giving love in ever increasing measure. Allow the word of God to produce in you a greater love for the Lord, for yourself and for your those around you. Do not be afraid to risk loving more.
Ask the Lord to help you bring every irrational assumption into obedience for Christ. Then your feelings, behavior and thinking will replace irrational exuberance or discouragement with Christ’s steady bearings.
Many of the ideas for this message were taken from p. 90,91 "Helping People Through Their Problems" Selwyn Hughes, Bethany House, MN
