ROMANS 12:2 says: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Many people would like to see change in their life. But how?
To change the way we act, we must first change the way we think. Because we act like the person we think we are.
But to change our thinking, we will need to focus on different information.
Our beliefs are the cause of our actions. So to permanently change behavior, beliefs must be changed.
A belief is a thought one has decided to accept as truth. We choose our beliefs. Then our beliefs determine our actions. We always act on what we believe.
As long as we think something is advantageous for us, we will keep doing it. When we realize something is not advantageous for us, we stop it.
You may argue with this, thinking that we sometimes do things we know are not good for us. But only do them if we think we are gaining some benefit from doing them. Usually it is choosing to receive a near-term benefit in exchange for longer-term harm.
Why do people do what they do? Because of what they believe. All people always do what they believe is their best choice at the time in order to get what they think they want. Always!
We normally do not act contrary to our beliefs, except under great pressure. But even when forced to do something against our will, we will only do it if it seems to be the best thing we can do under those circumstances.
When our beliefs change, our talking and our actions will also change. Trying to change our actions without first changing our beliefs will fail because our beliefs govern our actions.
For example, believing that God loves us instead of being mad at us will change the way we act. If we believe God loves us, we will turn to God when we need help. But if we believe God is mad at us, we will be hesitant to seek God’s help.
Our beliefs may be based on incomplete and inaccurate information — in fact they usually are. But our beliefs always determine our actions.
Humans are like a guided missile, programmed to change course when new information is presented and accepted.
So the first step for positive change in our life is to get information that will change the way we think. Read the letters to the Church in the New Testament and find out what Jesus Christ has done for us. Find out who we are in Christ. Find out how God sees us.
SAY THIS: To change my behavior, I must first change my beliefs.