“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
-Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Have you ever considered why you struggle with believing God at His Word?
Maybe you don’t even consider the internal wrestle you have because you haven’t connected with the inner war.
As a life coach in the Christian community, I have helped many recognize where their thought patterns conflict with what the Word of God says…and a very high percentage of those people weren’t even aware of the belief systems that were blocking them from hearing the Word and believing it. We had to sift through the difference between their feelings and experiences and then go to the Word of God, read what He says about the particular thought, and from there, they had to willfully choose to believe what God said over what their current patterns were saying.
Identifying the common battle that many of my church family experience is a key factor in unlocking the kingdom of Heaven in our lives. But all too often, thought patterns and belief systems that conflict with the Word of God goes unnoticed or dismissed.
Let’s take a look at this potential inner wrestle that you may have with fresh eyes and connect with the “why.”
The idea of childlikeness and receiving the Kingdom of Heaven is a bigger challenge than we are recognizing. Mostly because we have become so accustomed to understanding these concepts through head knowledge and self-awareness, we have not developed the childlike ability to just receive what God says—who we are to Him, who He is to us, and all that’s available through Him as children of God and carriers of His presence.
When we were little, we simply believed what our parents told us.
A child believes what they are taught.
Our parents also provided all our needs, food, shelter, clothing, protection (although I am aware that some people have come from heartbreaking situations where they weren’t provided for). Typically, we didn’t have to beg or plead; what we needed was readily given to us. As we grew up, we came to a realization that not everything they told us was consistent or believable, and, simultaneously, it became our responsibility to take care of ourselves and provide for our own needs. So, we moved away from trusting everything they said and their provision. As we did this we became more aware of the world around us. The more we became aware of the world around us, the more we subconsciously developed a belief system based on our independent human understanding and decided what our truth would be, implementing the work it requires to become self-sufficient.
Now, after all these years of learning, thinking for ourselves, and providing, let’s go back and be that child who just believes and receives from our Heavenly Father without overthinking, justifying, or rationalizing.
Just hear like a child, believe, and form our world perspective around His.
Simple, right?
Not so much.
When we were young, we simply believed that our family life was the way it was supposed to be. As we got older, we learned there are many other beliefs in this world and discovered that some of the ways we were raised had a negative effect on us. So we began to search for “truth.”
Through our searching, we begin to break away from a childlike response to life, relying on our own understanding and newfound knowledge. This development is called maturing and becoming independent from our parents. This independent wiring is inside of each one of us, and while we are called to mature spiritually, the method to maturity through independence is through our human understanding and not our spirit coming into full maturity. Unless we understand the difference, these concepts will mess with our walks with God, blocking us from experiencing all that is ours through Jesus.
“Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter in.” — Matthew 18:3 (TPT)
There it is!
We have to dramatically change our thinking and become teachable.
We have to become like that pure, innocent child that just believes what God says without hesitation or our interjected arguments (verbal or non-verbal—ahem our thought-life) that conflicts with God’s heart.
We have to undo the thought patterns that have formed through life’s painful and hard experiences and learn about the Kingdom of Heaven, and it won’t be through our human reasoning.
Humanistic thought patterns will not allow us to become teachable.
Basically, we need to get our big smart brains out of the way so we can truly receive all that Jesus paid for.
Pray with me:
Father, I want to grow in the childlike ability to hear and receive all you have for me. Forgive me for thinking that my thoughts are above Yours. I don’t want to limit You in my life in any way — I want to enter into the fullness of Your Kingdom and everything that Jesus paid for here and now. Holy Spirit, help me identify the thought patterns and belief systems that are not of the Kingdom of Heaven. Please reveal to me where I’m operating independently, leaning to my human understanding, not leaning to you for a wisdom that is beyond humanistic thinking. I’m realizing that there are many methods I’ve adopted that are earthly, and those belief systems have limited me from just believing You at Your Word. I’m ready to lay down every thought and belief that does not reflect the way of your Kingdom. Here I am Holy Spirit! I’m ready to get my thoughts, my ideas, my feelings, and my beliefs out of the way until my belief system is formed around Your will and Your way. In Jesus name, I pray, amen.
Today’s devotional was adapted from my book, Ripple Effect: A Transformational Journey into God’s Heart that Will Change You from the Inside Out. I pray these words met you.
Much love, J
