So far we’ve covered the first 3 steps of living a victorious life:
- Get serious about changing
- Believe it is possible
- Change our thinking pattern.
Here are the last 4 steps in going from a defeated mindset to one of victory
Step 4 Make the effort
Revamping our deeply entrenched belief system is no easy task! You may be thinking, “But I did try and failed. I just couldn’t do it!” Let me ask you:
- How long did you try? 1 day, 1 week, 1 month? Do you really expect to overcome a pattern of stinking thinking of 20+ (or whatever) years overnight?!
- Did you really put out the effort? Or did you expect God was going to step in and just zap your issue away? He doesn’t work that way. He could. However, God wants to increase your intimacy with Him. Besides, you probably wouldn’t appreciate it as much if it was just handed to you on a silver platter. God desires mature children, not spoiled brats.
Accept the fact: It’s going to take time and effort!
The Bible tells us to pursue righteousness. That implies lots of effort and perseverance. Don’t give up! Review the reasons why you want to change (see Step #1).
Step 5 Do it God’s way and in His strength, i.e. Surrender
If we try changing our pattern of thinking without God, we are going to fail. Period. Your Maker knows everything about you. Everything (see Ps 139). He knows which truths you need now and how to communicate them to you in a way that makes sense to you.
He also has the power to change your thinking as well as your heart. God Himself will do it in you. Listen to what Nancy DeMoss says in her book Surrender:
“Once I came to that point of surrender, God began to ignite faith in my heart—faith that He would enable me to do whatever He called me to do, in spite of my personal limitations and inadequacies.”1
That’s not faith in ourselves, but faith in Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1).
Surrender your pride and be willing to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let God have His perfect way in you. Trust me –you won’t be disappointed!
Step 6 Apply the Truth
Knowing the truth is only the beginning and, alone, is not enough . We must apply it to our lives. What truths of God can you apply to your wrong thinking today?
Step 7 Praise Him for every single victory and for what He is going to do
I think this is one of the main reasons we aren’t seeing quicker and lasting results in changing our perspective. Giving God the glory will keep you faithful, motivated, and persistent. God loves the praises of His children and will bless you greatly for attributing any success to Him alone.
God has given me victory in many areas of my life by using these principles. These truths work! They will work for you if you apply them.
Cooperate with God and do your part. Then watch how the King of kings and lover of your soul gives you the mind of Christ in increasing measure!
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16)
1Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Surrender (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2005), 234.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.