“Faulty
thinking is having a false way of thinking that was probably triggered by the environment in which one lives in. The environment
greatly affects one's ability to decide for themselves. The environment
includes family, friends, teachers, strangers, religion, society, and media.
Naturally, our beliefs and our surroundings affect our behaviors and how we
view (perceive) other behaviors.”
“Critical
thinking on the other hand, is the identification and evaluation of evidence to
guide decision making. A critical thinker uses broad in-depth analysis of
evidence to make decisions and communicate his/her beliefs clearly and
accurately."
At
times we can become the sum of our life experiences or a product of our
environment. Faulty thinking can be related to upbringing or how we view
the “whole” of our life and our views of life can be wrong. Wrong
thinking can be passed down from generation to generation. Then some
people get corrupted by their life experiences. Life experiences can be helpful
to learn important lessons or they can be unhelpful as far as putting us into a
wrong pattern of thinking.
The
Children of Israel had a self-defeated attitude in the wilderness is that they
already gave up before they even tried to conquer the promise land when God had
promised it to Abraham. In turn, as Christians it says that the “blessing
of Abraham has been passed on to the Gentiles through Christ. Galatians
3:14” The Children of Israel had their part to play in the
saga, and it kept them out of the promise land. We are told that they
were kept out of the promise land, because of their unbelief. I
find too many Christians put everything on God, when the Bible talks about
“study to show ourselves approved,” “fight the good fight of faith,” “strive to
enter to His rest” and “put off everything that hinders us in the race.”
Therefore, since the promise of entering
his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have
fallen short of it. For this good news--that God has prepared this rest--has
been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they
didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. Hebrews 4:1-2
We
are co-laborers with God which means that we are working together with
God. Joseph did his part in not staying bitter against his brothers for
their betrayal and the brothers did have remorse about selling Joseph into
slavery. The reconciliation came because both parties were working
together for the common good. I had some strife with my sister after my
mother passed away, but we worked it out and it was some faulty thinking by my
sister that my father favored me above her. My sister held on to that
resentment for 30 years, but it got worked out when she shared her strife,
right after my mother’s death. So my mother’s death actually turned my
sister and my relationship around.
For we are co-workers in God's service;
you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor. 3:9
Only
Joshua and Caleb saw the possibilities of success.
We saw the Nephilim there (the
descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our
own eyes, and we looked the same to them." That night all the members of
the community raised their voices and wept aloud. Numbers 13:33
Another
false perception is people don’t know what God’s will is. The leper came
to Jesus and asked if he was willing to heal him. Some people don’t
believe that God is willing to heal them.
A man with leprosy came to him and
begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me
clean." And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand,
and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. Mark
1:41
One
man doubted Jesus ability to heal him.
It has often thrown him into fire or
water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and
help us." 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is
possible for one who believes." Mark 9:22-23
I
was talking to a single mother who told me she wanted to send her teenage
daughter to brat camp. She was not on alcohol or drugs, but it was her
negative/disrespectful attitude. I asked her how much she had prayed for
her daughter and she did not answer my question. I asked it several times.
She already had preconceived ideas that prayer does not work, it does no good.
Next,
it’s no positive expectations in God or anyone. To have a
successful team in in life if we were a military commander, we have to trust
those around us. The commander of the military who came to Jesus
understood that he said, “Speak the word Lord and my servant will be healed.”
To not be a micromanager at work, we have to trust employees around us to
get the job done.
Jesus said to him, "Shall I come
and heal him?" The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have
you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
he centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under
my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I
myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,'
and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do
this,' and he does it Matthew 8:8
A
person with a long term illness or single a long time, they start doubting
God’s goodness in their life to change their circumstances. A man lying
by the pool for a long time in the condition where Jesus said, “Would you be
made whole?”
Then Jesus saw him lying there and
learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him,
"Do you want to get well?" John 5:6
I
have more exposure now with screening single men after coming out of a good
marriage of almost 15 years. One man I was screening on the phone had the
preconceived notion that no one was worth his time so he was already defeated
before he even began his conversation with me. I could not help but
wonder why he was even trying online dating. He would not even give me a
chance through the conversation. David talked about his expectation or
hope is in the Lord.
My soul, wait you only upon God; for my
expectation is from him. Psalm 62:5
We have this hope as an anchor for
the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the
curtain, Hebrews 6:19
I wait for the LORD, my whole being
waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
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