How would you describe your life? Would you say that you are enjoying life or are you miserable? Is life overwhelming or do you have everything under control? Most people believe that if they could just eliminate the negative circumstances in their life, they would be happy.
There are two approaches to knowing how to deal with life – man’s approach and God’s approach.
This diagram illustrates the foundation of man’s approach is to know yourself.
Q2. Who are you? Write a few words to describe yourself.
Know Yourself
Man’s approach presumes that understanding yourself is the first step to understanding how to deal with life. This approach says, “You need to understand why you think the way you think, feel the way you feel, and act the way you act.” Man’s approach attaches labels to you that describe your past, your behavior, and your personality. For example: You are a victim, an addict or a perfectionist. These labels could describe you for the rest of your life.
Q3. How much time do you spend thinking about yourself? Has life gotten better as a result of thinking about yourself?
The next step in man’s approach to dealing with life is learning to love yourself. Once you know who you are, you need to embrace who you are. This approach may include the following thinking: “You need to believe in yourself and accept yourself. Stop punishing yourself. If you don’t love yourself, you will allow people to take advantage of you. You should focus on what is good about yourself.”
Q4. Have you been trying to love yourself more? Has life gotten better?
After you learn to love yourself, man’s approach encourages you to take control of your life. “You have to start controlling your situations, your future, and getting your needs met. You can do it. You have the power inside you.” For example, if you have trouble with anger, you need to stay away from anything that makes you angry.
This approach encourages you to figure out what and who should be in your life and keep everything and everyone else out. You need to protect yourself.
Q5. What are the circumstances you think need to change before you have your life under control?
Q6. Who are the people you think you need to get out of your life before you can be happy?
Cope
The end result of following man’s approach is that you will be able to cope with the circumstances in your life.
Q7. Have you been successful at coping with your life circumstances?
The problem with man’s approach is that it is self-focused. This kind of self-focused love leads to unhealthy behavior and the Bible warns against it.
“For people will love only themselves...They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good…You must stay away from people like that.” 2 Timothy 3:2–3, 5 (NLT)
If you’ve been following man’s approach to dealing with life, you are being cheated out of a better way.
“Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.” Colossians 2:8 (NLT)
God’s Approach
God’s approach to dealing with life doesn’t begin with thinking more about yourself and getting to know who you are; it begins with knowing who He is.
“Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing…” Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NLT)
Know God
The Bible says knowing God is the first step to knowing anything else.
“Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)
Since God created life, knowing Him is the best foundation for dealing with life.
“Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.” Isaiah 40:28–29 (NLT)
Know God’s Love
There is Someone Who loves you infinitely more than you can love yourself and He never changes.
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (NLT) 
Q8. Have you had an experience that caused you to doubt God’s love for you?
“If you are really wise, you’ll think this over – it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.” Psalm 107:43 (MSG)
Trust God
Man’s approach says you need to take control of your life; God’s approach says you need to trust His control. You trust God because He loves you. He can take care of you much better than you can take care of yourself.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
Q9. What would it take for you to trust God in every area of your life?
Joy
The exciting news is that when you trust God because you know Him and know how much He loves you, you can have joy in spite of any troubles in your life.
“I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” Psalm 31:7 (NLT)
Joy, contentment, and peace are outcomes that man’s approach never achieves.
The Challenge
God created life. Doesn’t it make sense that He knows best how to live it?
God loves you. How can you love yourself as much as He does?
God promises to take care of you. How can you take care of yourself as well as He can?
Many brilliant people have promoted man’s approach to dealing with life but God’s approach is wiser than any human plan.
“So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. This ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans…” 1 Corinthians 1:20, 25 (NLT)
Talk to God and tell Him you want to know Him and His love for you. Decide to trust God and start enjoying life.
Read the rest of the Psychological workbook to gain a better understanding of God's plan for your mind, will and emotions. Learn the key to experiencing peace instead of emotional ups and downs. Gain some practical tools for decision making. Find out how your actions and attitudes are rooted in what you believe.
1 comment:
VCLI Salt books have been helpful to me, in growing up spiritually in the truth. I have recognized my wrong thinking and the Lord has been renewing my mind and through having a 1 on 1 VCLI countselor she has been helpful in guiding me and encouraging me and pointing me to the cross. The importance to approach the throne of God seek forgiveness, repeant and forgive. God loves me and knows waht's best for me. He can be trusted. He will take care of me and he does a much better job. God's approach to life is the better choice indeed. Debra Avila
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