I learned a long time ago the only thing keeping me from what I say I want-and what I have-is what I think.

I realized what's really needed is a BELIEF REVOLUTION.

Just What is a Belief Revolution?

Have you ever heard of stinkin' thinkin'? It's what most of us practice all day, every day.

Statistics say we humans think around 20,000 thoughts per day. And research speculates 90 to 95 percent of those thoughts are negative. These are the "can't, won't, shouldn't, didn't" kind of thoughts. Is it any surprise that it's tricky to get ourselves off the couch and into action? Especially when most of our subconscious thoughts are screaming, "That Will Never Happen!" every time we dare to dream a big dream?

The only way to change this is a radical transformation. A Revolution. 

Where Do We Start?

As the saying goes, first we have to admit we have a problem. Because until we admit there's an obstacle between our ears, we'll never begin the process of transformation, 

Proverbs 23:7 says, "as a man thinks in his heart, he is." This scripture is talking about eating supper with a miser who says, "eat, eat, eat" but all the time he's wishing you wouldn't. The lesson? We're never be free from what we believe, even if we are acting like it. And if our 'believer' is a mess, our life is a mess. Wrong thoughts produce wrong actions which generate poor results.

It's called COGNITIVE DISSONANCE.

cog·ni·tive dis·so·nance /ˈkäɡnədiv ˈdisənəns/ : the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.

In coaching terms, it's also known as the Intellectual Immune System. And that means we can not believe or act on anything that doesn't feel authentic to us. If it doesn't come out of the core of our being, we can just bet we won't make lasting change. It's the primary reason most people can't stick with a New Year's Resolution. To practice a belief revolution lifestyle, it has to start as an inside-the-mind job FIRST.

A Renewed Mind is the Key

2 Corinthians 10 tells us we have to tear down and demolish all the thoughts and imaginations that don't line up with the Word of God. Romans 12 tells us to be transformed by renewing our minds. It makes sense then, right, that we have to accept who God says we are, and what He says is possible?

Most Christians don't.

We take the word of our Sunday School teacher, our pastor, or Aunt Betty who goes to church all the time. My question for you is this, when was the last time YOU dug into the Word of God to learn for yourself what He says about you? 

Like most things in life, we take everyone else's word on the subject.

Don't get me wrong here. It isn't just about renewing our minds spiritually. There's an entire catalog of deeply held beliefs we carry with us from childhood and our education. Are you still carrying scars from high school or the biting words of some uncaring employer? There are layers of stinkin' thinkin' to address. We have to start somewhere. And for each of us, it comes down to a decision. (I wrote an article about that whole concept. It's called GNATS.)

What the Mind Decides

But listen, Lovely, there comes a time to DECIDE if we will have different. If we will be different. A Belief Revolution draws a line in the sand and says, "never again, no more will I face that enemy". You know them... the enemies of doubt, fear, and stopping before we're finished because it gets hard. 

Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do His work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again." Exodus 14:13 MSG

And once we make that agreement with ourselves, it's time to take some action.

Put Faith to the Thoughts and Feet to the Faith

Another saying (for your enjoyment): a dream without a plan is just a wish. Or, in the words of Cinderella, "a dream is a wish your heart makes."

You're welcome.

Once we have a decision securely pinned in place, we MUST put action to the words. You can't just SAY you're a writer; start (and keep) writing. You can't just SAY you're going to start a new nonprofit; take the actions to begin. Instead of thinking about doing something, we actually have to DO something!

I understand the pain of failure. When you've tried and failed - and tried and failed - and tried and failed-it's hard to pick your feet up and start running after the dream again. But ambitious, Christian women have a God-given buffer against disappointment. We just run at a different frequency. We are bounce-backable and resilient!

Yet, even the best of us can find ourselves sidelined from time to time. I know I have, and you can read about it on my home page.

Yeah. It's a Little Salty

I know you get it. Once you are free from something, it causes pain to see anyone else trapped. And that's how I am about being stuck in negativity, and fear, and victimization.

No one else is responsible for me, but me. And no one else is responsible for you, but you. I wish I could blame others for my bad choices, but at the end of the day, I have what I have because of what I thought. Beyond that, where I am, and where you are, directly result from what we DID about what we THOUGHT.

But that's why this is a REVOLUTION and not a campfire sing along. It isn't a place for people who butter their morning toast with excuses about why nothing happened yesterday. Or blame their parents or boss for the bad things that will happen later today.

The Bad is Going to Come

Obviously, bad things happen. And boy do I know about that. However, the bad only defines us if we let it. How we choose to think about the bad breaks comes down to a simple Biblical truth from James chapter 1, verses 2-8:

My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!  For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.  And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and He will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but He will overwhelm your failures with His generous grace. Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition? (TPT)

Yet Here's the Remarkable Thing!!!!!

Ultimately, once we realize it's an inside-the-mind job, and we decide we are meant for more, and we put feet to the faith, we experience a liberating power that comes from the freedom to be one hundred percent authentic! And when we are living out the fullness of who and what the Lord made us to be, there is no stopping us!

We think that our hanging back on the sidelines keeps us safe. Ironically, our true safety comes in walking confidently in our power. As a result, our freedom sets the people we love the most free, too.