Managing our Beliefs

How our beliefs are established and

how they can be changed
41
But the Lord said to her, "My dear
Martha, you are so upset over all
these details! 42There is really only
one thing worth being concerned
about. Mary has discovered it--and I
won't take it away from her."
Luke 10:41-42
 Beliefs – how they lead us
• What are beliefs?
• Why are they so important?
• How are beliefs formed?
• How do they become convictions?
• How can I know if they are good or bad?
• How can they be changed?
 What are beliefs?
“In the most basic sense, a belief is
any guiding principle that gives
direction or meaning to our
experiences in life. “
 Two kinds of beliefs:
• Conscious
“God forgave my sins in Jesus”

• Unconscious
“People will always try to take advantage
on me.”
 Martha’s probable beliefs:

• “The most important thing in life is to make a good

impression on people around”
• “You make a good impression on people by being
always busy – so you show that you are not lazy
and you deserves what you have.”
• “You will be appreciated if you house is always
clean and tidy, or if you are able to prepare a good
food.”
• “Be careful - People will always try to take
advantage of you. Make sure no one is treating you
unfairly.”
Why are beliefs so important?
“People always behave according to
their beliefs. “
“Sexual immorality is against the will
of God.”

“Pornography is an easy way to have

instant and intense pleasure”
“The righteous will live by their
faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
 How are beliefs formed?
15
The LORD God placed the man in
the Garden of Eden to tend and care
for it. 16But the LORD God gave him
this warning: "You may freely eat
any fruit in the garden 17except fruit
from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil. If you eat of its fruit,
you will surely die."
Gen 2:15-17 (NLT)
 Beliefs established:

“To eat the fruits from the trees God

gave me will be good for me.”

“To eat the fruit of the tree in the

middle of the garden will mean pain
and death in my life.”
“But the serpent said to the woman, You shall
not surely die, For God knows that in the day
you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you
will be like God, knowing the difference
between good and evil and blessing and
calamity.
And when the woman saw that the tree was
good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it
was delightful to look at, and a tree to be
desired in order to make one wise, she took of
its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her
husband, and he ate.”
Gen 3:6 (Amplified Version)
 New beliefs established:

• “I will not die if I eat this fruit.”

• “This fruit will make me like God.”
• “I will be a more discerning person.”
• “This fruit is beautiful, delicious and
desirable.”
• “God is not 100% trustworthy.”
• “God has hidden intentions about my life.”
 How were they established?

• Words
• Feelings
 How do they become
convictions?
A belief works like a seed – if
nurtured and watered through words,
feelings and our experiences in life, it
will grow and become firmly
established as a conviction.
Otherwise it will just wither and die.
 How can I know if a belief is
good or bad?
• By its source
41
But the Lord said to her, "My dear
Martha, you are so upset over all
these details! 42There is really only
one thing worth being concerned
about. Mary has discovered it--and I
won't take it away from her."
Luke 10:41-42
 How can I know if a belief is
good or bad?
• By its source
• By checking if it matches God’s principles
in His word, the Bible.
“And the people of Berea were more
open-minded than those in
Thessalonica, and they listened
eagerly to Paul's message. They
searched the Scriptures day after day
to check up on Paul and Silas, to see
if they were really teaching the truth.
Acts 17:11 (NLT)
 How can I know if a belief is
good or bad?
• By its source
• By checking if it matches God’s principles
in His word, the Bible.
• By asking the question: “Is this belief
empowering me to fully experience God’s
will in my life?”
 How can beliefs be changed?
• Awareness – what are my present beliefs?
• Distinction – which ones should be
changed?
• Leverage – why should I change them?
• Choice – choose new, empowering beliefs
• Reinforcement – “faith comes from
hearing…”
• Vocabulary - Adopt a new one