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Achieving the Christian Psychosocial Balance​

 

Outline

Self-efficacy Comes From Christ’s Identity

A Christian World View

What is Your Mammon?

Christian Faith Walks the Talk of Love

Love Persists!

Friendships

Godly Wisdom in Action

SHINE   LOVE IN ALL YOU DO!

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Self-efficacy Comes from Christ’s Identity

Social Cognitive Psychologist Albert Bandura is best known for his work explaining the correlation between Social Learning Theory and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is a personal belief that you can accomplish your goals. It's an energy and attitude of confidence that pushes you through the required resiliency and applied learning that produces goal attainment. He describes this positive outcome as a person's well-being, as stated below;

There is a growing body of evidence that human attainments and positive well-being require an optimistic sense of personal efficacy. (The belief that YOU are the source of the power to change into intentional conduct.) This is because ordinary social realities are strewn with difficulties. They are full of impediments, failures, adversities, setbacks, frustrations, and inequities. People must have a robust sense of personal efficacy to sustain the perseverant effort needed to succeed. Self-doubts can set in quickly after some failures or reverses. The important matter is not that difficulties arouse self-doubt, which is a natural immediate reaction, but the speed of recovery of perceived self-efficacy from difficulties. Some people quickly recover their self-assurance; others lose faith in their capabilities. Because the acquisition of knowledge and competencies usually requires sustained effort in the face of difficulties and setbacks, it is resiliency of self-belief that counts (Bandura, 1989).

Bandura points to "self-efficacy" as the driving force which pulls you into a balance that is displayed in a functional personality. Professor Susan Fiske identified five essential motives that are driven by need fulfillment; Belonging, Understanding, Control, Enhance self, and Trusting others (Fiske, S. T. (2018, 2010, 2005, 2003)). She attributes enhancing self (or what Bandura calls self-efficacy) as the willingness to trust. Erick Erickson says trust must be successfully formed so you can climb the developmental steps to live a functional and productive life. The development of trust is essential to the skill-building process that leads to successful goal attainment in Fiske, Erickson and Bandura's theories. These and other secular psychologists use words like self-worth, self-esteem, self-concept, ego, etc., and point to your strength being the source of overcoming the inevitable difficulties that you face in life.    

 

The Word of God tells us that these concepts have a place in your life but they are not the source of your strength and abilities. Rather, that’s attributed to the view you hold of your identity. The Christian Bible points out that sin is inherent in human nature as it lies in the center of your self-concept. Dying to self is the phrase the Bible uses to communicate what you need to do so you don't rely on your own self-concept but rather take more of a humble view and realize the need to surrender your willfulness to God sovereignty. This phrase is a metaphor that points to the necessity of taking on Christ identity by voluntarily becoming a child of God.

 

Feeling loved and being secure in your identity is what propels you to meet your needs, as noted in Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Erickson's eight steps (McCloud, S., (2025), McCloud, S.A. (2018)). When God is the weight that holds the balance between your psycho and social needs in this world (your Christ identity), you will achieve a strong self-concept and can eliminate the words used by secular psychologist and academic scientists such as self-enhancing, self-actualization, control, etc because these words ascribe that positive outcomes come from your own strength and mastery. 

A Christian World View (CWV)

Reading the Bible defines and teaches a Christian world view (Genesis 1:1, 1 John 4:16, Micah 6:8, James 1:27, Philippians 2:2-8, 14-15, 4:6-7, Matthew 7:24-27, Isaiah 55:8-9, Ephesians 1:17-18, etc). When you freely choose to trust God, as a Christian, you learn to be intentional about the love of God to fuel both the energy (attitude) and actions needed to psychologically rest while working, viewed here as a social skill (Romans 15:13, 1 Peter 2:12, Philippians 2:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Isaiah 55:12, Matthew 5:16). It is your reliance on God's sufficiency in you, rather than your reliance on self or others, that maintains the Christian psycho-social balance in your life (2 Corinthians 3:5, 4:7, 12:9, John 15:5, Luke 12:16-21, Titus 3:3-5, Romans 12:3, Proverbs 16:9, 2 Peter 1:3-4, Acts 17:25, Philippians 4:13, Revelation 3:17).

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​The CWV stands on timeless, unchanging  truth from a Holy God formed into principles cushioned by his definition of love, justice and mercy (Malachi 3:6, Micah 6:8, Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, Psalm 86:15, Lamentations 3:22-23, Matthew 5:16-17, Titus 2:7, 1 Corinthians 13:4-6). The culture we live in can sometimes tempt us to adjust our moral standards, but one test that proves your Christianity is to display your CWV publicly, despite cultural fads (1 Peter 2:12). God honors your decisions, and when your decisions align with His, you’ll persevere through His Spirit. That’s why love persists (1 Corinthians 13:7)! You have to trust that God’s Word is true. You are invited in Psalm 34:8 to "taste and see that the Lord is good". God invites you to test Him so He can prove Himself (Malachi 3:10).

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In order to accept God’s Word as true, you must receive the truth that God loves you (Romans 8:38-39). He accepts 

you into his family as you are but wants to help you learn that it’s His holy love in you that will help you be the best you can be (Romans 5:8,1 Corinthians 13:8-13, Isaiah 55:11). God’s love replaces the cultures use of a self-efficacy mentality and your understanding of that sets you free from your own performance mentality. This is when the truth of God’s word hits your heart and you gain Christ’s identity (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

 

​​Your willingness to accept the truth of God and show it through your decisions (bending your own will to think and act like Christ) is a Christian's "self-belief" and propels you into eternal life (E  ) in heaven and on earth D(A + B) = C  .

Interpreting circumstances through Biblical principles before determining a response leads you through a world influence by culture, fads, lust, greed, envy and people-pleasing with your Godly integrity in tact (Mark 7:22, 1 John 2:15-16, Colossians 3:5). For example, Jesus warns, “The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

 

As a child of God on earth, it’s up to you whether you’ll choose to be rebellious or compliant in acting out you new identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17, Luke 15:11-32). As soon as you make the commitment to do life God's way and actively rest in His love, you share in the inheritance of the family of God (Ephesians 1:11-1:14, Hebrews 4:11). The gift of the Holy Spirit doesn’t just identify you as a recipient of heaven when you die (Ephesians 4:30), but by acknowledging the gift as soon as you receive it, you can live out the rest of your life being led away from sin and into a living an active, courageous Christian life today (Romans 8:13-15, 1 John 3:9, 3:6, John 5:14, 16:33, Psalm 27:13-14, 1 Timothy 6:12, Ephesians 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:13, 15:57, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Strength and courage comes when you step out in faith, doing consistently what your faith believes out of love, not obligation or peer pressure.

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Trusting others and resiliency go hand in hand and lead to positive outcomes, when you know the person you are trusting and how he/she defines success. But if you try to go through life on your own, you'll get stuck and halt your  progression through Erickson's steps. The core component of your success in a social world is the Holy Spirit. 

When you turn your focus to God, you’ll gain the courage and determination to fight through and endure adversity because this perspective change will shape a new reality for you (John 15:1-5).When you know who you can trust and why, you will have not only the tenacity to overcome roadblocks, but you'll be blessed with the mercy and grace of God. In knowing God, you come to understand His nature and character and see that you can have the potential to be content (Romans 8:4-6, Philippians 4:11).

  • Do your actions reveal who it is you trust? 

 

What is Your Mammon?

​The King James Version uses the term “mammom” to describe something that you could choose to value more than your relationship with Jesus Christ. The English Standard Version translates this word as “money,” as does the New Living Translation. Personalize the term mammon so that it represents to you anything that you value higher than God (because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”; Matthew 6:21-24). Monetary transactions are a good example of value-based decision making because what you spend it on reflects it's worth to you, revealing your beliefs/desires (Matthew 6:21). A “mammom” mentality (anything you have that you value higher than God) is common in human behavior in a world dominated by self-reliance.

 

How and what you spend your money reveals your sense of identity too. When you, as a Christian, rely on God, not "mammon", to sustain your lifestyle, you are making a value decision that communicates your belief and trust is in God and that He will supply all your needs and give you the desires of your heart (Luke 18:18-23, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 37:3-7). In the gospel of Luke, Jesus explains that trust (faith rather than fear) is a cognitive process that stems from a heart that understands the love and care God has for you (Matthew 6:28-34, Luke 12:22-34). Trusting God happens when you choose to see and do with the eyes of your Christian heart and rest in the Holy Spirit while living life (Luke 6:45, 12:34, Psalm 121:1).

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  • Accountability instead of Greed, it yields wisdom​

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  • Acceptance instead of Anger, it yields maturity ​

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  • Integrity instead of Dishonesty, it yields transparency ​

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  • Peacemaking instead of Territorialism ​

Faith is the currency used in God’s kingdom to unlock the promises of God (Hebrews 11:1, 6). That’s why “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). You are double-minded and become unstable in your ways when you try to please man and self instead of prioritizing God and others above self (1 Corinthians 10:21, James 1:8, 4:8, Romans 15:1, 5-6). You'll only be fooling yourself if you say, "Peace, peace when there is no peace"  in your soul (Jeremiah 6:13-14, Ezekiel 13:10, Hosea 10:12-13). Trust is the outcome of a hope-filled Christian faith and the more you test the implementation of the Word of God in a variety of situations, the more you learn discernment when using Godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:9). Proverbs 15:14 says, “A wise person is hungry for knowledge,” ... not success or fame. In the last verses of the chapter (15:31-34) it encourages a person to remain open to learning: "If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise, If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor".

 

Erickson theorized that the fundamental virtue of hope fuels a functional personality because it teaches you to trust, love, and care for others (Matthew 6:24, James 1:8, Proverbs 3:3-5, James 4:8, John 5:44, Syed, M., & McLean, K. C. (2017, April 24)). A self-effacing Christian is a continuous learner and socially mature (Proverbs 19:21, 26:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Anand, A. K., & Bharti, J (2021)). Beware of a “mammom” mentality and the temptation to isolate so you remain balanced (James 4:13-15).

 

​Christian Faith Walks the Talk of Love

The work of a Christian is to let their beliefs crystalize in a realistic vision and to accomplish that vision by following the Truth of God’s Word. Your knowledgeable faith-filled hope fuels you to act lovingly and resiliently towards others as you journey through life (Matthew 7:7, John 16:33, Luke 11:13). God awakens your spirit by changing your heart which ignites the behavior of this Christian world view for all to witness.

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  • Hope sees when you read the Holy Bible so you know whom it is that you choose to believe in (Romans 15:4-5).

  • Faith believes that God has equipped you with the faith and power to change your physical conduct to match His Spirit in you.

  • Trust acts when you can discipline your mind and body to do what you believe (rather than over-indulge in fleshly-driven desires). The more you practice these new habits, the more natural it feels and inevitably becomes your new normal behavior (Galatians 5:13).

  • Love persists because you are in a relationship with God that motivates you to follow the way of love and forgiveness rather than to live in self-driven pride walking “in the way of Cain” (Obadiah 3, Matthew 13:15, Romans 12:3, Jude 1:11).

When you make the commitment to let Christ be your anchor, you can navigate through a social world by moving towards other people who share common values and away from those social crowds that don't. Trust is the skill that requires you to give up your independence and learn to love. Drinking or another addiction is a matter of mistaken identity.​

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​​​Love Persists!

The story of Job in the Bible is an example of the Christian faith in progress. Even Job, respected by God as "a humble and an upright man", didn't have the right to expect answers from an All Powerful, Creator God as to why he experience almost complete devastation (Job 1:1, 1:13-22). Job tried desperately to understand why his household experience sudden devastation. When Job couldn't figure it out on his own, he listened to the advice from friends. After getting their opinions, Job was left frustrated. Christian author Philip Yancy uses Job as an example of standing firm in faith under trials even when you don't understand what's happening and when your friends offer opinions rather than Biblical truth.

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Yancy says, “well intentioned advice may sometimes do more harm than good. The behavior of Job’s friends gives a classic example of how (human) pride and a sense of being right can stifle true compassion” (1999, p 71). After getting opinions from His friends, Job was left still buried in doubt from a lack of understanding. But His loyalty to God kept him searching. Job could detect misinterpretations about God spoken by others, but Job had not yet discovered that even his own reasoning capability was limited (Romans 11:33, Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 14:12). It wasn't until he heard from God (we, as new testament believers, hear from God by reading/knowing the Bible) that he made adjustments to his own faith decisions (Job 34:1-4, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 26:23-24).

 

Job didn't keep spinning his wheels by trying to figure things out by himself. Instead, Job turned his frustration and questions over to the “Author and Finisher” of his faith (Hebrews 12:2). Because of this act of faith, Job got a response directly from God (chapters 38-42 of the Bible book of Job). God never explained the reasons for Job's season of misfortune but he did reveal His Sovereign Majesty and, in doing so, Job saw that his human understanding was limited in comparison to God and that's when he realized what it meant to fully trust God (Psalm 112:1, 7, Jeremiah 32:17, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, 1 Corinthians 1:30). Based on his new understanding, Job tweaked his theology (2 Peter 1:3, 2 Corinthians 4:16).

 

Job's faith was steadfast and unmovable, yet it became elastic/ growing/ stretching, not static, because of his love and respect for God fueled his persistence.​ Job went through a season of devastation that changed his "psycho-social" reality, but this season strengthened his faith (Psalm 16:8, 62:6, Hebrews 12:27, 6:19-20). Job shows New Testament believers that respect (awe with knowledge) of God frames your decisions and gives your faith more elasticity, humility and discernment, so you can adjust any outlying attitudes or behavior, avoiding the temptation of an entitlement mentality (James 5:11, Job 40:3-5.) Job, much like the Apostle Paul, learned an attitude of humility towards God which leads to a resilient, calm and content life, free from perfection and comparison (1 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 5:13, 22-23, Ephesians 3:14-19, Philippians 4:11, Hebrews 12:11). 

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Although he believed in the goodness of God, Job is just one of many men and women in the Bible who demonstrate that pride (just like other emotions like anger) can linger in the heart of a believer. Pride blocks the flow of unconditional love. Your perfection as a Christian is not required to please God, only Christ’s righteousness in you is. King David was not a perfect man, but was "a man after God’s own heart”. His mistake was letting lust blow away his common sense (2 Samuel 11, Psalm 51:1-2, 51:10-11, Acts 13:22-23)! His experience with Bathsheba is evidence of this tug of war between self-satisfaction and self-denial (being viewed by others as a hypocrite rather than a person with imperfect Christian integrity).

  • Take a closer look at Jesus's description of trusting God to do what is right in His sight, as explained in the New Living Translation of the Sermon on the Mount.

  • Job, along with the other Old Testament believers mentioned in Hebrews 11, were faithful but weren’t covered fully yet by the perfect righteousness of Christ and so could not rest, as New Testament believers can, in the imputed righteousness of Christ (Hebrews 11:39-40, Romans 4:5-9).

  • Read more on imputed righteousness @ https://www.gotquestions.org/imputed-righteousness.html.

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​Choosing to follow the ways of God is a free-will decision. You need to want to align your soul and body with your heart (Spirit of God in your spirit) in both public and private. Christ's Spirit in you enables you to see these choices clearly and then leads you, but doesn't force your decision, to do things His way. You make the decision to walk in love despite circumstances and this shows your choice to persist in self-sacrificing love because you know (realize and accept as true for you, without any unbelief) that God's Love and Strength in you never runs out (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)! When you pray and read the Word of God, it's like hoping for and getting access to a never-ending river of fresh water, free from pollution and bounded by river banks (Amos 5:24, Isaiah 43:2-3, Revelation 21:6). ​

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A posture of gratitude to God opens your mindset to see old things new. One successful Christian business CEO shares what he implemented into his work style (Harper Jr, J. D., (2014)):

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  • Humility instead of Ego, it yields influence​​

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  • Empathy instead of Busyness, it yields perspective​​

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  • Attentiveness instead of Distraction, it yields productivity​

 

 

With this picture in mind, go back to the Old Testament and read the account of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in Daniel 1-4. You will see that as king of his territory, even he had to bow before God. As you read through his story, notice it took time for him to accept that this Jewish God was really the God of all. You will see the same insight occurred as the business man grew in his career. Humility is a learned trait; acknowledging God humbles you. The same is true for you too.

 

You need to make adjustments to your mindset in trying to overcome an unhealthy addiction. You can’t overcome addictive habits without the listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit’s leading. You need to be willing to exchange your self-concept and social reputation for character integrity to God. With your Christian faith, your hope is sure as it is built on the truth of God's Word (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18, 11:1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friendships

​When you follow God's directions, you make wise choices that sometimes look foolish to non-believers (1 Corinthians 2:12-16). They see you postpone your own desire for instant gratification and, instead, see you choose to act in faith with love demonstrating "humility over pride, servanthood over competition, selflessness over selfishness, compassion over contempt, kindness over rudeness, gentleness instead of harshness, patience instead of anger, forgiveness instead of bitterness and self-control instead of self-indulgence" (Vernick, L, 2003, p156,​ Galatians 5:18, 

Matthew 7:24-27, Ephesians 4:22-24). In Erickson's steps, only a mature person develops wisdom. With Christianity, maturity develops in you only after you decide to trust God and show by your love (James 1:2-8, 2 Peter 1:5-7,  1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:14, Ephesians 5:1-2).

  • Read more about the learned and Holy Spirit empowered skill of patient endurance @

https://www.gotquestions.org/patient-in-tribulation.html.

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​The Apostle James says that wisdom for those who love and respect God flows from an intentional decision to use patience and self-control in choosing what words to say and what actions to take (James 3:1-5). When you are a child of God, your choices are a reflection of your beliefs and these guide you not only your speech and behavior, but in your selection of friends too (Ephesians 2:15-16, 1 Corinthians 15:33). Godly wisdom gives you insight to know which friends will eventually lead you astray and which ones will encourage you to show integrity to the Lord (Proverbs 12:26, 13:20). That is why your recovery requires this second phase, the “social” in the psycho-social balance.

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Choosing the right friends, in a neighborhood that encourages the practice of Christian principles is so important to your recovery. This social connection bolsters your chances of finding your balance within your new normal.  The Apostle Peter advises us to follow Proverbs 12:24; to be diligent (conscientious) and vigilant (watchful) about what you see and hear (2 Peter 1:10). Christian Personality Psychologists have honed in on the importance of the trait of “conscientiousness” and how it motivates the implementation of the rest of the secularly-recognized “Big Five Personality traits; agreeableness, openness, extraversion, and neuroticism. The trait of conscientiousness in a Christian, causes you to not only remember God but to honor Him too with your tempered (rather than extreme) actions (Proverbs 19:8, 11). 

 

Be a Christian and find some Christian friends.  Romans 14:17-19 says,  

"... the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up."

The Apostle Paul adds that to maintain harmony with others, let your Christian conscience rule your conduct, rather than other people’s opinion (1 Corinthians 10:23). The psycho-social balance for a Christian means that you are grounded in your identity in Christ and together with a sound mind (well trained), you’ll drive your social decisions based on moral confidence - not popularity, bringing glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31, 24-30). Examine your friends! 

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Be discerning regarding new and old friendships; who supports your new vision to change and who wants you to remain the same? Look at the following account of the story in the Bible where the friends of a paralytic made it  possible for the man to appear before Jesus (Luke 5:17-26). God and your friends keep you humble and progressive. They can take you to places where you cannot take yourself. They can lead you to do things that you don't know yet to do or not to do. This is where your discernment is becomes invaluable. The Word of God never changes and can be your source of security. If you have a tendency to make the same mistakes over, if you don't engage in listening to opposing viewpoints then you are at risk of being stagnate, ever hearing and never understanding. If you find yourself shying away from relationships (new or old), this may indicate a fear of vulnerability which can reveal a weak self-concept.​ Loving God's way leads to a balanced interdependence (Galatians 6:2, 5, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Proverbs 27:17, 1 Corinthians 12:18-21, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 4:1-4).

  • For a personal testimony regarding the role of old and new friends, click here; Video summary from Adam Vibe Gunton of “Recovered on Purpose”.

God's

Let your new identity lead you 

Christ In You.png

Choose to be bounded by Love

Not law

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Godly Wisdom in Action​

The full and abundant Christian life (E  ) is brought about by your decisions, the deliberate intention of your will (John 10:10, Joshua 24:15). William James, considered the father of psychology, explains that our human will gives direction to how a free thinker directs his/her actions. He calls that which directs the human will, “belief”, ...  “a living hypothesis” ... “measured by the will to act” (James, (1896) pp 1, 3). At the Philosophical Clubs of Yale and Brown Universities, James said this in his public lecture; “Like a sermon on the justification of faith, the defence of our right to adopt a believing attitude in regards to religious matters” is a matter of opinion (James, W., 1896) p 1). “You must either believe or not believe that God is – which will you do? Your human reason cannot say" (James, W., 1896, p 5).

 

Once you have made up your mind, this Christian faith produces a desire in you to comply (choose to use self-restraint) with Godly standards of performance / behavior (your selected "higher authority"), born out of gratitude for His love (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 1 John 4:19 states, "We love because he first loved us". Pure love isn't double-minded but rather love is the key to understanding how to actively rest in Christ's righteousness. 

 

Showing love to others is a response to God. When you become aware of God's truth and the choice you have to serve God rather than your sinful desires, the aim and the sincerity of your heart, not performance perfection, generates this feeling of freedom and peace with God (Psalm 91:1-2, 119:92-93, Romans 8:15, Acts 24:16, Galatians 6:7-9, 2 Peter 1:9, Philippians 1:6, 4:7). Set your mind on the things of God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into living a full life in Christ so you can be and do love despite the darkness and volatility of living in a self-absorbed world (Colossians 3:2, 1:9-15, Psalm 27:1, 29:11, 119:105, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, John 16:33, 1 John 5:4-5). Actively resting while loving is the spiritual and physical reality of a child of God; one who loves God and neighbor (Romans 8:1-3, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Matthew 22:36-40, 1 Peter 3:18). ​

  • Read the analogy about your Christianity in terms of an athlete’s free agency at the end of the article Prescription for Anxiety Relief in the “Still Anxious” tab.​​​​​​​​​​​

  • God values and loves you. How do you respond?

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Discouragement (trials, sickness, conflict), distraction (from obsession with money, worry, self-indulgence and pleasure seeking,) and deception (wrong thinking, not rightly dividing the word of truth, not understanding boundaries) cause double-mindedness and can lead to anxiety, anger and/or despair which birth decision points in your life (James 1:7-9). When something unexpected comes up and you are filled with emotions that tempt you to not just get mad but to withdraw from God, you need to look back at how the Apostle James encourages his readers to look at circumstances using a heart of faith.

 

The book of James summarizes the A, B, C, philosophy. First, you start out with an attitude that can’t be moved away from God (James 1:2-4). Then James explains that you need to act out your faith (2:17). Finally, in James 5:11, he concludes with the example of Job and how He persevered through his trial and was blessed by God, as recorded in Job 42:10. Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires". This is the victory you have in Christ. Reread the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Do you see the wisdom of looking at life through God’s perspective?

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​The Apostle Paul writes about your heart and mind connection and then sums it up by explaining that it's you who controls the flow of God's power in you as recorded in Ephesians 1:17-19 and 3:17-19;

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ..." "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

This voluntary choice to respond to God’s love and authority ignites the power of your faith, D(A+B)C  = E .​

It is the undeserved grace of God. Grace - because your gift of Christ-likeness is spiritual and does not require a physical manifestation, although if you practice your faith publicly, you will see physical manifestations of God's Word for the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 1 Peter 4:10, Romans 8:29; 2 Peter 1:4).

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You can distinguish and extinguish your sinful thoughts, but even if you fail, you will only experience the consequences in this physical, not in the Spiritual realm (2 Timothy 2:13-15, 2 Corinthians 9:8). This means that when you are a Christian, it’s Christ in you (God’s gift) that makes you acceptable to a Holy God (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Peter 4:10). When you take the time to learn about God and mimic His Holy behavior in this life, with time and practice, you’ll be productive in body, soul and spirit (Appendix 1). Your gratitude for the gift of faith adds structure to and boundaries around your actions that spring from the hope your faith generates (Deuteronomy 33:3, Psalm 37:23-24, Proverbs 16:9, https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-faith.html).

 

You are loved by God and your willingness to learn and implement His ways while trusting in Christ’s righteousness is how you actively and peacefully rest in God while “working out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12-13, 1:6-11, Romans 12:2). Personal accountability to God also promotes social unity among yourself and others (2 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 4:15, 13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11).

  • Read more about the miracle of your salvation, below in the "Author's note" section.

  • Watch this 1-minute video defining the freedom you have by living in the grace of God @ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNa5aLHNXRV/. 

  • When you are feeling stressed or anxious, what are you thinking about? Do you turn deeper into God or do you          choose to indulge yourself as a distraction to the source of your frustration?

      (Discussed further in the "STILL ANXIOUS" Tab.)  

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SHINE   LOVE IN ALL YOU DO!

 Isaiah 60:1, 60:15, Matthew 5:1-16, Luke 1:37, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 5:13-17, Appendix 2U

 

Love one another and fulfill the law of Christ. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8, Colossians 3:12-15, 1:27, Galatians 6:2.​​​​​​​

Read https://www.gotquestions.org/love-is-the-fulfillment-of-the-law.html.

Actively use your Godly insight. If you want to change your life, start by changing what you think about (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 10:3-5, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:7, Jeremiah 17:7-8). When God is selected as your ultimate authority figure and you pray in dependence on Him (in faith, believing that He answers according to character and foreknowledge), your trust in Him gives you the courage to implement His standards of conduct without letting fear, worry, shame, loneliness, suffering or pride cause you to either harden your heart towards Him or cause you to doubt that He will do what His Word says for you (2 Chronicles 7:14, Mark 9:21-24, Matthew 14:28-31, 1 John 5:14-15, Psalm 15, 16, 17:1-9, Appendix 2A, Thorkildsen, K. M., Eriksson, K., & Råholm, M. B. (2013)).

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Believing in your heart and confessing it in your behavior (words and deeds) is Christian Cognitive Consistency. Faith walks the talk of Holy love because your security comes from being "in Christ”. When you freely exchange your ego for a self-concept grounded in Christ’s identity, you birth humility which shatters your defense mechanisms and it opens the door to continuous learning. The Holy Spirit makes what is humanly impossible, possible. Jeremiah, a prophet in the Old Testament said this,

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

 

Knowing God shifts your mindset. Your thoughts become focused on the words and the ways of the Bible and this Christian perspective protects you from being led astray by worldly desires and false teachers (2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 12:1-2, John 17:17, Matthew 4:4, Titus 2:11-13, 3:3-7, Psalm 23, 119:9). As the Apostle Paul told Timothy, “ ...  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Your thought life feeds your behavior. When you know who you are in Christ and when you put on and remain in the armor of a child of God, you’ll be secure and confident so you can continuously move forward (unscathed by unhealthy dependencies and offensive people) expressing love, peace and joy (Ephesians 6:11-18, Psalm 45:7, Hebrews 12:2, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Psalm 91). Let God’s love break through and free you from the self-deception that leads to wishful thinking! Choose to supplement your reality with the truth of God’s Word and see your reality change in proportion. Live intentionally and continually pursue the balance required to live a healthy Christian Psycho-social lifestyle. ​​

Change your thoughts by praying to God and doing what is right in His eyes (Proverbs 26:3, James 4:1-4, Hebrews 12:12

Appendix 2G).

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Points to ponder:

  • Your choice is whether or not to believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ (John 19:30, Hebrews 10:10, Galatians 3:11). 

  • When you make that choice to become a child of God, you exchange your self-reliance for Christ's sufficiency (John 1:29, 19:28-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 4:1-4). A Christ fueled identity burns human pride and replaces it with an attitude of humility (Isaiah 40:28).

  • To leave a lifestyle that was built around unhealthy addictions, you need to not only have a vision but you need to persist in doing what you know to do of Christianity and then wait patiently for God to orchestrate your steps through life (2 Corinthians 1:20).

  • An identity in Christ means that your life is hidden in Christ’s perfection so you can possess the confidence to make improvements to your life. Make intentional decisions to please God, and leave the results to him (Matthew 6:33, Joshua 1:8-9, Galatians 6:10).

  • The gift God gives when you willing make this free-will decision to believe is the Holy Spirit, a Spiritual gift that you can cultivate so you are able to bring out physical characteristics of Holy love (Ephesians 5:1). Humility is realizing that this is a gift from God planted in you, and as a result you are given the power to change. God doesn't interfere with your free will so you need to activate, to cultivate the seeds of love by your decision to act  on the power of the Holy D Spirit in you. Together with God, your faith becomes God effectual (Philemon 6). 

  • Because of the confident and structured hope you have in Christ, "a friend who sticks closer than a brother", you can trust Him to meet your needs so you can change your thoughts (Psalm 62:5, John 15:15, Proverbs 18:24, 1 Peter 1:21, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Psalm 103:1-14, 17-18). 

  • It’s the narrow road through Christianity that leads to a full life: (Isaiah 41:10, John 14:6, 10:10, 14:23, Matthew 7:13–14, 16:24). When you trust God, you cultivate the patience and self-control you need to calm your impulsiveness and desire for short-term satisfaction and you become resilient. Faith motivates you to persist through the discomfort of change so you march on in your journey to experience God (2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Isaiah 43:2, Proverbs 24:16, Galatians 6:9). 

    • In order to make change stick, you need to practice being patient with yourself as you unlearn bad habits. Learning to recognize your triggers and choosing to implement your new attitude and behavioral skills  needs to be accompanied by an expression of your free will. In other words, you want to change and do things God's way so you use self-discipline (Hebrews 11:6, 2 Timothy 1:7). 

    • Are you willing to incorporate a Christian World View into your behavior by broadening your perspective, flexing your personality, making value-based decisions and expressing gratitude?

  • Like the Biblical examples of Job, King Hezekiah and Daniel, when you become a Christian you too will learn integrity (Psalm 86:11, 25:21, Matthew 5:37) and you'll change the source of dissonance so you are at peace expressing your beliefs (1 Thessalonians 5:19, 23-24, James 1:22, Matthew 22:37).

  • By practicing the Christian faith in public you make your sure hope in God visible (Colossians 1). Fully persuaded faith is seen in your Divinely inspired A, B, C's (James 2:17). Divinely inspired because it is God who created you and deposited patience, self-control, and faith into your spirit so you could act on your decision to use your faith to replace self-serving habits with kind and gentle actions of love for yourself and others (Galatians 5:22).

    • When you are in Christ, you show others what it means to work while resting in Christ, using Godly wisdom in your attitude and actions as you walk confidently down a new sidewalk (Ephesians 4:29-30, Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Psalm 31:24, John 14:27, 16:33, Romans 1:11-12, 15:5, Hebrews 13:1-2, Ephesians 4:1-4).

    • When you walk the talk of Christianity, you show others that your security is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and that it is possible to experience eternal life, physically, now and, spiritually, forever (Isaiah 40:3-5, 35:8-10, 35:4, John 17:3, Matthew 11:28-29, 6:9-10, John 17:3, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 23:4, 56:3).

  • Read a short summary of a child of God’s journey on the "Highway to holiness @https://www.gotquestions.org/highway-of-holiness.html

  • Reread Appendix 2U to discover whether or not you can see with the eyes of your heart.​​

  • Listen the song "Child of Love", a testimony in a sang by the band, We the Kingdom. 

  • Listen to the song "Raise a Banner of Love" by Luminate.

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Author's notes

  1. The Bible is God’s manual for healthy spiritual, emotional and physical living. Taking a detailed look into the Bible is like reading a car manual. It is necessary to know the workings of your car so you can accurately troubleshoot when problems arise. In most cars, the quick reference guide is stored in your car’s glove compartment. With the Bible, each time you read it, you can make your own quick reference guide, stored in your heart! When you trust the instructions, you'll leave the results to God. Faith inspired action is believing; it's Christian Cognitive Consistency (2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Peter 3:15)!

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    2.  I testify that what is written in the Create Your New Normal website is an outpouring of my transformed life in           Jesus Christ.

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    3. The following is how I understand my miracle of Christian Salvation (justified by God immediately) and                         Sanctification (a life long journey of learning to conform to the image of Christ?) :

 God is Spiritual, consisting of three individual personalities, but God is One; the Holy Trinity consists of               Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14, Mark 12:29). As God's creation and made in His image,               man is also a three part being; spirit, soul, and body, but because we live in a physical world, all three                 need to be aimed at the same target to have integrity to God and to live at peace with your self and your neighbor (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19, Revelation 3:2). For me, after I was immediately justified by God, I hungered for more Biblical understanding which lead to insight into why my own actions did not always align with God’s. I realized that the consequences I (a believer) was facing were from my Christian cognitive dissonance and had nothing to do with God’s faithfulness. Changing my behavior felt very uncomfortable, but like the following testimony from a missionary, Hudson Taylor, I learned to persist through the temporary discomfort of change so I could walk the talk of Christianity (Hebrews 4:14-16). 

Hudson Taylor, who spent over 5 decades as a missionary in China in the 1800’s, once said, “Risks taken, that are motivated by trust in God, is using your faith! Unless there is an element of risks in our exploits for God, there is no need for God.”

​I understood that Christianity was a way of life and it wasn’t unique to me and my personality but that living for  Christ is a daily decision for all Christians. After confessing Christ as my Savior and because I renewed my mind, I found that it took intentionality and reliance on the Trinity to stop my bad habits. I needed to change my routine so I would develop new habits that would align with my new goal of expressing my belief in God; taking Christian actions that prove Christ is my Lord by trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 3:18, 2 Peter 1:3-8, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Colossians 2:6, 1 John 5:1). My focus broadened and I spent more time engaging with my Church family and doing volunteer work which brought balance and peace to my life. 

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4. It’s never too late to repent and become a Christian. All of us are corrupted from sin ever since Adam and Eve’s        original sin. (That's one reason why we are not aware that our habits are bad until we are "born from above"              (John 3:4-6, 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:23.) Our fight of faith is won by staying in sync with the Word of          God (1 Timothy 6:12, Romans 5:12-20).​ What you think about determines the options for your choices in life.                Choose to enter into a relationship with the Triune Christian God and show it by freely placing your identity,              opinions, emotions and practices under His authority (John 8:31-32). ​God’s mercy and grace is always available        to everyone who believes, as defined by the Sovereign, Christian God (Lamentations 3:22-23).

  • Reread the home page.

  • Will you ShinE   brightly for God (Matthew 5:15-16)?

  • Will you align your reality with the truth of God’s Word?

 

My prayer for you

May your hope see God’s path; may your belief lead you to choose it. May you take the action that shows your trust and love is in God, above everyone else, by walking like Christ did. May you experience the peace that passes all understanding as you trade your old self-concept for Christ's identity in you. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. God bless you as you journey through life.

The "next page" button below leads you to the next tab in the CYNN website called "Capture Your Vision". This tab provides you with a chance to use your hope and faith to design the details of your "new normal" life. Use these worksheets to evaluate your habits and crystalize your vision.

  • Aside from reading the Appendecies, you can also dig dipper into the Resources tab and you'll find hundreds of articles and other websites with articles on various topics that can enhance your perspective. 

  • If you find that you are still anxious, read the articles in the "Still Anxious?" Tab.

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