This is the first of a series of blogs about Upside Down Joy, a new book from Pastor and Executive Director, Andrew Mann.
What can go through the green, glass, doors? My feet can go through, but my hand can’t. A kitten can go through but a cat can’t. Trees can go through but a leaf can’t.
Have you played that game? If you don’t know how the game works, it’s maddening. Don’t expect me to tell you the secret. As I told my 6-year-old nephew, “You have to figure it out for yourself.”
I will only give you two hints. First, the secret is in the name of the game. Second, you’ll have to change the way you think.
There’s possibly nothing harder in life than changing the way we think. Yet, Jesus himself tells us we must. He said, “Repent (change the way you think).”
So much of our thinking seems out of our control. Patterns of thought constrict us like chains. We simply can’t control what pops into our mind. Or can we?
Luther once said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”
I think what he meant is we can control our focus. I’ve been working on that by controlling what I intentionally think about. I’ve spent far too much time allowing screens to control my thoughts–television screens, iPhone screens, iPad screens. I’ve been working on thinking the best of people and not the worst. I’ve been trying to count my blessings and not my problems. I’ve been focusing on God’s grace rather than my failures.
What has been the result of this new mindset? Well, I don’t know yet. I wish I could say that the intentionality of my thinking has changed my heart. But, that isn’t entirely the case. I still despise some of the feelings that arise from my heart.
So, how can I change that?
A few months ago I had dinner with a friend who is a doctor specializing in development-behavioral pediatrics. He talked about the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Behavior Change. TTM is “a theory of change that can be applied to a variety of behaviors, populations, and settings.” In the past, behavior change was often construed as an event, such as quitting smoking, drinking, or overeating. TTM recognizes change as a process that unfolds over time, involving progress through a series of stages.
Here are the Stages of Change for TTM:
Precontemplation (Not Ready)
People in the Precontemplation stage do not intend to take action in the foreseeable future, usually measured as the next six months. Being uninformed or under informed about the consequences of one’s behavior may cause a person to be in the Precontemplation stage.
Contemplation (Getting Ready)
Contemplation is the stage in which people intend to change in the next six months. They are more aware of the pros of changing, but are also acutely aware of the cons.
Preparation (Ready)
Preparation is the stage in which people intend to take action in the immediate future, usually measured as the next month. Typically, they have already taken some significant action in the past year
Action
Action is the stage in which people have made specific overt modifications in their lifestyles within the past six months. Because action is observable, the overall process of behavior change often has been equated with action.
Maintenance
Maintenance is the stage in which people have made specific overt modifications in their lifestyles and are working to prevent relapse; however, they do not apply change processes as frequently as do people in Action.
Termination
Termination is the stage in which individuals are not tempted; they have 100% self-efficacy. Whether depressed, anxious, bored, lonely, angry, or stressed, individuals in this stage are sure they will not return to unhealthy habits as a way of coping. It is as if their new behavior has become an automatic habit.
To learn more about this theory check out the following website (all quotes takes from this site): http://www.prochange.com/transtheoretical-model-of-behavior-change
My friend posited a statement, “I think God works this way.”
Could it be true? Has God wired us to experience slow change rather than instantaneous? Is God more likely to work through the natural methods these scientists have observed than through supernatural means? Is that any less miraculous?
Much of my religious experience has been characterized with a walk down the aisle mentality. This way of thinking emphasizes singular moments of change where instantly everything is different. I’ve preached it and led invitations based on that mindset.
I hear so many testimonies from people who experience instant change as a result of the spirit of God at work in their life. That’s not my faith story. Sanctification hasn’t been instant. It’s been a process, a slow process. I so often feel like I fail.
Of course, Jesus did heal people instantly. However, the deeper changes, the things that made people better (holier) men and women, those things took a long time. Consider Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, and Paul.
I currently am aware of several patterns of thought I want to change. I want to be less stingy and more generous. I want to seek God’s favor and not the favor of people. I want to be more gentle and self-controlled. I want to be more grateful. These areas may not seem as unhealthy as smoking, alcohol abuse, or drug-use but they are detrimental to my spiritual, mental, and emotional health. Perhaps they are more dangerous because they are silent-killers of the soul, unnoticed as they eat away at the mind and spirit.
Let’s consider my gratitude, or should I say ingratitude. I don’t like how it’s easier for me to find fault than celebrate success. Too often I judge, not publicly, but privately. I log my problems rather than count my blessings. Scripture has shown me plainly: saints are grateful. It’s inadequate to say gratitude is peppered throughout scripture; it’s more like a marinade!
Now, I would love for the Holy Spirit to instantly change this undesirable, fleshly, earthly trait. In fact, I often feel hopeless guilt when I see ingratitude rear its ugly head once again. Does that mean the Holy Spirit isn’t working to change my heart?
Let’s use the TTM Model to think about this. My awareness of the problem moved me from Precontemplation to Contemplation. I have also identified an action I want to take. I want to write a thank you note every day. I might write it to God or to people. I need to buy notecards and haven’t done it yet. I hope to soon. So, I guess I’m in the Preparation stage. Once I move to the Action stage, I will have to be intentional every day to write my note. I believe this will help me to be more grateful. My mindset and heart will begin to change when I move to the Maintenance stage. I won’t have to be as intentional. Gratitude will become more natural. Once I reach the termination stage, gratitude will be an automatic habit. Not only will my way of thinking be changed, but my heart as well.
As the TTM model observes, “Although progression through the Stages of Change can occur in a linear fashion, a nonlinear progression is common. Often, individuals recycle through the stages or regress to earlier stages from later ones.”
No need to feel defeated when don’t quickly become what you want to be. It’s part of God’s design!
I used to ask, “How can I change the way I think?”
Now, I’m learning to ask, “How is God working to change the way I think?”
Repentance begins in the mind, however given time, it will make its way to the heart. There’s no trick like there is to the green, glass doors. It’s not a switch that flips on.
Every person does have a part to play. We don’t sit idly, helpless, and hopeless. We can control our focus.
My confidence isn’t based though on my efficacy. It’s based on understanding God’s design to change minds. The Holy Spirit is at work in everyone whose faith is in Jesus. His refining may not always seem obvious, but if we understand His ways, we can see it. His perfect method will become visible, not only when we move forward but when we regress as well. His work may be slow, however He has all the time of eternity to prepare us.
What is He preparing us for? It has nothing to do with green, glass doors; He’s readying our minds and hearts for entry through the white, pearly gates.