Stagnation Through Behavior Modification

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Behaviors never exist in a vacuum.

The behaviors that show up in our daily lives have deeper roots.

“If you try to change your behavior without changing your identity,

you’re pulling up a weed without getting to the root.” Craig Groeshel

“To ensure a weed doesn’t come back, you have to reach down and pull out what is not visible.” Craig Groeshel

“Motivation and willpower are both limited resources you will deplete

quickly. Behavior modification does not equip you with the power to

change.” Craig Groeshel

“It’s hard to change your habit if you never change the underlying belief that led you to your past behavior.” James Clear

Cybernetics Theory

First-order change – Behavior modification

Second-order change – Change the way you think

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God

transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you

will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and

perfect.”

Romans 12:2 NLT

To change what you do, you need first to change what you think of you.

Exercise

If we look at our “start” and “stop” behaviors from a few weeks

ago, write down the ways you have failed to change these behaviors in

the past.

Consider how your past efforts were like pulling a weed up without getting at the root.

How we go about change matters.

The way we have been approaching change isn’t working.

We must change the way we think about ourselves.

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (23:7

NASB). In other words, the thoughts running through your mind shape your

perspective and attitude about who you chink you are. Based on your

life events, interactions with others, and most importantly, your

responses–especially internally-you form a story that you tell yourself.

"When you’re locked in on seeing and thinking certain

ways, you lose sight of who you really are. Before you can embrace the

truth of who God says you are, you can make the process easier by

identifying your false identity. beliefs and the ways they have

undermined your previous plans to change. Think of it as clearing out

the old, false self-beliefs in order to make room for what is true."

Exercises 1, 2, and 3 in The Power to Change are a helpful start for growing in

self-awareness. But if you want to go deeper, it’s important to

understand how your toxic self-thoughts were planted, how they’ve been

reinforced and taken root, and how they’ve bloomed into false beliefs

about your identity. With this as your goal, it’s time to do some

thought-weeding!

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We

use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the

strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We

destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We

capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Chri