Behold-Believe-Behave

Behavior follows Belief.

When you believe differently, you behave differently.

So if you want to change your behavior, you have to change what you believe to be true.

For example...

If you believe it will rain today, you'll behave differently from someone who believes it will be sunny today (you might carry an umbrella just in case).

If you believe people are basically good, you'll treat them differently from someone who believes people are out to get you.

In spiritual matters the same is true - Behavior follows Belief.

If you believe God is loving, merciful and kind, you'll behave differently from someone who believes that God is angry and difficult to please.

Sometimes we pickup some weird beliefs about God that cause us to behave in strange ways.

But if changing the behavior means first changing the belief, how to do you change the belief?

Well, you don't consciously decide to change your beliefs.

But when you do change them, it's usually due to three causes:

1. Peer pressure - you imitate what other people say, do, think and believe;

2. Personal experience - certain life events (good or bad) change how you see the world;

3. Revelation - God gives you new insight, understanding, or wisdom and you finally "see the Light."

#1 can be risky if you let yourself get influenced by the wrong people.

#2 is better, but you can still come to some wrong conclusions about life and get off track.

#3 is best, because God reveals what is True, regardless of what you or anyone else thinks about it.

This is how spiritual life transformation happens... I call it "Behold-Believe-Behave."

"Behold" means "to see or notice something remarkable or impressive."

Good word, isn't it?

BEHOLD!

Here's how it works...

"The Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he SAW: and, BEHOLD..." (2 Kings 6:17).

1. When you *behold* differently,

2. You will *believe* differently, and

3. You will *behave* differently.

So back to behavior...

If you BEHOLD the victory that is yours in Christ (you really see it),

You'll BELIEVE that you have already won, and

You'll BEHAVE like more than a conqueror.

That's the gist of the little book I've been giving away:

"How to Kill Your Goliath: An Inspirational Guide to Spiritual Warfare"
http://theschoolofchrist.org/goliath/

But if you like that you really need to read this, too:
http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/articles/the-strength-of-seeing.html

You can BEHOLD Goliath as bigger than you, or...

You can BEHOLD the Lord in you as bigger than Goliath.

Whatever you look at will get bigger and bigger.

What will you look at this week?


I am  your brother,


Chip Brogden
http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 552, Canandaigua, NY 14424, USA