Satan has no power over believers—he deceives us into using our own power against ourselves! He uses fear and deception to lead us away from the truth of the Word. We create false beliefs, which in turn create false realities. And since 'as a man thinks within himself, so is he...' those false beliefs create a false identity, which in turn creates a false reality.
For example, 'I could never do [fill in the blank]' is, for a believer, a false belief. The truth says "All things are possible to him who believes."
Jesus repeatedly told people seeking His help "According to your faith, be it done unto you." He was in fact showing us spiritual law, how to operate in life. Faith is based on a person's beliefs, whether good or bad, and creates their own personal reality.
The Mannings
Have you ever wondered why both sons of a former NFL player went on to be star quarterbacks in the NFL? A seemingly unreachable goal for most, but here are two NFL stars in one family...how is that possible?
Growing up, their reality was that playing in the NFL wasn't just an attainable goal, it was what they were already! They lived and breathed NFL, their dad was in the NFL, family friends were in the NFL...NFL was their reality! So it was quite normal for them to see themselves playing in the NFL as well!
The same holds true in the negative for those raised in toxic situations such as alcohol, abuse, etc. Innumerable studies have proven that children of alcoholics or abuser go on to create that reality in their own lives. Why?
We Create Our Own Beliefs
It's true. Think about it. Think back to experiences that have shaped your beliefs...then look around. You grew up in lack, so you've struggled all your life with lack. You subconsciously or unconsciously created the belief that 'I am one without.'
Or you grew up with abundance and have never struggled. You created the belief that 'Abundance is who I am.'
I read somewhere that, to the poor man, wealth is something one has or does not have. To the middle class, wealth is linked to a job one has or doesn't have. To the rich, wealth is who they are...
We allow our circumstances and experiences to shape our beliefs. A good example is healing--most people have prayed for healing at one time or another, either for themselves or for another. If the healing doesn't manifest, we create the belief that 'sometimes it is God's will to heal and sometimes it isn't.' Or the ever popular 'It is what it is, God is in control.' Then there's my favorite...'God is testing you.'
But the Biblical truth is that we are already healed! Healed by the finished work of Jesus Christ, 2000 years ago...in fact, from before the foundation of the world! That is Truth, anything else is a false belief!
So why then aren't people healed? Because it is done unto us according to our faith—our beliefs! Our religious and cultural training tells us that not everybody gets healed, or that God might want us to suffer for Him, or that it's God's will for some to die early, blah blah blah. All in direct contradiction to the Truth—all false beliefs.
Anything—anything—that contradicts the Truth is a false belief, and creates a false identity for the believer.
Romans 12 tell us to renew our minds and by doing so, prove what the good will of God is. By changing our false beliefs to the truth of God's word, we will see His good will proven in the earth!
The Mind of Christ
Let's look at the Mind of Christ, given through the Holy Spirit to believers to understand the things freely given to us by God. [I Corinthians 2:9-16]
This unlimited Mind is not in our physical brains. It is in our reborn spirit, the Spirit that is now one Spirit with the Lord. That's how and why we can know all things, understand all things—it is this very anointing that teaches us all things without needing teachers! [1 John 2:20,27]
When the Word says that all things have been given to us richly to enjoy [1 Timothy 6:17] it is describing who we are in the Spirit. The Mind of Christ knows these things already...it is an active, interactive, real-time function of the Holy Spirit within! It is Truth, and when we align our beliefs with the Truth and abandon previously held false beliefs, we can finally prove what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is in our lives.
It boils down to this...believe God or believe your natural experience. Believe the Word or believe the tv. Believe in the finished work of Jesus in your life or believe your body, your bank book, your circumstances.
Your beliefs create your identity, and in turn, your reality. Believe the Truth, and not a lie.
