Think Again!

Chapter 13: The Practice of Forging: Getting the RawMaterial • 119

Instead of (from Gather Subjectively)

You Can Affirm (Focus Objectively)

I’m helpless

You never leave or forsake me

I can have peace that passes understanding

I’m nervous

I’m uninteresting

I am unique

I’m no good

I have your righteousness in me

I can’t control my passions

I am in control of my decisions

When you do this, don’t feel the need to reconcile feelings to truth. This will come later. Your goal in this step is to assemble a list of truths. Don’t Explore the Root Cause When you Focus Objectively , you do not have to analyze your history. You don’t have to figure out how your beliefs went awry. You don’t have to dig into your childhood. All you need to do is affirm the truth. Some thoughts and issues in your life are too deep to figure out. You can say like Catherine of Genoa, “I will not wear myself out seeking beyond what God wants me to know. Instead I will abide in peace with the understanding God has given me. And I will let this occupy my mind.” 64 Pray Subordinately, Gather Subjectively , and Focus Objectively : This is the hard work of mining the raw materials you need to craft a plan to forge identity. The next steps allow you to take the raw materials from this chapter and craft an action plan so you can yield a return on God’s investment.