Think Again!

Chapter 14: The Practice of Forging: Crafting the Plan • 129

• Division is one of the devil’s schemes. • Satan’s end goal is to con me into throwing away what I have of my own volition. • Even if there is disrespect, forgiveness is God’s solution of choice. Having clearly defined my feelings and the truth related to the matter, I could have used Write Playfully , to reconcile my feelings to the facts. Listing my feelings on one side and the truth on the other, God could have brought me to a place of recognizing my over-reaction. I would have been free to talk directly to Paul from a place of peace, giving Paul the benefit of the doubt based on past behavior, and with much less frustration. Having done that, I could then discern how the Spirit wanted to use this situation to Re-wire Decisively , changing me at a biochemical level. Realizing that I was susceptible to jumping to conclusions rather than believing the best of people, I could have crafted the slogan: “Believe the best first.” Then I could have utilized Execute Repetitively , repeating this slogan seven times a day for the next 21 days, reflecting on my earlier meditations. Bringing the Process Together The best way to develop good brain functioning is deep, intellectual meditation, using one kind of thinking at a time. In other words, Gather Subjectively in an intense way, then switch to a different type of thinking: Focus Objectively . After that, use yet another part of your brain as you Write Playfully . Turn your full attention to one thing at a time. That is how God designed us to yield a return on God’s investment.