Think Again!

32 • Think Again: Transformation That Yields a Return on God’s Investment

Irrationality If you believe his globalizing efforts, he can move to the next phase: suggest you accept irrational conclusions: • I need to be perfect all the time , or I’ll never get respect. • Everyone is against me. • If I don’t meet everyone’s expectations, I’ll never have friends. • If I don’t make this ministry happen, my life will be ruined . • Since I don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend, my life is over . • I’ll never make it in life; it’s hopeless . • Life has to be fair and just all the time . • If my kids don’t turn out, it will show that I was a bad parent . • If my family suffers it will be my fault . • Why even try?

Devaluing, globalizing, and irrationality: This is the pattern that erects strongholds. With shame, I offer a personal example.

One day a trusted colleague named Paul wrote me an email about the possibility of changing offices. Satan started twisting this by saying, “Paul doesn’t respect you or he wouldn’t ask you to change offices.” I believed it (devaluing). Then the accuser said, “Other people don’t respect you either.” I believed that one too (globalizing). Then finally, “Everyone always disrespects you, all the time. You should resign from the ministry.” I believed that one as well (irrationality).

I agitated about this all night long, missing out on a good night’s sleep. When I finally talked to Paul about it, he said he had no