How do we change the trajectory of our lives? How do we really experience Romans 12:2 of being transformed by the renewing of our minds? How can the truth actually make us free? 

One of the ways we can do this is to ask ourselves specific questions which have the potential to bring life-changing revelation. For me, the following questions have caused me to see what my biggest problem is (my beliefs).

1. Is my feeling unworthy a bigger problem than what I feel unworthy about?
2. Is my feeling of shame a bigger problem than what I feel ashamed about?
3. Is my feeling of regret a bigger problem than what I feel regret about?
4. Is my unresolved doubt about a decision or commitment I have made a bigger problem than the decision or commitment itself?
5. Is my belief that God is more interested in me obeying Him than enjoying Him a bigger problem than what I believe I am doing wrong in my life?
6. Is my tendency to focus on what is wrong with me when I take communion a bigger problem than what is wrong with me? 

I believe the answer to these questions is almost always yes. This chapter and this book will help make my case for this belief. Even if you decide not to agree with me on all of my conclusions, I still will hopefully have accomplished one of my main goals for you as the reader. That is to inspire you to think through what you really believe about how God wants us to think and feel about who we are and what we do. 

If we don’t know what our problem is, then we have a real problem! This is a book that will help us recognize, in a deeper way, the importance of prioritizing our beliefs as the key to breakthrough and seeing our dreams fulfilled. It will help many overcome what I call the epidemic of negative emotions that result from believing lies. 

What is an epidemic? It is an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time. Even though it is more commonly associated with physical illnesses, I have witnessed another kind of epidemic among the body of Christ, a longstanding epidemic. I am not talking about an epidemic of compromise or sinful behaviors, but that of doubt, insecurity, guilt, shame, and unworthiness. This “dis-ease” causes many to lack confidence in who they are, what they are doing, what they can do, and in being fully convinced they are in right standing with God and are celebrated and greatly loved by Him. 

There are so many believers who feel they are not committed to God enough, who feel they are not doing enough, or who feel less than others, doubt themselves, negatively compare themselves to others, feel guilty for not giving enough, not praying enough, or not being sincere enough. 

Someone might say, “But what if it is true that we really are not sincere or committed to God enough? Won’t this teaching just give people an excuse to continue in those ways?” This is a great question. Let’s talk about that. 

The theological beliefs that can create the greatest transformation also have the potential to be used to justify hurtful beliefs and behaviors. Remember, the same culture that created eleven world-changers also produced a Judas who betrayed Jesus. If our goal in leadership is to prevent a Judas, we will most likely not produce world changers. In the same way, If we are fixated on preventing bad behavior by mainly focusing on what is wrong with us, we will block greatness from manifesting in and through us. 

Certainly, we need healthy relational accountability to ensure we are not abusing others or heading in destructive personal directions. Yes, we may need counseling or inner healing, but this needs to be a part of a plan to overcome the lies creating doubt, shame, inferiority, and an overall lack of confidence; not a replacement for it. 

I used to think my doubt, insecurity, and feelings of insignificance were my personality and my predestined lot in life. I believed I was at a disadvantage in life compared to more “successful” people. What I have discovered is that these feelings were the result of believing lies. And what I did not understand was that these feelings were “common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Everyone is tempted to believe lies that lead to depressed emotions. 

The greatest temptations we face are not to do wrong but to believe wrong. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able . . .” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Eve’s first temptation in the garden was to believe the lie that God was not good. She embraced this deception and then sinned in her actions. Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness in Matthew 4 were enticing Him to doubt His true identity (“If you are the Son of God . . .”).

The real spiritual warfare is whether we are going to believe lies or truth. “The truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Truth makes us free first in our emotions and then in our circumstances. Lies restrict us first in our emotions and then in our circumstances. This epidemic of doubt, insecurity, and guilt comes from believing lies. And the good news is that we are empowered by God to decide to believe what is true. 

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What I have written above is how I begin chapter one of the book. The book has eight chapters. They are as follows:

1. The Epidemic of Doubt, Insecurity, and Guilt
2. The Power of Beliefs
3. Fully Convinced in Key Areas of Our Lives
4. The Art of Decision Making
5. Attaching Great Faith to Everything We Do
6. Empowered Toward Great Decisions
7. Limitless Living
8. Breaking Out of the Pack

This is one of the most important books I have written. You can purchase it here. We also have an eight-week online course that will take the book’s content to another level of impact in your life as well.