3/5/22
Who Are We?
We are not our experiences, actions, habits, etc. We are not our “doings”. The real us should not be defined by what we do, for we are human “beings”. Our “doings” simply reflect the “being” that we currently believe we are; the being with which we are currently identifying. If I believe that I am good, kind, loving, etc., then my “doings” will reflect that current belief. I will see fruits/actions of goodness, kindness, and love. If I believe that I am upset, offended, hurt, or bitter, then my “doings” will reflect that current belief. If I believe that I am not loved, that I am abandoned, lonely, worthless, etc., then my “doings” will reflect that current belief.
A belief, such as, “I am not loved, I am abandoned, I am lonely”, could show itself through the fruits/actions of searching for companionship via unhealthy means; or unhealthy substance use, in an attempt to ease the internal suffering that the belief is causing the individual to experience. If I believe that I am a good parent, then my “doings” will reflect that belief. If I believe the opposite then that will also show itself to be true, through actions.
Ultimately, we are whoever, or whatever, we believe that we are. The type of belief that I am referring to is not one that simply exists as a thought within the pre-frontal cortex (logical/rational) part of the brain. The belief that I am referring to is deep within the psyche. These beliefs are in the layers of the subconscious (aka our soul/heart).
There are ways of learning to discover what beliefs are within these deeper levels of our consciousness. One of the most simplistic and reliable ways to decipher who you currently believe that you are is to look at your inner desires. The reason that I recommend looking at your inner desires, and not just your actions (“doings”), is because many of our actions can be stopped or modified due to other contradicting beliefs. Thereby, masking the true inner desire and belief, so that we won't be judged. Or, so that we won’t create a more dramatic experience of suffering for ourselves.
For example, if I believe that I am lonely, unappreciated, and in need of intimacy then my raw, inner desire might be to go find a person with whom I can be intimate and receive a sense of appreciation. However, if the idea of performing that action conflicts with the fact that I am in a committed relationship, then I may not want that desire to be fully expressed in such a drastic manner. Instead, the conflicting fear of losing my committed relationship may motivate me to find a less consequential action to perform. The desire, which stemmed from the belief, has not changed, but the action might. In this case, the chosen action may simply look like searching for individuals on social media, seeking attention, fantasizing, etc. Or, perhaps even that is too risky. So, I may have to settle for a more socially, or even morally, acceptable action through which to attempt to fulfill my inner desire. A more acceptable action might be to become more immersed in work, projects, and busy activities. Such activities would help to appease the desires for appreciation, and possibly even intimacy if one were to forge relationships during their work.
In this example, we see that the original belief of “I am lonely”, “I am not appreciated”, and “I have a need for intimacy”, created a desire to find companionship, appreciation, and some level of intimacy. The action, which flows from the desire, if not hindered by conflicting beliefs, would be a sign that the individual could use in helping them discover their core belief. The belief births the desire, and the desire urges us to perform an action. However, since many of our actions are modified, due to conflicting beliefs, actions alone are not always a true indicator of core beliefs. Desires are a clearer indicator of our beliefs, but the only one who can truly know their inner desires is the individual. This is why it is up to us, as individuals, to practice working through the steps of reverse engineering. If we will examine our actions, and especially our desires, this will enable us to find unhealthy beliefs that exist within us. Beliefs that are missing the mark of truth.
In the example above it may seem like the individual's chosen action, of immersing themselves in work or busyness, was a healthy choice. I do agree that it may have been a better choice than the prior options. However, the belief of I am lonely, unappreciated, and in need of intimacy, still remains. If this belief remains then the desire will not cease. If the individual has settled for being a “workaholic”, then this will need to continue forever, unless switched for another action. A person who may be experiencing this may always feel on edge. There is an inner turmoil and sense of unrest that drives the person into more and more “doings”; all in an attempt to feed or appease the inner desire. This inner desire, the driving force behind the actions, will only cease when the belief is converted.
An individual can determine who/what they currently believe that they are by following their desires back to their beliefs. Once discovered, that belief can be renewed, transformed, and reconceptualized, causing the individual to become a new creation. A creation that now has a new belief about who/what they are. This new belief is the individual’s new “being”. This being/belief will have its own new desires. Those desires will manifest themselves as “doings”, actions, habits, etc. We can know that our beliefs, in certain areas of our psyche, are aligned with the truth when we begin to see more of our actions aligned with peace, mercy, kindness, compassion, and love.
For as he thinks within himself, so is he…
Proverbs 23:7 TPT
When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation. Instead it is each person’s own desires and thoughts that drag them into evil and lure them away into darkness. Evil desires give birth to evil actions. And when sin is fully mature it can murder you! So my friends, don’t be fooled by your own desires!
James (Jacob) 1:13-16 TPT
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:17 NLT
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these…
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
…For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
Romans 11:16 NLT
“The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in! But if your eyes are focused on money, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. How profound will be the darkness within you if the light of truth cannot enter!
Matthew 6:22-23 TPT
You can spot them by their actions, for the fruits of their character will be obvious. You won’t find sweet grapes hanging on a thorn bush, and you’ll never pick good fruit from a tumbleweed. So if the tree is good, it will produce good fruit; but if the tree is bad, it will bear only rotten fruit and deserves to be cut down and burned. You’ll know them by the obvious fruit of their lives and ministries.”
Matthew 7:16-20 TPT
A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Luke 6:43-45 NLT
For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.
John 13:35 TPT
Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels…What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:5, 25-26, 28 NLT
The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
Luke 12:2-3 NLT
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