The Search for Significance

Renewing The Mind 135
tions, and emotions are the launching pad for actions.
The understanding that thoughts are products
of beliefs gives us a tool for exposing them. Then
we can identify the source of those beliefs. Which
false belief do the following thoughts expose?
1. He just has to like me.
2. What can I do to make him like me
more?
3. I'm afraid he's given up on me.
These thoughts reveal a belief in Satan's lie
that we must be approved by certain people to
have self-worth. In this same manner, all of our
thoughts can be traced back to beliefs — beliefs
either based on the truths of Scripture or the lies
of Satan.
False beliefs can be deceptive because they may
be based on a partially accurate perception of circumstances.
For example, it may be accurate that
you failed to get a report in on time. You did actually
fail, but that is only part of the truth. The
other part is that your self-worth is not affected
by that failure. To recognize your failure, but
then believe that your failure has caused you to
lose self-worth, is to believe both a truth and a lie.
The facts may be true, but our interpretation of
the facts may be based on the crafty deceit of
Satan.
Also, in many cases an accurate perception may
trigger a whole array of unconscious thoughts
stemming from false beliefs. For example, Kay's
accurate perception, "My husband is drinking
again," actually represents many of the following
unconscious thoughts:
"I hate that inconsiderate bum!"
"He'll start mistreating me and the children."
"I'll
finally have to move out."