Replacing Unreasonable Thoughts

Obtaining reason means replacing unreasonable thoughts (disfigured reasoning) with reasonable thoughts.

Psychology generally characterizes unreasonable thoughts as cognitive distortions. Christianity usually frames unreasonable thinking in terms of lies we believe.

Disfigured reasoning is also found in 3 categories of lies

• Lies about God

• Lies about Others

• Lies about Ourselves

Reasonableness defined

"reasonableness" in Philippians 4:5 (above) means to be "unreasonably reasonable." It is being gentle when gentleness is not a natural response. It's showing mercy and offering forgiveness when anger and revenge is a justifiable response. It is love for the unlovely. It is counterintuitive and impossible without the help of God inside us. Unreasonable reason is Jesus on the cross praying, "Father, forgive them." It's doing good for our enemies. Going two miles when we're only being forced to go one. It is often the opposite of our natural impulse.

The ability to be reasonable comes when we love God, our neighbors, and ourselves in a biblically defined way.

5 Areas where we likely need more reason

• Performance and purpose

• Anger and annoyance

• Certainty and control

• Expectations

• Responsibility

Performance and Purpose

Purpose and performance are tightly bound together.

Finding Purpose

Our purpose is to glorify God and help humanity. God doesn't require glory to satisfy a need in Himself but to lend worth and incredible meaning to our lives.

Isaiah 43:7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”

Followers of Jesus don't need to discover purpose but instead, grow and expand our purpose. Additionally, every believer, without exception, has been given special abilities. Our purpose can be grown from our aspirations and our abilities.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Don't confuse purpose and profession. Our profession can and often serves our purpose. Take the example of the apostle Paul who sometimes worked a second secular job when it was required to serve his sacred purpose. 1 Thessalonians 2:9.

Fixing Performance

Our performance is often soiled by our attempts at perfection. The lie of perfection often keeps us from performing in the arena of purpose altogether. A perfect God appointed imperfect people (You and I) to accomplish His perfect purposes. Don't bench your purpose because you can't practice to perfection.

In a sentence, my attempt to overcome this tendency is to do my best to complete projects and return to fix them later. Write now and edit later. I realize attempts at perfection prevent my plans and projects from ever making it off the ground.

Reason in Anger

Discovering and dealing with disguised anger can help prevent anxiety symptoms. Those of us who care the most about being peaceful can end up harboring immense anger we're never aware of. Spend some time this week allowing God to show you some of your secret anger. Like me, you may be surprised to find how much anger is involved in your anxiety recipe. I still remember the "aha" moment when I told my therapist, "I never knew I was an angry person. No one has ever described me as angry... ever."

For some of us, anger is taboo. We were taught to never express it. Our common habit is to quickly deny it and call it something other than anger (e.g. frustration). We ignore it and bury it where it becomes an explosive landmine of disruptive emotions that terminate in anxiety. It's the pathway in the far left column above.

For others, outrageous anger and rage is the "go-to" response any time we find ourselves offended.

Anger is something we all experience. There are only two good responses. 1. Overlook it. (Completely dismiss it without keeping a record or referring to it again.) 2. Deal with it in a healthy way.

Meanwhile, we all need lessons about becoming unoffendable and less entitled.

Reason in Certainty

We are notorious for our intolerance of uncertainty. We often crave a level of certainty that just isn't available.

The only certainty for everyone in this life is trouble and suffering. (John 16:33; Romans 8:17-18) Take heart. Those who follow Christ can find their trouble and suffering transformed and reshaped into something victorious and joyful. Trouble doesn't break or even weaken us. It makes us stronger and less likely to be injured. God's timing is beyond our control and sometimes seems slow but His promise to provide us ultimate victory is true and worth counting on.

Two questions forced by trouble

Romans 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

How we answer those two questions will become the lens through which we view our circumstances. That lens will have major contributions on our anxiety levels.

Christ-likeness is better than comfort

John 13:13-17 NLT

You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. [14] And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. [15] I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. [16] I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. [17] Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Reason in Expectations

Will God heal our anxiety and take it away?

I am certain God can and does heal people. I also know God denies or delays healing in order to grow our faith or to become strong in the middle of our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; James 1:2-4)

I have had many troubles at this point. Paul prayed 3 times, I prayed 300 times. In addition to anxiety, I have dealt with cancer and blood disorders. I have lost a kidney, a colon, and a spleen. Anxiety is by far worse than any of those! It's not even close.

Even worse, our well-meaning Christian friends toss Bible verses and opinions that bathe us in shame. I'm sure it's unintentional, but the result is to limit the impact that faith, scripture, and fellowship could be having in our lives of anxiety. I believe they mean well but they don't understand and are too quick to dismiss our faith as insincere or poor in quality.

I'm asking you to trust me in this. It is entirely possible to arrive in a place of faith where you experience joy in difficult circumstances. God is strong in our weakness. But we must be certain that God is LIFE and we must value being like Christ more than having comfort. Those are the most difficult lessons to learn. Not everyone has the opportunity

Our certainty shapes our expectations

If we are certain that God is resentful and out for revenge; we may expect trouble on the heals of our every imperfection. We will be prone to catastrophizing.

If we are certain that God is apathetic to us, we will feel tossed about by circumstances that have no meaning.

If we believe God is manipulated or impressed by our good deeds we may feel betrayed by God when good things don't always follow our good behavior. We may do good to manipulate God's rewards or do bad to punish God's resistance to reward us in the way we see fit.

If we are certain that God is loving, involved, faithful, and effective; we will begin to expect God to be at work in all our circumstances to our ultimate benefit even if it develops out of our understanding.

Reason in Responsibility

What we are and are not responsible for.

Not to earn God's favor.

Not for the reward.

Expecting trouble. Reframing trouble as a cause for joy. Upside down.

Expecting death.

Keeping worry in its boundaries.

We are not responsible for the happiness of others.

Final note:

The final phrase in this passage can have two different meanings. Scholars are divided about which is meant here. It can mean 1. The Lord is returning very soon (a reference to His return). or 2. The Lord is present right now (A reference to His presence with us). Even though only one meaning is meant by the author, both principles are absolutely 100% true. We are taught repeatedly in scripture to live ready for the return of Christ. We are also taught that God the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort and guide us.