Cognitive Dissonance
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Definition: The feeling of uncomfortable tension which comes from holding two conflicting thoughts in the mind at the same time.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." - James 1:8
Knowing something in your head, is not the same as accepting something in your spirit. One can listen to a sermon or teaching and accept that it's a good teaching in one's head, but fail utterly to internalize it and accept it in one's spirit. This is what Jesus meant when He explained the parable of the sower. Some seed (the word) fell onto stony ground, and these are the people who listen to the word and accept it with joy, but the word does not take root, because it does not penetrate into the spirit. When tribulation comes, it withers because there is no root.
Being doubtful and indecisive is torturous. There are many times when I don't know which way seems the 'right' way. Most decisions you make in life are in fact not clear cut black and white, but always in shades of gray. So many times I've made decisions without thinking things through and regretted it later. On hindsight, they were not very wise decisions. Yet when we try to factor in too many considerations, we end up becoming immobilized, unable to make any conclusion. This is the source of doubtfulness and indecisiveness.
Thankfully, I believe that in these decisions, He will guide us through. Again, it's not that walking the path He asks you to will be all rosy, but knowing that this is what He wants gives me strength even when things don't seem to be going well.
I believe I've done my best, and will continue doing it. I have no regrets and will focus to keep doing that... and whatever happens, happens.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." - James 1:8
Knowing something in your head, is not the same as accepting something in your spirit. One can listen to a sermon or teaching and accept that it's a good teaching in one's head, but fail utterly to internalize it and accept it in one's spirit. This is what Jesus meant when He explained the parable of the sower. Some seed (the word) fell onto stony ground, and these are the people who listen to the word and accept it with joy, but the word does not take root, because it does not penetrate into the spirit. When tribulation comes, it withers because there is no root.
Being doubtful and indecisive is torturous. There are many times when I don't know which way seems the 'right' way. Most decisions you make in life are in fact not clear cut black and white, but always in shades of gray. So many times I've made decisions without thinking things through and regretted it later. On hindsight, they were not very wise decisions. Yet when we try to factor in too many considerations, we end up becoming immobilized, unable to make any conclusion. This is the source of doubtfulness and indecisiveness.
Thankfully, I believe that in these decisions, He will guide us through. Again, it's not that walking the path He asks you to will be all rosy, but knowing that this is what He wants gives me strength even when things don't seem to be going well.
I believe I've done my best, and will continue doing it. I have no regrets and will focus to keep doing that... and whatever happens, happens.
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Posted by
Gerald
at
1/29/2008 01:00:00 PM
Labels: Personal, Revelation
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