Ps. Craig Mobey
What if not everything calls for a reaction, but instead, a response? The two concepts are often used as synonyms, but there is a world of difference between the two.
Your reactions are (unconsciously) driven by your beliefs, biases, and prejudices whether these are rational or irrational. Your reactions are instant, and in most cases, defence mechanisms kicking in before you fully assess the fuller magnitude of the matter and possible consequences of your reaction. Therefore, reactive people can come across as emotional, aggressive, disagreeing, and weak.
In other words when you react, the trigger is pulled, and the bullet is fired. Emotional growth happens when you take back control of the “gun.” This you do by learning to instead, respond. The more reacting you do, the less empowered you are.
A response is information-driven, gathering such from both the unconscious and conscious mind. A response is beneficial not only for your spiritual and emotional health but also for those around you. Therefore, as you learn to respond instead of reacting, your emotional and spiritual health improves as your core values are lived out. People who respond appear to be certain, calm, confident, empowered, and cooperative.
Essentially, your locus of control moves from the outside to the inside where the Holy Spirit is resident. In this sense, when Godly emotional and spiritual maturity are undergirding your responses, you are at the same time, demonstrating His rule over your heart and life, thus witnessing for Christ.
You grow from a threat-ward focus that says “react” to a God-ward focus that says “respond.”
These Scriptures brings home the need to respond instead of reacting – perhaps spend some time with them in the week?
- Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Your subconscious is naturally oriented towards “survive,” but in Christ, you can work with your subconscious to let go of non-constructive negative emotions, limiting and false beliefs as well as harmful assumptions in favour of emotional appropriateness, Godly peace, Christ-like maturity, and eternal security.
In other words, unshakeable inner strength.
Did you know that MePeople has an 8-hour discipleship program in emotional maturity that will help you to increase your emotional cup size? If you are interested, contact us at hello@mepeople.co.za.
Let me know if I or Lizette can be of help to you.
Be blessed, Craig