Will Power is Overrated
May 14, 2008
We all struggle with temptations that we try to overcome with will power, but relying on will power alone will ALWAYS let you down. Keeping thoughts and imagination under control is so much more effective than will power. That’s why the bible tells us to think on good things…as soon as your thoughts are in the gutter, so are you!
You can use your imagination and thoughts to harm you or help you.
Harmful example: if you struggle with pornography, you can tell yourself every day, that you will stop (will power), but as soon as you let your imagination start wandering, you are helpless and succumb to your temptations. The same goes for food and dieting. As soon as you start thinking about all of those “forbidden” foods and how great they are going to taste, you are bingeing on Oreos and chicken strips (my forbidden foods). This just shows how much more powerful imagination is than will power.
Helpful Example: Here’s what I’m doing to change my imagination and thoughts today:
- I envision worship night at church tonight will be explosive and life changing
- I can see myself eating healthy food at iHop after church tonight
- I can picture myself getting up early tomorrow to work out
- I imagine that I will forgive those who have hurt me and the ones I love before I start worshiping tonight
Entry Filed under: Being Authentic, Food, Friends, God, Life, Love, Music, Worship. Tags: dieting, Eating, Food, Forgiveness, Imagination, Life, Love, Porn, religion, Will Power, Worship.
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1.
Pete Wilson | May 14, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I imagine that God truly loves me for who I am and not who I often try to be for Him.
2.
createdtopraise | May 14, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I remember that it’s not about me…it’s about reaching them. Focus on that.
3.
seanmichaelbrage | May 14, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I love this post, but I love more that you spelled iHop like iPod.
4.
suzapalooza | May 15, 2008 at 6:56 am
Every day when I wake up at 4:30 I picture myself at the gym. While I’m at the gym, I picture myself looking how I want to look one day.
5.
joshmickelson | May 15, 2008 at 7:18 am
I need to get better at this. Consistantly better.
6.
JudiFree.com | May 15, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Everything went exactly how I envisioned it (EXCEPT FOR #3)
7.
Bridget | May 18, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I soo wish I would have read this on Wednesday. Worship was awesome, but it was hard to get my mind out of the other places it wanted to wander! But this applies to everyday. I need to think about who god wants me to be, and not what I think other people expect from me!