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Anti-Faith Ideologies

There is a lot I could say to preface this, but I'll be brief. Thoughts patterns really matter. Especially the ones we rarely verbalize.

Several recent experiences (such as Caleb's RSV) forced some of my deep-rooted perceptions up to the surface, and they surprised me. Spiritual concepts that I grasped intellectually were suddenly new and difficult again, because I realized they weren't deeply rooted in my heart.

Because those roots only went so deep, that hard moment was HARD. Processing it was hard for months. BUT that heart-break experience and soul-sifting process opened my heart and helped me internalize gospel principles on a new level. I'm confident that the next hard thing won't be nearly as hard, because my faith is deeper.

Altering some of my less-faithful thought patterns has not only helped me process difficult experiences, but has also made me more free, more full of joy, and more prone to peace. This is far from a finished process!! For example, last week I spent my praying time crying for no reason. Multiple times. And I'm okay with that.

Because I like to list things, and because I find it extremely helpful to write out my big feels, I broke down some of the thought patterns I needed to change. Just for fun, I also included some that I observed in others. There are a thousand more that could be added to this list.

You'll notice that I elaborated a bit, adding a "Depressing Derivative" that summarizes the negative swirl in a seemingly harmless thought, and the "Faithful Alternative". I find that my most effective temptations are like Satan's ice cream twist cone… Half righteous desire, half devilish counterfeit. So without further ado, here is my list of dangerous thought patterns, along with some of the faithful replacements I've started to make.

Thought  Depressing Derivative Faithful Alternative
 I need a satisfying answer to my question.  I'm unwilling to listen to God's answers if they differ from mine.   I can accept God's answer in God's time frame.
 I need to control outcomes.  I don't trust God.  I trust that God will support me in any circumstance.
 I need to please others.  My worth is dependent on others' perception of me.  I believe in my eternal worth.
 If religion/faith makes me uncomfortable, then it's probably untrue.  Religion should reflect only my opinions and desires.  The Church is still being restored, and so am I.
 I'm unwilling to change certain things about myself.  This trait/behavior is more important than God.  I believe in my ability to improve and God's loving desire to help me.
 My righteousness is inherent.   Power and goodness is mine, not God's.   My worth is eternal, but my goodness depends on my actions.
 I'm beyond help.   God is powerless to help and does not love me.  I accept my weakness and acknowledge God's ability to help.

What ideologies would you add? Aside from traumatic necessity, do you have any strategies for getting your faith down deep? I'd love to hear your thoughts!


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