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Note: A lot of the material is inspired by Craig Groeschel's book. Each week, I take concepts from Pastor Craig Groeschel's book, The Power To Change, and apply them to brain health.

Called to MoreTwo Types of More

1. Based on Sin

We want more money, a bigger house, cars, clothes, vacations, friends, and followers. It is never enough. No matter how much we have, we always want more.

2. A Godly Type of More

Fulfilling who God created us to be.

Start With Who

When most believers think of calling, they tend to think about do before they think about who.

Do Examples :

• Overseas or inner-city missions
• Start a ministry
• Start a non-profit

These might eventually come, but only after discovering who God is calling you to be.

"Your calling is more about who you are becoming than what you are doing." [1]"Understanding our who illuminates our do." [1]"Another way to say this is you are called first to salvation, then to sanctification, then to serving. Sanctification and serving will then run parallel until heaven. The two work hand in hand." [1] "Let's think about the two whos of Jesus and you and how they give significance to your dos." [1]

Two Whos

1. Jesus - We are called to be like Jesus. Whatever you do, do it for Jesus.

2. You - The person God made you to be.

"If your do is about who God wants you to become and who you want to become, then your do is not small."[1]

Exercise

SALVATION

If you are a follower of Jesus, briefly write out your testimony-how you came to salvation in Christ. (Look back over my story, if needed.)

SANCTIFICATION

List the most significant changes Christ has made in your life since salvation.

SERVING

What is your do -your calling to serve?

Is there a service that you sense God has called you to do, but the opportunity has not come about yet? Explain.

Principle

If your do is about who God wants you to become, about who you want to become, then your do is not small.[1]

Whoever is the least among you is the greatest. -Luke 9:48 NLT

Abram became Abraham

Sarai became Sarah

Jacob became Israel

Simon became Peter

Abraham - “father of many”

Sarah - “princess, mother of nations.”

Jacob - “supplanter,” The second born, tricked his father Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing.

Gideon - the angel showed up and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:12

Why did God change people's names?

“Because he knew who they truly were, who they would become, and what they needed to do.”

Abram and Sarai were going to have children and become the father and mother of the nation of Israel.

Jacob's children would become the original twelve tribes of Israel.

Gideon would become the mighty warrior who led God's people into battle against the Midianites.

Peter would become a foundation, a stabilizing influence for the early church.

"God changed their names because change starts with your identity. You do what you do because of what you think of you. For them to do what they needed to do, they first had to think the right thing about themselves."[1]

"For you to do what you need to do, for you to change, you first need to think the right thing about yourself. You need to know your true identity,...

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Note: A lot of the material is inspired by Craig Groeschel's book. Each week, I take concepts from Pastor Craig Groeschel's book, The Power To Change, and apply them to brain health.

Future You

Who will you be in 10 years?

This is what Pastor Craig refers to as the “Future You.”

Instead of merely trying or wishing for change, we should shift our mindset to that of an athlete training for a competition.

An athlete engages in deliberate practice.

To engage in deliberate practice, we need a clear picture of our “Future You.”

"Hal Hershfield, a psychologist at UCLA, tells us that having a 'future self' --a better version of ourselves that we plan on becoming--will change how we live today. His research shows that seeing yourself as a different, future person empowers you to make decisions for the benefit of 'Future You.'?"

Who do you want to become?

Fixed Mindset"In her book, Mindset, Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck writes about people who have a 'fixed mindset.' Those who falsely believe that who they are today is who they will always be. Dweck explains that unresolved trauma is one reason people get stuck in a fixed mindset a negative experience can become identity forming."

Growth Mindset"Dweck also writes about those who have a 'growth mindset.' who luxuriate in 'the power of yet.' People with a growth mindset don't fixate on now because they view themselves as always in a state of becoming. They are confident they are going to become something better, so if they fail or find themselves in an unfavorable circumstance, they view it as a stepping stone to what's next."

You can change your mind.

"Dweck has discovered, through years of research, that people with fixed mindsets can learn to have growth mindsets."

Here’s what the Bible has to say about this topic."And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Phil. 1:6 NLT

"But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.” 1 Peter 5:10 CEV

"The verb translated 'continue his work' in the Philippians verse is ἐπιτελέσει. The verbs translated 'make you complete' and make you 'strong, and firm' in the 1 Peter verse are στηρίξει and θεμελιώσει."

"All three are written in the future tense, meaning the action will be happening tomorrow and the day after and the day after that. And all three are written in the indicative mood, meaning the action is not something hoped for or wished for but something that will, for sure, happen.The good work of transformation God began in you his activity of making you complete, steady, strong, and firm - is something God is doing and will continue to do until his work in you is finally finished."

Exercise

Take a few minutes to write about Future You -the hero you'll be in ten years. Create a target for yourself. Engage in deliberate practice. Tell yourself and God who you want to become. When you're done, pray and commit this new vision to him and ask for his help.

Principle

You will change, and you can become who you want to become.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:13 NLT

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Your who changes your do.

“Who you think you are drives your behavior.” Craig Groeschel

“…it’s critically important for you to know who you are.”
Where we tend to get our identityWhat others think of us
“We tend to define ourselves by what we believe influential people in our lives think about us. Psychologists call it the ‘looking-glass self.’ We see ourselves through the eyes of others. We let those people define us, but that is not who we are.”Our worst sins or habits
“We can also define ourselves by our worst sins or habits.”

Example:

I’m an addict

I’m an anxious person

1. Our Enemy

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“His primary target is your identity. He knows how essential your self-perception is, so he lies to you about who you are.”

That’s why:

•After you yell at your kids, you think, I’m a bad parent.

•When you don’t get the job, you think, I’m pathetic. I never get any breaks.

•When you realize you didn’t read your Bible or pray again

this week, you think, I’m a bad Christian.

Identity Statements and Bible Verses

• Sought after (Isa. 62:12)

• Precious in his sight (Isa. 43:4)

• A new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)

• Not condemned (Rom. 8:1)

• Forgiven (Col. 1:14)

• Loved (1 John 3:1)

• Accepted (Rom. 15:7)

• A child of God (John 1:12)

• Jesus’ friend (John 15:14)

• Free (John 8:36)

• The temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19)

• God’s treasured possession (Deut. 7:6)

• Complete in Christ (Col. 2:10 NLT)

• Chosen (Col. 3:12)

• Called (2 Tim. 1:9)

• An ambassador of the Most High God (2 Cor. 5:20)

• God’s masterpiece (Eph. 2:10 NLT)

• Able to do all things through Christ, who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13)

• More than a conqueror through Jesus, who loves you (Rom. 8:37)

Exercise

In this exercise, let’s identify some of the voices that have accused you and told you things about yourself that are not true.

Has someone in your family or some other close relationship

consistently told you something that you have come to believe about

yourself–even though it is not based in truth?

List those lies.

Next, list any accusations you consistently repeat about yourself

that are not on your list of lies, whether or not you know their origin.

Which of the identity statements and Bible verses listed in this

chapter stood out to you? Write out why you feel that statement and

verse (or verses) speak to you.

Principle

You are who God says you are.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!-1 John 3:1
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Behaviors never exist in a vacuum.

The behaviors that show up in our daily lives have deeper roots.

“If you try to change your behavior without changing your identity, you’re pulling up a weed without getting to the root.” Craig Groeshel“To ensure a weed doesn’t come back, you have to reach down and pull out what is not visible.” Craig Groeshel“Motivation and willpower are both limited resources you will deplete quickly. Behavior modification does not equip you with the power to change.” Craig Groeshel“It’s hard to change your habit if you never change the underlying belief that led you to your past behavior.” James ClearCybernetics Theory

First-order change – Behavior modification

Second-order change – Change the way you think

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To change what you do, you need first to change what you think of you.

Exercise

If we look at our “start” and “stop” behaviors from a few weeks

ago, write down the ways you have failed to change these behaviors in

the past.

Consider how your past efforts were like pulling a weed up without getting at the root.

How we go about change matters.

The way we have been approaching change isn’t working.

We must change the way we think about ourselves.

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (23:7 NASB). In other words, the thoughts running through your mind shape your perspective and attitude about who you chink you are. Based on your life events, interactions with others, and most importantly, your responses–especially internally-you form a story that you tell yourself.

"When you’re locked in on seeing and thinking certain ways, you lose sight of who you really are. Before you can embrace the truth of who God says you are, you can make the process easier by identifying your false identity. beliefs and the ways they have undermined your previous plans to change. Think of it as clearing out the old, false self-beliefs in order to make room for what is true."

Exercises 1, 2, and 3 in The Power to Change are a helpful start for growing in self-awareness. But if you want to go deeper, it’s important to understand how your toxic self-thoughts were planted, how they’ve been reinforced and taken root, and how they’ve bloomed into false beliefs about your identity. With this as your goal, it’s time to do some thought-weeding!

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬...

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Note: A lot of the material is inspired by Craig Groeschel's book. Each week, I take concepts from Pastor Craig Groeschel's book, The Power To Change, and apply them to brain health.

Real change isn’t behavior modification. Real change is spiritual transformation.

When people think of changing, they typically think of behaviors they want to start or stop.

Start (I want to start)

• Reading the Bible
• Tithing
• Being more grateful
• Saving more money
• Being present for kids

Stop (I want to stop)

• Thinking negatively
• Being late
• Drinking too much
• Procrastinating
• Overreacting

Exercise

Write down things you want to start and stop.

"If God told you that he would miraculously change one thing in you, what would you want it to be?"[1]

Principle

"To experience change that lasts, focus on who not do."[1]

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Spiritual Who

"You do what you do because of what you think of you."[1]

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. …

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

“What does ‘so he is’ mean? Who we are-our character-shapes our thoughts

about ourselves and others. What we think is a reflection of who we

are. That then shapes our lives. We have no choice but to live out who

we think we are. What we think within ourselves, we are. We make

decisions based on our self-identification.”[1]

"Research shows that, when making a choice, we essentially (and subconsciously) ask ourselves three questions:"[1]

• What type of person am I?
• What kind of situation is this?
• What does someone like me do in a situation like this?

Instead of focusing on what you want to do, decide who you want to become.

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”

—James Clear

“Your self-identity is a primary reason that you make decisions.”

—Craig Groeschel

Exercise

When I :

My underlying belief is that:

Principle

"You do what you do because of what you think of you."[1]

“Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is

impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Sources:

[1] Groeschel, C. (2023). The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most. Zondervan.

[2] Holy Bible: New living translation. (2015). Tyndale House Publishers.

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Hello and welcome to the Overflow podcast. My name is Craig Booker.

Who Are You?

I am the founder of Overflow, a loving community where everyone, in their own way, understands the challenges associated with fear, anxiety, and depression.

What Can You Expect?

Each week on the podcast, we'll explore topics such as brain health, faith, and personal growth. We'll look at practical ways to navigate anxiety and depression and how faith fits into the picture.

What Is the Format of the Podcast?

Occasionally, I will bring on guests, but primarily, the podcast format will be made up of solo shows where I discuss a topic from a book or study.

Whether you experience challenges with brain health or you are looking to support someone, you've come to the right place!

Where Can You Find the Podcast?

You can find the podcast on any podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon.

🔗 CONNECT

✉️ Subscribe to the newsletter

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

📷 Connect on Instagram

⭐️ Leave A Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overflow-with-craig-booker/id1707602354