有效的改變—更新你的心
By Dr. Rick Warren
幾乎我們每個人都有關於自己的某件事是我們想要改變的－－在工作中、在人際關係上、在日常的習慣和行為。然而，要改變你的生命，首先必須改變你思想的方式。在每件事的背後你都有一個想法。每個舉止都是被一個信念所激發，而每個行為都是被一個態度所促成。
當現代宗師這麼說，人們會認為這是一個驚人的新發現。但其實上帝在幾千年前，在心理學家尚未了解這一點時，就已顯明了這個真理：「你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效是由心發出」（箴言4章23節）。
為了說明這一點，你可想像自己搭一艘快艇在湖面上，自動導航系統被設定成往東航行。若你決定要變更航向，轉而向西，你有兩個可能的方式去改變快艇的方向。
其中一個方式是抓住舵輪，用你的力量強迫快艇朝自動導航系統所設定的相反方向走。你可以完全靠力氣去勝過自動導航系統，但你會感覺到不斷有一股抗拒力。最後你的手臂會因那抗力而疲倦，你就必須放手讓步給舵輪，然後這船就立刻轉回向東，如同它內部所設定的。
聽起來好像很費力，是嗎？而且那轉向只是暫時的－－一旦你停止用力強迫它改向，它還是會轉回原來的方向。
這就是你試著用你的意志力去改變你生命的情況。你告訴自己：「我要強迫自己…少吃一點..不再吸煙…不再沒有條理和遲到… 當我在壓力下時不再生氣地回應。」
意志力可以產生短期的改變，但會造成內心常常有壓力，因為你還沒處理你想要改變的根本原因，所以做出你想要的改變感覺會不自然。那需要極大的力氣與意志力。最終你會放棄－－停止節食、拿起另一支香煙、參加一個重要會議又遲到、或用不適當的怒氣回應別人。
有一個更好且更容易的方式：就是改變你的「自動導航系統」－－也就是改變你思考的方式。或者，如聖經所說，願意思想被改變：「只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意」（羅馬書12章2節）。
改變總是從心開始。你思想的方式決定你的感覺，而你的感覺影響你行動的方式，那意味著「將你們的心志改換一新」（以弗所書4章23節）。
要像基督，你必須發展基督的心思。聖經談到要有「耶穌基督的心」，而且把這種心的轉變稱為「悔改」。這在希臘文的意思是「改變你的心與方向」。
悔改的意思是改變你思想的方式。你必須改變你對上帝、你自己、罪、其他人、生命、你的未來、每件事的想法；然後採取基督對生命的展望和觀點：也就是你要跟隨祂！
本文版權屬於「標竿人生」。本文改編自華理克博士的專欄。他寫了許多書，包括廣受讚揚的「標竿人生」。這本書被翻譯成許多語言，並賣到全世界。這本書斷言，有一個經過你仔細考慮且清楚表達的目標去過每天的生活是重要的。這本書被認為是改變20世紀的100本基督教書籍之一。他也寫了「目標導向的教會」。
思想 / 討論題目
關於你自己，你想要改變什麼－－不論是個人或工作上？你在做這些改變時，是否成功？ 你認為改變為何如此困難？換句話說，為何這種想要改變的「好意」通常不足以完成真正、長久的改變？ 本文作者說要達成所想要的改變需要改變你思想的方式。你是否同意？為什麼？ 羅馬書12章2節說：「只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意」這對你而言是否實際？若是，這會如何發生？請解釋。註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言16章3節，23章7節；羅馬書6章11節；哥林多前書10章12節；哥林多後書10章5節；以弗所書6章3-4節；腓立比書4章8-9節；希伯來書4章12節
EFFECTING CHANGE – RENEWING YOUR MIND
By Dr. Rick Warren
Almost every one of us has something about ourselves we would like to change – at work, in relationships, in day-to-day habits and actions. To change your life, however, you must first change how you think. Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.
To hear modern-day gurus tell it, this would seem to be a startling new discovery. But God revealed this truth thousands of years before psychologists understood it: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts" (Proverbs 4:23, Today”s English Version).
To illustrate this point, imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go eastward. If you were to decide to reverse course and head toward the west, you have two possible ways to change the boat’s direction.
One way is to grab the steering wheel and physically force the speedboat to head in the opposite direction from where the autopilot has been programmed to guide it. By sheer willpower, you could overcome the autopilot, but you would feel constant resistance. Your arms would eventually tire of the stress, you would have to let go of the steering wheel, and the boat would instantly turn back toward the east, as it had been internally programmed.
Sounds like a lot of hard work, correct? And the change would only be temporary – once you stopped trying to force the change, all would return to the way it was before.
This is what happens when you try to change your life with willpower. You tell yourself, "I will force myself to … eat less … stop smoking … quit being disorganized and late … not respond angrily when I am under pressure."
Willpower can produce short-term change, but creates constant internal stress because you have not dealt with root causes of what you would like to change. Making the change you desire does not feel natural. It requires great effort and willpower. Eventually you give up – and go off the diet, grab another cigarette, arrive late for another important meeting, or react with inappropriate anger.
There is a better and easier way: Change your “autopilot” – change the way you think. Or, as the Bible says, be willing for it to change: "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2).
Change always starts first in the mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act, which means, "there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes" (Ephesians 4:23).
To be like Christ, you must develop the mind of Christ. The Bible talks about having “the mind of Jesus Christ,” and calls this mental shift, "repentance." The Greek literally means, "to change your mind and direction."
To repent means to change the way you think. You must change your thinking about God, yourself, sin, other people, life, your future, everything; and adopt Christ’s outlook and perspective on life: You follow Him!
© 2011, Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren, the author of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life. It has been named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He also has written The Purpose-Driven Church.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What is something (or some things) about yourself would you like to change – personally or professionally? How successful have you been in making these changes? Why do you think change is so difficult? In other words, why is it that “good intentions” usually do not seem to be enough to accomplish genuine, lasting change? Dr. Warren states that achieving desired change requires change – in the way you think. Do you agree? Why or why not? He quotes Romans 12:2 in the Bible, which states, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Does this seem realistic to you? And if so, how can this occur? Explain your answer.NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that relate to this topic:
Proverbs 16:3, 23:7; Romans 6:11; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 6:3-4; Philippians 4:8-9; Hebrews 4:12
