We become what we believe about ourselves– not what others say, or even what God says, but what we say and believe about the person reflected in our mirror.
Do you know the verse that explains this? Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
This isn’t a hard principle to understand. Even Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Another translation says, “For what has been stored up in your hearts will be heard in the overflow of your words” (TPT). In other words, it’s not the masks we wear (the clothes, the job, the title, etc) that define us. We are the “hidden person of the heart” (1 Peter 3:4).
This is why change happens from the inside-out.
In order for the outside to change, the inside must change. Salvation is first of the heart, followed by actions that reflect what God has done within you. “Religion” has this backwards. Religion teaches that it’s your actions that will produce righteousness, but the Bible is clear: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
Now think about this– if you confess with your mouth, something will change in your heart. This almost seems backwards from what I just told you, that change happens from the inside-out. But these truths aren’t contrary to each other. They are complimentary.
We become what we believe about ourselves, so how does a person change that? First, you have to discover the truth. Then, secondly, you have to make that truth your confession (something said outloud). Jesus actually helped his own disciples understand this when they witnessed Him curse the fig tree.
He explained, “For assuredly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23). Now go back and count how many times Jesus emphasized the word “says” versus how many times he told them to “believe.”
Jesus knew that in order to increase a person’s ability to believe, they must make multiple confessions of faith. This is still true today. If you are what you believe about yourself, then you have to change your belief system. And the only way to do that is to change your confession of faith.
Faith is defined as persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, or having the ability to believe. Jesus told His disciples: “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). I want to say that to you today– have faith in what God says; and then make that your confession of faith.
The Bible says you are loved, forgiven, and made new in Christ. And that’s just the beginning of the list! It doesn’t matter how you were raised, where you came from, whether you are educated or uneducated, rich or poor. Millionaires on Wall Street wrestle with identity and self-esteem. Children on the mission field struggle with this. It is a weakness in the human DNA– a weakness the devil has discovered and targeted.
A lasting cure isn’t found in counseling or self-help seminars.
The answer to this problem is found in the problem itself: As you think in your heart, so are you.
Change the way you think by changing your confession.
When your confession lines up with what God says about you, your heart will adjust.
When your heart receives and accepts the truth, you will become what you believe.
Everlasting change happens from the inside-out. You will become what God has always seen and believed about you as you allow His Word to transform your heart.
