Victim Mentality
Enjoy mulling over this lesson. I'm well aware that it’s long for a blog posting, but completely worth the read and application. I’ll not send another lesson of mine out until January 20th, so that should give each of you plenty of time to slowly work your way through the information I provided. This is a lesson that God laid on my heart and convicted me of as I worked on arranging it. I can’t pinpoint one particular event that sparked and initiated this particular sin in my life, but I’m thankful that the Lord brought it to the surface as He continues to refine me. I’m definitely beginning the process of repentance and application, and I’m already starting to see positive results from it as I press on. Feel free to work this lesson into a Sunday School / Small Group lesson as well. All for His glory and for our growth in Him. Practicing His Presence, Nate Condensed Version: This lesson is on victim mentality, not victim-hood. If you struggle with a victim mentality, then hopefully this lesson will help you see how you can live out being an overcomer in Christ. Self-Examination Time…Introductory Questions:
What are some ways in which victim mentality individuals can approach their current state-of-mind / given circumstance(s)?
What are some common Potential Signs and Consequences of possessing a Victim Mentality…(Taken from the articles I listed below. None of these are in my own words except for categorizing them and adding a few verses. These are in no particular order, but are in the same order as listed in the Extended Version): Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Judges 8:21b (NIV) 'As is the man, so is his strength.'"
Steps to Breaking Free from a Victim Mentality: Pray to the God of the Bible:
Extended Version: Experiencing true victim-hood of varying degrees is a real deal and my points below are not stated with the intent to minimize or be insensitive to those specific and real circumstances. Traumatic events are very difficult to shake and sometimes seemingly impossible to forget. I would agree that, “There’s a fundamental difference between true victimhood and a victim mentality. A victim mentality is adopted, even when that person is not actually a victim of hurt or abuse. It is characterized by a ‘life is against me’ attitude. This mentality is limiting; it keeps a person from living out their potential.” How the Cross Defeats My Victimhood I also want to point out that, “A victim mentality is a way of thinking. It's a way you think. It has to do with your thought life. It is a way of looking at life and interpreting it. It is a belief system in the heart, so it's a whole way of thinking and believing, the way you approach your life…So a victim then, a victim mentality is a mentality where the person - now notice this - they will not take responsibility. That's the bottom line. They refuse to assume responsibility. They choose rather to make excuses for why life is like it is and to find someone or something to blame. When you blame someone you put responsibility on them, you remove it from yourself and leave yourself powerless and resentful at how life sucks. This is a way of thinking, it's an internal choice in your heart.” Breaking Free from Victim Mentality Therefore, please keep in mind that it is the victim mentality aspect that I’ve intended to be the focal point of this lesson. There are some who walk around like Eeyore and continually live in a victimized mentality state-of-mind and my goal is to help such individuals, myself included, who struggle in this area see how they can be overcomers in Christ…the way He intended for us to live. Self-Examination Time…Introductory Questions:
What are some ways in which victim mentality individuals can approach their current state-of-mind / given circumstance(s)?
Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Judges 8:21b (NIV) 'As is the man, so is his strength.'"
Steps to Breaking Free from a Victim Mentality: 95% of the points below came from the following articles… Breaking Free from Victim Mentality How the Cross Defeats My Victimhood https://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-cognitive-distortions/ Pray to the God of the Bible:
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AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. #girldad including granddaughter
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