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Lesson 2
ABOVE THE LINE THINKING
Why is it significant to have Above the Line Thinking?
It is significant because your long-held beliefs are driving your thoughts, which ultimately dictate the experiences you have in your life. If you do not investigate your thoughts, you will stay stuck in patterns and processes that do not support a larger vision for your life.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” In order to be renewed in your mind you have to investigate your thought patterns. Recognize what is keeping you in your comfort zone and be determined to change your thinking.
What is above the line thinking?
1. Above the line thinking is where our comfort zone dies. A comfort zone is the space where you do not risk, but you also do not grow. Has God ever asked you to do something and your response was, “who, me?” Oh sweet friend, your question shouldn’t be, “who me?” the better question is “Why not you?!” You with God are unstoppable! And NOTHING is impossible with God! “Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God EVERYTHING is possible.”(Matthew, 19:26)
2. Above the line thinking is imperative to move out of the safe space of our comfort zone to be able expand and grow. When you feel you need that extra push, cry out to God and ask him for help, strength and guidance, He is but a prayer away.
3. Above the line thinking is not a physical space but a mental concept. Everything you are doing in your life right now you are in the habit of doing, but by the same token what you’re not doing right now you’re in the habit of not doing. The only way to change a habit of not doing something is to start doing it and how you think, is driving your decision to take action or not. Remember, when you change your thinking, you will also change your life.
What if you stepped out of your comfort zone? Imagine the possibilities and excitement!
I challenge you to stand on God’s word that says in Hebrews 11:1 “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Decide today that you will be a little bolder and a little more courageous. Increase your faith and dare to believe in the impossible.
“Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent, or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
*PLEASE note in the workbook, there is a typo in the 2nd verse that should read "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
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Tips/Nuggets
There may be emotions or circumstances that are below the line that are not represented on the map illustrated here, for example "Doubt" is not listed. Doubt vs certainty is one that I struggle with. We talk about this in the lesson conversation. Please feel free to add what fits for you, the more you make this study personal, the more you engage and participate- the more you will learn and take away from the experience.
In addition to doubt, we also talked about secrecy and transparency. Secrecy being below the line and transparency being above the line. It's safe to say that when you are living above the line, you are expressing in a way that God intended. We are instructed to think about excellent and praiseworthy things, all of which are above the line.
Here are 4 tips to help you get started with this weeks lesson
1. See It
The first step to Above The Line thinking is about acknowledging the need for change and evaluating what’s causing the need for change, preparing yourself to make the change, and handling it in an open and transparent matter.
2. Own It
The second step is to take ownership. It’s natural for many people to resist change, but this apprehension can cause setback/failure to occur when change is needed in order to have a positive outcome. It’s imperative that you take accountability for the overall needed change. Own the fact that you will encounter some challenges and failures, but never lose sight of the goal while adjusting accordingly.
3. Solve It
Next, move into solve it mode and create your action plan by asking this one question, “What can I do?” You then will create your goals by prioritizing items on the below the line list by order of importance. Tackle one at a time.
4. Do It
The final step is to execute the change.
This step is about follow through and staying accountable to yourself to obtain the desired outcome.
Lastly.…..be patient with yourself. You are unlearning years of stinking thinking, ideals from the world and programming since you were a child. Steady is what wins the race. You have permission to stumble, you just don’t have permission to quit!
Going Deeper in the Word
1. Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT
“Today I have given you the choice (your free will) between life (above the line thinking) and death (below the line thinking), between blessings (your desired vision list) and curses (what you don’t want). Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice (your free will) you make (with your above the line thinking). Oh, that you would choose life (above the line thinking), so that you and your descendants might live!”
2. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
“We demolish arguments (the things that keep us from our vision “below the line thinking”) and every pretension (claim or assertion) that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (above the line thinking), and we take captive every thought (above the line thinking) to make it obedient to Christ.”
Note: We have a correction for this verse in the book, it says, Believer, and should say “Christ.”
3. Philippians 4:8 NIV
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true (above the line thinking), whatever is noble (that honors God), whatever is right (above the line thinking), whatever is pure (scripturally sound), whatever is lovely (that honors God and mankind – win/win), whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (above the line thinking).”
Above the Line Thinking creates: Seeing oneself “At Cause” taking 100% responsibility. Feeling they have more choices, feeling loved and loving, obtaining the results they desire, action, feedback, clarity, hope, responding, abundance, solutions, and acceptance.
Comfort Zone creates: “At Safe.” At safe means decay. Why? Because there is no growth here. It is a place where you feel comfortable and no one bothers you, or you have little to no responsibility for much. It may be where you want to be, but it is not necessarily where God wants you to be. It is a place where no risks are ever taken. You feel good but never great. You are unsatisfied. This is where you are not afraid or have any fear (False Evidence Appearing Real). This is where people are on the fence, or stuck , or what the Bible describes as lukewarm. Life has very little meaning here except the day-to-day of mundane. Very little to any contribution is found here for yourself or others. The Bible warns about this attitude.
Below the Line Thinking creates: Seeing oneself “At Effect” through victimhood, hopelessness, reacting vs responding, feeling stuck, blame, scarcity, excuses, procrastination, and failure.
God’s Word explicitly warns about this mentality of being in this comfort zone.
Additional Bible References for your Study:
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COMFORT ZONE WARNING
Revelation 3:15-16 ESV
“‘I know your works (actions): you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
James 1:22
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:2-8
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Double mindedness is one of the devil’s favorite tools. Evil wants to distort your lenses. He knows perception is a most important component in decision making. You have to be diligent in all your decisions, slowing down your mind, taking every thought captive, and maintaining your focus on reality and the truth. If you do that, single-mindedness becomes rather simple.
Philippians 4:8
Fear NOT – A biblical lesson where scripture depicts over 365 times to “Fear Not.” Make note it’s empirical evidence that when God reiterates a verse twice or multiple times it is wise to pay careful attention to “take notice.” Here are just a few.
Isaiah 41:10
Joel 2:21
Joshua 1:9
2 Timothy 1:7
John 15:16
Do NOT trust what others say contrary to God’s Word
Mark 5:36
Trust in the Lord and do NOT doubt
Proverbs 3:5-6
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Psalm 118:8
Isaiah 12:2
Psalm 112:7
Jeremiah 17:7-8
We have everything we need to succeed
Philippians 4:13
John 10:10
Hebrews 11:1
1 Chronicles 4:10
Real Talk
There is something you know you need to do, but it means abandoning your comfort zone and stepping out in faith. You don’t know what the outcome is going to be. You really don’t know where you will be standing at the end of it, but something inside of you feels excited to see what is on the other side. Here is a bible story that I pray brings you hope and that zealous spirit to step out in faith and away from the stagnation that holds you back from becoming all God created you to be.
A whole book of the Old Testament is devoted to the story of Esther, a Jewish exile living in Persia. An orphan, she was brought up by her cousin Mordecai. She was lovely and beautiful, and she must have been quite young also. When the royal decree was sent out that a new queen was to be found, and all the beautiful young women of the kingdom were to be brought to the royal palace, Esther left her childhood home and moved into the palace. Of all the beautiful young women there, King Ahasuerus set the royal crown on her head and made her queen.
It’s interesting to consider how Esther must have felt through all of this. There’s no doubt that as a young Jewish girl, this must have been completely outside of her comfort zone. She couldn’t have known how things would go. But God, as always, was behind the scenes. He had a mission for Esther to carry out; something she could not have done if she hadn’t left her old life behind her. The Bible says God is no respecter of persons. If he had a plan for Esther, you better believe he also has one for you!
GOD’S PERFECT TIMING
In the meantime, Mordecai, because of his godly fear, had fallen out of favor with a man who had a lot of power in the kingdom of Ahasuerus. That’s another story in itself. The result was that this man, Haman, became so enraged that he convinced the king that all of the Jews in the kingdom should be destroyed. The king was completely unaware that his own queen was amongst these people, and agreed to this wicked plan. How would God’s people survive this?
When you read the story you can see how perfectly timed everything was. God had set up the chain of events, and Esther and Mordecai were in position for God to be able to use them to save His people from this destruction.
You can’t see the big picture in your life either, but can you trust that God is in perfect control? Jesus says that not a sparrow falls from the sky without Him knowing about it. (Matthew 10:29) It’s impossible to believe then that anything that happens to us is not watched over and carefully measured and balanced to be exactly what we need to fulfill His plan for our lives. (Proverbs 3:5-6).
BOLDNESSS IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY
Esther and Mordecai came up with a plan that involved Esther putting her life at risk. She would go to the king and plead before him for her people. The law stated that anyone who approached the king without being called would be put to death, and there was no knowing if he would welcome her or not. Mordecai convinced her however, saying, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.
And Esther’s response was, “I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16. That is faith!
Esther was an orphan who became queen of a kingdom. It took boldness for her to fight for her people. It can’t have been easy; it says that she fasted and prayed for three days before putting the plan into action. And then she was obedient, not knowing what the outcome would be. But it was more important for her to do what she needed to do. She trusted that God was in control.
TRUST IN GOD’S CONTROL
The outcome of Esther’s trust and boldness was that Ahasuerus welcomed her when she approached him, acquiesced to her pleading, and the Jewish people were saved from destruction. The wicked Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had built specifically for Mordecai.
Learn to trust in God unquestioningly. To believe that He loves you so much that you can rest in His perfect guidance and wisdom for your life. Esther did it simply, and it went more than well for her. You can trust just as simply and take that step of faith! Be obedient to do the things that God asks of you. To step outside of your comfort zone and live a life of faith.
Had Esther not been bold and stepped out of her comfort zone a whole lineage of people would have perished. She had the courage to change the trajectory for her whole bloodline. Simply by realigning her thoughts and actions toward above the line patterns of thinking. Her story although extreme for us in this day and age, I find it is equally beneficial for us today.
Think about how your life will be with no risk taking and below the line thinking. It would be a tragedy for not only you, but your purpose. We will continue to challenge you to be bold, brave and courageous. You have God behind you, in front of you and beside you. Remember, all things are possible! If God be for you, let no one be against you. Including YOU!
Blessings from your Authors ❤️
Resources
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