Have you heard the phrase, “Information is power?” Well, it's not true. It's not even close to being true.
The idea that “information is power” is misleading, and causes many people to create roadblocks to their own success. And it's about more than just the distinction that “information applied is power” – even that variation has problems. I'll explain how to transform the lead of “information” into the gold of “transformation” in this episode.
Steve was a coaching client who had everything going for him. He was a web designer with extraordinary talent, a great reputation, and a constant stream of people who wanted to do business with him.
But Steve didn't feel successful. One day he told me, “Ray, everybody thinks I'm a success, but I feel like a total failure. I haven't hit any of my goals this year, I'm feeling discouraged, and I'm not even sure my heart is in my work any more.”
I asked him, “Steve, how can you say that? You're extremely talented and succesful.”
“That's just it, Ray. I don't even know if that's true. My work seems mediocre to me, when I compare it to (and here he named another well-know designer.)”
Suddenly, a light came on in my head.
“Steve, it sure seems like you're aware of a lot things you don't have… your goal weight, your goal income, your dream house, the talent that so-and-so has…”
“Exactly!”
“What about what you do have?” I said.
He snorted.
“Yeah, I know, Ray. I should count my blessings.”
I smiled.
“That's a good idea,” I said, “But not what I was going to say.”
He seemed curious, so I pressed on. I quoted this to him:
“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.'”
~ Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
He skepticism returned.
“Yeah, but I don't have…” and he proceeded to make list of all the things he wanted, but didn't have.
I interrupted him gently,”So is the Scripture right, or are you right?”
He stopped talking. I had thrown him a curve ball. I knew what he was thinking: he believed Scripture, but his experience wasn't matching up to it.
I said, “God is saying that from His perspective, you don't lack a thing.”
Steve said nothing.
“So if you lack nothing, what do you have, Steve? The Scripture also contains the answer for that.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
~ 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
Steve said, “I know that's true. So why am I so miserable?”
“Because you keep declaring what you DON'T have! That's what your focus is on. And what we focus on tends to grow. As you focus on lack, you begin finding more and more of it in your life.”
“So what do I do to to change that?” he asked.
I told Steve this…
“Steve, God has given you everything you need to live the destiny you were created for. And He did create you to fulfill a great destiny! And the power to access that destiny is in God's Word.”
“A good place to start is by watching your self-talk. What are you saying to yourself all day long? If what you're saying is, ‘Look at all the things I don't have. Time, money, peace, love, security…' Then you will find that to be what you experience.”
“But Psalm 23:1 says you ‘lack nothing.'”
“What if you replaced all your victim thinking, and victim-oriented self-talk ,with the Word of God over your life? Paul wrote to Timothy that Scripture is provided so ‘that the man of God
