"Remember, a lie believed as truth will affect your life as if it were true."

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Winning the War in Your Mind (p. 116). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

And that is so true.

Craig says, "We could say a lens with a distorted view will make lies seem like they’re true.

"I wonder how often you see what you expect instead of what’s really there—reality the way reality really is."

He goes on, "Social psychologists have a name for our distorted lenses. They call it a cognitive bias. The term refers to a standardized, consistent pattern of deviating from reality in how we see and process things. If you have a cognitive bias, you create a subjective reality. That construction of your reality, not actual reality, will dictate how you respond and behave in the world.

"That’s a kind of scholarly way of thinking about cognitive bias, but you don’t need that explanation. You see people with a cognitive bias all the time."

He gives an example, " Two people walk into the same worship service together. The first believes Christians are hypocrites and churches are always out for your money, especially megachurches, where it’s 'all about numbers.'

"The second would tell you Christians are not perfect but they’re trying, and most mean well. She believes that God is alive and at work in all kinds of churches.

"Those two people will experience the exact same service but have very different experiences. Why? It’s not the facts that differ but the filter."

He continues, "Studies show that cognitive bias can impact a person’s view of God. Your relationship with your earthly father often colors how you perceive your heavenly Father. If you had a good dad who was involved and full of compassion, it will be easier to view God as relational and caring about the details of your life. If you had a father who was absent or abusive, you are more likely to think of God as distant and disinterested. Same God. Different filter."

He then says, "You can recognize cognitive bias in others, but can you in yourself?

"Part of the problem is that we tend not to see our own cognitive biases. Because if we knew it was a bias, we wouldn’t have one.

"That’s why it’s so important to think about what you think about. You cannot defeat an enemy you cannot define. Ask probing questions to explore why you think what you think."

And this is another way to win the war, isn't it?

Yes, yes!

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