YOUR SCRIBAL JOURNEY
Part I: Clearing The Way
Perhaps the greatest hindrance to progressing in any form of scribal ministry is self-sabotage, the deliberate (and sometimes subconscious) undermining of one's own destiny and purpose. In this session, students will identify self-sabotage in their own lives, learn how to address it, and confront and/or provide solutions for it in the lives of those they lead. In this session, we will be looking at practical SOLUTIONS for breaking this stronghold.
OVERCOMING SELF-SABOTAGE
In the School of the Scribe, we define self-sabotage as embracing and practicing self-destructive attitudes, patterns, or behaviors that undermine, harm, disrupt, or destroy one’s own success. Self-sabotage can exist in one area of a person’s life or spill over into everything – demolishing any place of personal peace, progress, or prosperity.
A person trapped in self-sabotage can see examples of success; receive excellent teachings; have accountability partners; and have excellent starts; but if they do not overcome those self-sabotaging behaviors, any progress they make will ultimately result in destruction… with a trail of repeated false starts and incomplete work.
Continued crises in this area can open doors to severe oppression, trigger internal frustration to the point of depression and result in extreme discouragement.
Breaking this cyclic behavior is dependent on these truths: (1) admitting that self-sabotage is a problem; (2) deciding to break the cycle; (3) developing an accountable, realistic plan of action to overcome, (4) making it a priority to cast down imaginations and/or wrong thought processes that feed the sabotage, and (5) disciplining one’s self to walk out the plan to overcome.
Many people attempt to regulate self-sabotage to a spiritual problem only -- one in which they believe "the right prayer, fast or declaration" will take it away. The truth is this: We can pray to overcome self-sabotage. However, this is NOT an all-in-one solution. Prayer can assist with the conviction of this sin, leading a person to repentance and providing instruction and insight about the problem. What it can’t do is force a person to move forward MAGICALLY.
People struggling in this area have tremendous INWARD work to do. Often, they are battling a lack of self-worth, fear of failure, inability to control their situation, bad habits, excuse-making, poor planning, self-defeating thoughts, and a host of other practiced behaviors that must be unlearned.
So, let’s not get stuck on prayer or other religious acts of escape. Instead, combine your prayer life with action (and teach your students to do so). Remember, there are many people who religiously pray every single day and never make personal progress. Prayer with action (sons doing their part) is the difference-maker. When we do what we are “required to do” it activates the supernatural realm in us -- giving Holy Spirit the tools needed to heal those areas of our lives.
Self-sabotage lives in willful disobedience, rebellion, disinterest, a lack of prioritizing, busyness, defeated mindsets, defeated self-talk, lack of motivation, fantasy, etc. It exists in an “idea” of success and that “waiting on God place.” Some self-sabotage can be rooted in deeper wounding, but even in that... there are actions and decisions we must take and make to move forward.
If the practical application is put in place… recovery from self-sabotage guaranteed! THIS COURSE can help with that simply in the way that it is set up. For example, students are expected to complete it within 10-months or less. If a person is diligent in setting a schedule to study and learn, some self-sabotaging behaviors will be defeated by its end.
A strong key to discerning self-sabotage is observing other aspects of a person’s life. For example, if a person can complete everything they love, like indulging in their own interests; and following through with things that they may find displeasure in like completing payroll for their business or going to work then it is highly unlikely that the self-sabotaging behavior is deeply spiritual. Many times, people simply need to choose what is right and OBEY!
It is easy to point people to a “deliverance chair” for a breakthrough or have them seek the Lord for answers to things they are completely capable of changing themselves. As potential teachers, we must identify the difference in our own lives first and then help others dig out the problem in theirs. Being an example is the most critical part of teaching others.
The trouble with ONLY providing spiritual solutions to a problem of obedience is that it can feed delusion. Then, people begin to scapegoat their behavior to some demonic force instead of taking responsibility. For the scribe, it is imperative that this is avoided.
I beseech you: Beware of those who will try to go there with their self-sabotaging behavior. It is a manipulative tactic for most cognitive, capable people.
ARTICLES FOR REVIEW:
The Self-Sabotaging Scribe I & II
The Self-Sabotaging Scribe III
Psychology Today: Self Sabotage
Part I: Identifying & Releasing Chaotic People
Part II: Identifying & Releasing Chaotic People
TEACHING TIP: Finally, consider using this assignment as a starting point to help YOUR STUDENTS identify self-sabotaging behaviors. Many students who come to you for help will probably exhibit self-sabotaging behaviors. You may have to walk with them through this process. Vision casting, setting goals, and accountability exercises are tools you can use to help them overcome.