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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Blowout (04/28/11)
    For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15 NAS)
In the story of Rapunzel, when the pregnant mother notices some radishes or rampions in the enchantress' garden, she craves to have them or she feels she will die. Such compulsive behavior exists in the real world and is called obsessive compulsive neurosis. According to NLP-Mentor.com, obsessive compulsion is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, persistent obsessions or compulsions. Many of such compulsions can be trivial and do not interfere with a person's life and energy, like the perceived need to straighten a crooked picture or pick fluff off someone's clothes. Other harmless compulsions may include avoiding cracks in sidewalks or ensuring the iron is off before leaving the house.

Repetitive and habitual behavior is not necessarily bad and can sometimes be useful. Habits such as brushing teeth before we go to bed and washing the dishes after dinner help make things go smoothly. Some habits however can turn into an intense compulsive behavior if blown out of proportion, especially if the one suffering from it feels without a choice for the behavior and his or her survival depends on doing it.

One of the recommended ways to help a person suffering from compulsive behavior is to use neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), such as the compulsion blowout technique. This technique is called a 'blowout' because that is what it does to submodalities. Submodalities are the fine distinctions a person make within a representational system that help remember what has been seen, heard, felt, smelt and tasted, both externally and imagined. Compulsion blowout technique alters submodalities so much that a person can no longer represent the object in the same way. This technique breaks the connection between how a person represents a thing and the kinesthetic response.

Sin is very much like compulsive behavior. We sometimes do the things we know we ought not to do (Romans 7:15), and we blame it on inborn inclination or something beyond our control. We may confess our sins, but still habitually continue to do the very thing we hate. We may even think of some recurring habits as harmless or trivial and not necessary wrong, such as gossiping, telling lies or half-truths, and having conversations with non-believing friends about worldly and unholy things. At times, we may even unknowingly do certain things out of habit, which may not reflect well the behavior expected of Christians, such as living in sensuality, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and abominable idolatries (1 Peter 4:3).

Not all repetitive behavior is bad however. Habits such as spending time daily to talk to God and study His word are good practices. Only sinful habits and behaviors stained by our old ways before we know the Lord need altering using techniques such as spiritual NLP. Spiritual NLP is about a total change of mindset and behavior through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It is a complete blowout from our old ways to redefine new ways of seeing things represented in this world afresh through the eyes of God in hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting. This renewal will alter our way of thinking and change us so much that we can no longer respond in the same way as before, but break connection with the old totally. By this, we can then prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Let us therefore lay aside our old selves from the former manner of life we have lived in and be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:22-23). Let us put on our new selves in the likeness of God, who has created us in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Just as God has poured out richly upon us the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6), let us from now on see all things through the eyes and heart of God.

Help us dear Lord to be completely freed from our habitual sins. Blowout from us all unholy compulsive behaviors Lord and change us. Renew our minds and hearts that we may from now on do all things and see all things differently from the lives of our old selves that whatever we do may reflect Christ in us and glorify You.
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This article has been read 1835 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Kate Oliver Webb
05/06/11
This is very rich with spiritual wisdom and grace. Great writing, and a timely message. As the "world" tries more and more to infringe on our spiritual lives, we need to take these disciplines to heart. Thank you!
Jody Day 
05/07/11
A timely and informative devotional. Good job.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/08/11
This is a tough topic to fit in a devotion but you managed it beautifully. It was educational on more than one level and a fresh take on the topic. Great job.
Beth LaBuff 
05/10/11
You make a unarguable case for the compulsion blowout technique. You present some fascinating facts and as usual you challenge your reader with God's Words. Thank you!
Terry Lee
05/11/11
Wow. I thoroughly soaked up this piece. It is informative, interesting, and thoughtful. And thought provoking. Nicely done.
Noel Mitaxa 
05/12/11
A very strong teaching piece, although I had to wade through what seemed like a heavy first paragraph.
From there it began to balance out into something very readable. Could I suggest you invent a character, or a dialogue, to add extra life and interest to that important introductory material? Such a technique would cover the issues while hooking us more quickly.
Linda Goergen
05/13/11
I too found this hard to wade into at first, but then just realized its simple message was Jesus can break the habitual bonds of sin and free us of our sinful compulsions if we but allow HIM to guide us and allow HIM to break the bonds from habits our flesh wants to keep us tied to. Interesting read.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/14/11
Congratulations for placing 12th in level 3!