S6 EP13 | The Dangerous And Subtle Lie of Personal Development
Carla shares her journey in the personal development world from her time in network marketing - and how the Holy Spirit prompted her to really look at the subtle message of the self help world.
Any path leading anywhere else but Christ, is a dangerous path friend. Be wary of any book that makes you your own saviour.
Beware of the Idolatry of Self-Development:
Carla shares her early experiences in network marketing, where personal development was emphasized.
She cautions against personal development ideologies that make individuals believe the solution lies solely within themselves, leading to a form of idolatry.
Scriptural Reminder - Exodus 20:3:
Carla references Exodus 20:3, emphasizing the biblical commandment not to have other gods before God.
She points out that the personal development world tends to encourage people to become their own gods.
Jesus as the Ultimate Source:
Carla reminds listeners that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, asserting that true strength and truth come from Him, not self.
She emphasizes the importance of relying on Jesus rather than one's own abilities.
The Deceptive Nature of the Enemy:
Carla underscores how the enemy can deceive with truths slightly skewed from God's Word, citing examples from the Bible.
She warns against falling into the trap of believing in self-sufficiency.
The Necessity of Spiritual Development:
Carla encourages listeners to prioritize spiritual development by studying the Word of God.
She announces the launch of her Bible study course, emphasizing its importance for understanding God's truth.
Kingdom Success vs. Worldly Success:
Carla distinguishes between worldly success and kingdom success.
Kingdom success is defined by becoming more Christ-like, walking in God's will, and producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Affirming Truth -
I will seek the Word over the world
Key scriptures:
Exodus 20:3
John 14:6
Romans 12:2
Connect With Carla:
Inquire about 1:1 coaching ---> carlaagreswellness@gmail.com
Join In His Image Wellness Collective ---> carlaargeswellness@gmail.com
Come hangout on IG with me @carlaarges
Check out the blog
TRANSCRIPT
[00:00:00] Carla: Hey friends, welcome to Affirming Truths. I'm your friend and host, Carla Arges. This show is a safe place to share our struggles, grow in faith, and root our identity in Christ. My hope is that you will leave each episode feeling encouraged in your journey. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode and it would mean the world to me if you would leave a review.
[00:00:30] Carla: I am so glad you're here. Let's get started. Hey friends, it is Karla here. I hope you are enjoying the kickoff to your summer. I want to tell you a little backstory before we get into today's topic. Many moons ago, I started in network marketing many, many moons ago, and it's not something I focus on now, [00:01:00] but when I first started in it, there was a big push on personal development and it sounded good and I started reading tons of personal development books, learned a lot of things, and, you know, thought I was.
[00:01:18] Carla: I was doing something good. I was growing. I was personally developing, but then I started to notice something that my spirit got a hold of. And the Holy Spirit was causing me to discern that What was happening in the personal development world was just a cleverly cloaked disguise of the enemy to get you away from God.
[00:01:49] Carla: More and more as I read these books, I started to see that they kept pushing that the solution was me, [00:02:00] that the power With me that the limit limitless potential with me personal development was making it all about me and you know what that is, guys. That is idolatry, that is idolatry, and it is so subtle.
[00:02:25] Carla: I don't know if any of you are in the MLM space or just on your own wanting to search out and, you know, develop personally and read some of these famous books that are being promoted everywhere. I want this episode to serve as a neon warning sign to you about what path you're headed down. And listen, there is nothing wrong about reading a book to learn information about something.
[00:02:59] Carla: There's [00:03:00] nothing wrong with reading a book to learn a new skill. I've done tons of reading on Bipolar and borderline and OCD to help understand myself and my son better. I've done lots of reading on DBT as a type of therapy that supports, um, borderline personality and teaches you coping skills and methods of stability with this illness, right?
[00:03:29] Carla: I've read. You know, cookbooks, right, on how to make certain things or how to, how to perfectly, you know, cut a mango, you know, those types of educational things, learning and developing a skill. There's nothing, nothing wrong with that. I'm talking about the personal development books that are, you know, geared towards mindset and overcoming and all of this stuff.
[00:03:58] Carla: It sounds so [00:04:00] good because. They come at it with a little bit of truth. They come at it with a little bit of truth. Yes, we need to take our thoughts captive. Yes, we got to stop negatively talking about ourselves. Yes, we got to create daily rhythms and habits. Yes, all of those things are good. And that's the lore to it.
[00:04:26] Carla: That is what draws us in. There's a lot of good and a lot of truth mixed in. But ultimately, The solution it leads you to is self, not Christ, and therein lies the danger. In Exodus 20 verse 3, it says, You shall have no other gods before me. The personal development world wants to make you your own god.
[00:04:59] Carla: They [00:05:00] tell you you're strong enough. They tell you the power is within. They tell you that you're limitless. They tell you that the universe has your back. They tell you dangerous, subtle lies. Mixed in with some powerful truth in John 14, six, it says, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.
[00:05:28] Carla: Jesus is the way, not your own ability. Jesus is the truth, not the truth that makes you happy or fit your narrative. Jesus is the life, not you putting on a new mindset outside of the realm of the word of God. Right? This is dangerous. And here's the thing about deception from the enemy, and I've said it before and I want, I'm going to say it again.
[00:05:58] Carla: He comes dressed [00:06:00] as an angel of light. He comes with truth that is just slightly skewed to get you off, to cause a little bit of doubt in God's way. Ultimately, that's what he did to Eve. That's what he tried to do with Jesus in the wilderness, and that is what he's doing here now in this self help push.
[00:06:28] Carla: Guys, you can't save yourself. You are not your savior. You are not your hero. You are not. Limitless, and I'm sorry if that is bursting a bubble for you, but I would rather you wrestle with that truth than go on believing a lie. Everything you need is not in you. [00:07:00] Everything you need is in Christ, in Christ alone.
[00:07:05] Carla: The strength you need, you don't have. You need God's strength. You don't have enough wisdom. You don't have enough smarts. You don't have what it takes to get to eternity. But for accepting what Jesus did on the cross and allowing His Holy Spirit at work in you, you are depraved and wretched. Ooh, we don't like that truth.
[00:07:39] Carla: That's why the truth of the self help world sounds so good. You can do it, girl boss. Boss it up, mama. You can do it all. Front. Not true. If you have [00:08:00] momentary wins believing the lie, I can promise you it comes to a very devastating end when the bottom comes out and you realize that you are not enough. The self help world, on a certain level, wants to stroke your ego.
[00:08:24] Carla: It wants to stroke your ego. And make you the god of your story, make you the savior of your circumstance. Instead of picking up the next personal development book, guys, I want you to pick up the book. The Word of God and work on your spiritual development, because here's the thing, as you spiritually develop and learn to take thoughts captive and replace it with the truth of God, as you [00:09:00] spiritually develop and root your identity in Christ, you won't have to worry.
[00:09:09] Carla: about being a slave to negative thinking. You won't have to worry about being pulled in the wrong direction because you will be so on point with God's will. But you've got to get into the word of God. And I know that's a struggle for so many of you. I hear you. I hear that. I've just opened the wait list for my Bible study course that's going to be Bible study 101, making it simple, helping you start.
[00:09:40] Carla: I don't have the exact name for it yet, but the wait list is open and you want to get on the wait list because the people on the wait list are not only going to get access to the course first, they're going to get a discount and I'm not going to give the discount. To the podcast, to my email list, to my social media.
[00:09:59] Carla: It's [00:10:00] just going to the people on the waitlist that I know really want and need this course. Get on the waitlist. The link is in the bio. You have to open up the word before you open up your next personal development book. You have to know the truth that you have fallen short, that the only hope and redemption for your life is in Christ.
[00:10:25] Carla: But the only way to produce fruit that matters to the kingdom is to be in step with God's will. You see, kingdom success does not look like worldly success and personal development. I want you to view your life as a success based on their lens. Are you growing your income? Are you growing your following?
[00:10:55] Carla: Are you, are you getting higher up on a corporate [00:11:00] ladder? There's definition of success. It's not the kingdom's definition of success. The kingdom's definition of success is, are you looking more like Christ? Are you walking in the will of God? Are you surrendered? Are you producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life?
[00:11:19] Carla: Are you loving others the way that Jesus loves you? That is kingdom success. That is kingdom success, and the obedience that is required for kingdom success will be richly rewarded, if not here, then in eternity, when we get to be glorified with Christ in heaven.
[00:11:44] Carla: Personal development, guys, the self help world is lying to you, and it is a deception from the enemy to get you depending on yourself rather than depending on [00:12:00] God.
[00:12:03] Carla: Rather than depending on God, my affirming truth for you today is I will seek the word over the world because the personal development self help industry is of the world. I will seek the word over the world and we go to Romans 12 to for this. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
[00:12:33] Carla: Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. Do not conform to the pattern of this world. Do not take on the self help gurus, five steps to mental enlightenment. Do not be conformed to the message that you are enough outside of [00:13:00] Christ. But be transformed, how?
[00:13:04] Carla: By the renewing of your mind, by picking up the Bible, by learning who God is and learning who you are in Him. Then, when you are in tuned to God's Word, when you are getting spiritual nourishment from God's Word, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is. You're not going to be confused.
[00:13:25] Carla: You're not going to lack clarity. You're not going to wonder what your next step is because you will know God's will, His good and pleasing, perfect will. And there is blessing and abundance in the will of God. The abundance of grace, of peace, of joy, of comfort, of all the things that you truly need to walk this Christian life.
[00:13:54] Carla: Friends, seek the Word. over the world. Don't forget to get on the [00:14:00] waitlist for the Bible study course. It is going to impact you. If you are not in regular Bible study, you need to be. If you don't know how to get into regular Bible study, Get on the wait list. It will be so good. All right, guys. I'll talk to you later.
[00:14:24] Carla: Thanks for joining me today. I hope we're already friends on social media, but if we're not, come find me on Instagram at Carla Arges or at Affirming Truth. Can't wait to see you back here next week. Bye friends!