Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Personal development starts in the mind. If you want to become something you must first visualise yourself in that role doing that thing. It was Paulo Freire who stated; “action without reflection is mere activism, that is, acting without thinking; and reflection without action is verbalism.” If we act without thinking about how and what we are doing, then our achievement will be severely limited. On the contrary, if we talk a lot and do nothing then we are just full of hot air. Verbalism is an empty word, word without action, and transformation cannot happen with action. Transformation is also impossible with activism, because without reflection, there can be no commitment to transformation, it is empty action. With action and reflection you get praxis, which enables transformation to take place.

We develop by going through the cycle of action and reflection. Doing and thinking about what we have done and then thinking through how we can do it better next time. This approach allows us to develop and grow up into what we were designed to be.

The apostle Paul puts it like this: “And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins. In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].

But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:1-8 edited and abridged Amplified Version.

To develop is to be delivered so that our words and actions can reflect the image of the invisible God.