A simple, common pattern of life change occurs multiple times in our lives. Unfortunately, each occurrence may not turn out well.

Once you know that your thinking drives your actions and emotions, it helps to have tools that help you think differently.

The Pattern's Elements

The common pattern has three simple statements.

“I was living this way. Then one day, THIS happened. Now I live my life differently.”

On closer inspection of many life changes, you will see more detail which sounds like this. “I was living this way.  Then THIS happened… it happened again and again and again… Then it struck me! I got it! Now, I live my life differently.”

That is the standard form of every testimony you hear at church or any program that helps people change for the better. There are multiple examples of this pattern in the Bible. One well-known example is King David in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. There you can read the story of David and Bathsheba. 

A shortened version of the story is David committed adultery with Bathsheba. She later told him she was pregnant. Since her husband, Uriah, was away at war, David arranged a time for Uriah to come home. Uriah could be with Bathsheba and give David a cover story for his sin. But the plan did not work, so David ordered Uriah to the front of the battle, and he was killed. David then took Bathsheba to be his wife to hide the sin.

He did not confess his sin for nearly one year, so God sent Nathan to confront him by telling him a story of a rich man stealing a poor man’s sheep. David became angry saying, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!” Then Nathan stated, “You are the man!” David owned the sin and said, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

David's Story Using the Pattern

Using the common pattern, David would say,

“I was living a life that displeased God – adultery, murder, and unconfessed sin. My bad actions were following my sinful thoughts rather than what God wanted. I knew it was wrong but did not want to admit it, and I made it worse by trying to cover up my adultery with murder. Then, one day, Nathan confronted me with a story that showed how real my sin was. I confessed my sin to the Lord and experienced the consequences of my son's death. Now I focus on walking with the Lord, and when I sin, confess it as soon as I know it.”

God called David “…a man after His own heart.” How could that be when God knew that David would commit such horrible sins? I believe it was because David believed and trusted God first, and when he sinned, he confessed it. That demonstrates a desire to please God – a man after God’s heart.

Watch to learn more about the pattern and the critical understanding of "THIS."