5 Practical Life Strategy Steps Created in Root Cause Abundance

By Jeremy Bell

Introduction

“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” Zig Ziglar. For some, as they enter adult life, they embrace this and begin a life strategy as best they can to realize their dreams. Others are refining plans and modifying their preparation as life has driven their dreams off course, for better or worse. For many, life has so shattered their ship of dreams with so much turbulence that the idea of life strategy sounds like a joke. Planning and preparing do not make any sense.

In any stage, it is worthwhile to occasionally drop anchor and consider root cause. How a person perceives reality affects dreams, goals, preparation, planning, and motivation. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12: 34b. Life strategy is never static, it is always in motion, is is the mouth of the heart, the motion of a ship.

A Reason to Pause and Consider

Paul said that knowing God, people don’t glorify Him as God, and don’t give thanks. They become vain in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts are darkened. Romans 1: 21 paraphrased. This should give a person pause for careful examination. Whether starting out, re-examining, or looking for an anchor in a storm, the Bible has critical help for all of it. Immediately, in these sentences, it is easy to see that the heart, or soul, is filled by something, with something. This is root cause, there is nothing more foundational. Whatever is abundant in the heart, the mouth speaks, and the motion of life strategy takes place. Paul says that if God is not center, hearts are dark, and Jesus says that when hearts are dark, evil speaks. Matthew 12: 35b. Of course, one must decide on the source of this wisdom before there can be any expectation of result.

Some Substitutions

I find the words of Jesus accurately outline a life plan. From here on, I will use ‘origin’ instead of ‘abundance’, ‘understanding’ instead of ‘heart’, ‘life strategy’ instead of ‘mouth’, and ‘acts’ instead of ‘speaks’. Out of the origin of understanding, life strategy acts. Later, I will be substituting ‘report’ for ‘account’ to complete the picture as I add a follow up verse. I have also arranged the order to flow for appropriate steps for life strategy, though, the final picture is the sentence as is.

The Fueling of Understanding

For acts to be meaningful, organized, or directed, origin needs to be addressed. Acts are a direct result of understanding. And understanding is fueled by origin. All people have a choice to believe in a theocentric or anthropocentric point of view of the source of understanding. Anthropology studies the acts of humans and attempts to trace backwards, looking to understand the strategies that led to those actions. All of this while employing philosophical conjecture of the understanding that led to those strategies. Theocentricity starts with God as the provider of revelation behind understanding and looks forward in the actions as results. All agree that humans have understanding and there are acts as a result. The question regarding the root cause for understanding, is up for consideration on a personal level.

Connections

Strategic planning lays directly in the middle of understanding and acts. This goes for any kind of strategy and life strategy is no different. Strategy is formed by defining goals, or future wants, with action steps of how to achieve them using the skills and abilities of a person’s understanding. Building a boat for sail will look very different if the goal is for royalty, or for fishing. The quality of the boat in either case will depend on the skills and abilities, and how those were learned by the builder.

The root cause for understanding is critical before life strategy can be detailed. Root cause informs understanding that affects the goals, or acts. In fact, in most cases goals and actions are wholly dependent on the root cause of skills and understanding. For this reason, root cause and acts are the first to consider before life strategy can be further defined.

1. The Origin of Abundance, Point of View

The first step for essential life strategy is deciding on a root cause point of view, or origin. Anthropologically, there are many to choose from. A persons’ life experiences typically guide them the most. They have learned over time who they admire and what those people did to achieve what they achieved. People build their morality around what they were taught from parents, teachers, and personal application. They may have studied a religious teaching that instructs them as to what is acceptable and what is not. These are fluid constructs that require constant revision after constant analyzing. Studies include the workings of man, the theologies of religion, and discernment as to why people have performed in their way. These are molded into a personal system that narrows and optimizes goals, conscious and subconscious, and acts for their lives. Life strategy is built on human centered understanding and human centered acts.

A God Point of View

Theocentrically, God is the center and origin of all understanding and acts flow from this fountain. I am not qualified to detail every religious belief, nor is this the purpose of this article. I am qualified to share what the Bible, Old and New Testament, says. God is the creator, everything else is His creation, and the two are not the same. All that the Scripture teaches or intends to present as truth, is true, scripture is God-breathed.

This is the root cause and origin for all understanding. Moral teaching and authority are found in the Bible, they are not molded or evolved by people. All Christian philosophies, from thousands of years of Biblical study, agree that the preached gospel is the means to salvation and every believer is under the commission to do it. The mission of the church (all Christians), involves evangelism, edification, and exhortation. Mission, goals, and acts have been given with infinite grace and freedom to employ.

For the Christian

In my discovering life strategy model, two areas can already be filled in. Through faith in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, a person comes to the Father and becomes a Christian. God is the origin, the root cause, of all understanding, and He is personal. Though He is all-powerful and can do anything that pleases Him, His actions will always be in alignment with His character. His character never changes. Constructing life strategy is like building a house on a rock. Rains, floods, and winds come, and the house does not fall. Focusing and constructing from a theocentric point of view is going to stabilize understanding that defines life strategy and actions.

Christian model so far: Out of (God, through Jesus, in submission to His word, scripture) fueling understanding, life strategy (preaches the gospel, edifies, exhorts, and builds up other believers).

For the Non-Believer

The Bible says that because of darkness, your life strategy and acts will be results of darkness. Decisions and life will be like a house built on sand. Decisions will be made in strife as a person attempts to serve more than one master. They will hate one and love the other. Acts will often look like a wave at sea during a storm, being tossed around by the wind. Biblically, your equation looks more like this. Out of the abundance (Constantly changing, multiple sources, personal truth, root cause) of the heart, (senseless, vain reasoning, foolish, dark) the mouth, (life strategy) speaks (acts, animalistic passions, treasures of death, material treasure that comes and goes). If you do not believe in Jesus and life looks like this, perhaps it is time to reconsider. Life strategy outside of Christ will always lead to the same destination. Death and despair.

Christian model for the non-believer so far: Out of falsity and instability fueling understanding, life strategy back stabs and is disjointed.

Prayerfully Consider

Though you experienced a moment of salvation through faith in Jesus, how often do you come to the Father? How confident are you about His character? What might change if coming to the Father was constant; praying continually? Have there been moments in your life when you and the Father were more intimate than others? What does that testimony look like? How does God, the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit fill your understanding of Him and the reality you experience? Is it abundant? How might your life strategy change to include opportunity for more abundance? Do you think it is in your power to make it happen, or make yourself available?

God is all-powerful and omnisapient; He is perfect wisdom. Repentance is difficult, it is moment by moment, and requires trust. God will allow testing to grow your faith. Praying for His transformative spirit to influence and abundantly fill your heart is intimate and deeply personal. You can praise God that He is personal and lean into this as you remember it is not by your will, but by His, that your heart overflows with abundance. Life is transformed with Jesus as your root cause origin.

2. Understanding, the Heart

The root cause, or origin, is the fuel of all that is in the heart. All understanding a person has is from the heart. Anthropologically, one analyzes their life in view of the understanding of human beings and the discoveries they have made. Psychological issues are worked out studying the works of Sigmund Freud, Albert Bandura, Carl Rogers, and more. People study celebrities, successful businessmen and their parents for moral guidance. Success as defined by the culture provides role models to follow. A person’s skills and affections are understood considering these things and applied towards what will bring a person success according to cultures understood rules. People desire to leave a legacy and want to be remembered for the kind of person they were or for things they did. The root cause of a person’s understanding is often highlighted in a persons’ eulogy.

For the theocentrically minded, the root cause of their understanding is God. The God of the Bible has given moral instruction from the very specific to the general. Do not murder; love your neighbor for example. God has literally given written word for understanding in both law and wisdom. A person submits to a higher authority and repents, or turns, from themselves towards God. Understanding behavior, goals, and the world around them is in the context of what God has revealed. Success is defined by God, and it is acted out in faith. The legacy of the theocentrist is how God affected the world around them, through them.

For the Christian

The Bible is the root cause and origin for all understanding for the Christian. Culture, society, and human discovery, all influence understanding, but ultimate authority is found in scripture. The entire Bible is inspired in its very language and all its parts. The Bible is 100 percent divine and 100 percent human. The Spirit provides the concepts of Scripture, the specific words of Scripture, and agrees with the author’s beliefs. All that the Scripture teaches or intends to present as truth, is true, and the entirety of Scripture is true. The desire of a legacy for the Christian is that they have said and done things that point to Jesus, Christ, as savior. Their eulogy often suggests life after death and the promises God has made of redemption and deliverance. The root cause of their faith is Jesus, and all understanding comes from His teachings as well as what all of scripture teaches.

For the Non-Believer

At a glance, the root cause and origin for all understanding for the non-believer seems to open the floodgates of freedom. God respects human choice and honors human freedom. This existence is broken because God has allowed people to work against His will. However, choice is limited by humanity and character. Freedom is the movement of choice within Gods’ providence. The non-believer is free to choose extremes from choosing any kind of God they like to declaring themselves to be God. All sorts of understanding flow freely from these origins. But all understanding is in the root cause of death, darkness, deception, and condemnation. It should be frightful that when this is embraced, God gives this person over to these things. More on that in account and report later on. When analyzing ones’ life, of these things, the words unwise and foolish are accurate descriptions.

Prayerfully Consider

The Holy Spirit, root cause origin, dwells inside the Christian and never leaves. The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through the author’s hands. How often do you read the scriptures? How would you describe the balance of your scripture reading, or hearing; direct from scripture, with other sources about scripture? Is your reading of scripture skimming for instruction, or do you take time to analyze it for understanding? Do you pray about the scripture you’re reading for understanding? Do you understand scripture with other Christians? Is scripture written in your heart? To what extent? Is scripture a checklist for performance or wisdom for life? What does your life reflect?

Scripture is God-breathed and even contains words for salvation. It is special revelation to be proclaimed to the nations, not just shown in example. It is also specific for edifying and exhorting other believers as well as for building up the church. Wisdom for application of these things in your unique life, and for your life strategy, is found in understanding. The greater the time spent in understanding, the greater the options and confidence for acts of life strategy. Pray about this with the Holy Spirit, the writer of scripture and dweller of your soul.

3. Goals, Acts of Speaking

The root cause origin that fuels understanding dictates what a person ‘should’ do. Goals are types of ideals to work towards. In my model, acts are in fact goals. They are the desires of what a person wishes they would do or might do one day. Just like one hears thoughtless and careless speech, it is typical to witness thoughtless and careless goals. (The mouth is skipped for now, as it is the tool for the speech.) To make the tool work for the user, the end result must be considered first. Before life strategy can be worked out, acts and goals must first be considered.

For the anthropologically inclined, one must decide what they want out of life. What kinds of things would they like to do, learn, and experience? What does their legacy look like in their mind and get detailed about it. Influencing them on these things is their root cause origin. Who are the achievers of the human race and how did achievement happen? What kinds of things did they do, why did they do them, and how? Who is someone to emulate?

God Goals Outside Personal Desire

Theocentrically, end acts are viewed under the authority of God. What has God defined as goals or results? What kind of qualities has God described to acquire? A person may be influenced by the culture and education around them, but their ultimate goals have been determined by God. Some goals may never be realized by an individual, but they press on in faith. God is sovereign, He is supreme. All of His creation put together cannot prevent His purposes. Understanding by way of root cause origin, God, determines acts as sovereign. The sovereignty of the individual is turned away from, or forsaken, for the true sovereign. This is repentance.

For the Christian

Jesus was asked, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?” Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 28 – 31.

The entirety of the Bible is full of what God desires of His people and what it looks like to please Him. The ten commandments are good starts as well as a study on the fruits of the Spirit. Jesus gave command to all to go and make disciples. Paul made it clear that God gives gifts and He expects them to be used to build each other up into the unity of faith and knowledge of Jesus. Jesus is the root cause and account, the beginning, and the end.

When a Christian considers what their life ‘should’ look like, everything they consider is viewed through Christ colored glasses.

It is important to remember that root cause origin, understanding, and acts, have boundaries. This is because God is holy and commands His people to be holy. He is gracious and expects His people to be gracious, reflecting His qualities to others. God has a glorious plan to manifest His glory in and among His people throughout His good creation. Through faith in Jesus, and by the grace of God, Christians participate in that plan. To be clear, it is Gods’ plan and belongs to no one else. No pastor, priest, prophet, or king has effect or input on that plan. These boundaries allow for more choice and freedom in life strategy as their root cause originates in truth.

For the Non-Believer

Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. Hebrews 11: 6. That may be from a Bible you don’t believe, but the statement is logical. The real point here is to examine what your acts and goals lead to. If you do not believe in the real God, they only benefit for a time, even if you believe there is no God.

Many goals will waste away due to lack of faith, life strategy is too difficult. In the end, reality is not based on your opinion. An account of your acts will be given before the true and just God and God does not judge with partiality. Goals may be the one thing that keep you from God because they are dreams. I urge you to reconsider.

Prayerfully Consider

You were knit together in your mothers’ womb by God with intention and in detail. What are your dreams and desires? Do you believe God designed them inside you? Have they become twisted? Could God help you transform them? If works are of no use to salvation, how might you understand the commandments? Does this shed light on your dreams and desires? There is no law against love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. How might this affect your desires? Does God speak specific goals in your life, or does He give general guidelines for you to experience the creative freedom of choice?

The law condemns. The Christian has been saved by grace. Take some time to consider in prayer with God the wisdom of the law regarding how your life should look. Righteousness is a gift. Consider with God how your life should look with this gift. Remember, failure to try will hurt, but failure to accomplish is not failure for salvation. Jesus has accomplished for you. He is your root cause origin, and it is His life in you that will give account in the day of judgement for justification. Pray about how this affects your attitude and perspective on your desires, dreams, and how you ‘should’ live.

4. Life Strategy, the Mechanism of the Mouth

Now the time has come to consider life strategy, specifically the strategy part. A persons’ life is largely defined by the origin, their understanding, and what acts ‘should’ look like. Like acts, strategy is often thoughtless and careless. It exists, nonetheless. A great quote accredit to Albert Einstein is, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”. Thoughtful life strategy is going to attempt to break that cycle. It is time to control the mechanism, the mouth, that produces the act of speaking. This is the time to brainstorm specific ways to accomplish goals. Get detailed and put time constraints on them.

From an anthropological point of view, everything within the knowledge of a person can be used to brainstorm plans that execute towards desired acts. Human will and strength are employed to design and employ strategies. Problems are analyzed with root cause analysis techniques and strategic planning according to wisdom and patterns of the origin of understanding. An example goal might be financial security. Learning from Warren Buffet and looking for ways to copy what he has done might be one good strategy to accomplish that.

Crossover and Testing

Theocentrically, the knowledge imparted by God gives a person a framework to brainstorm ideas. Analyzing and strategic planning techniques are welcome. Looking for successful people who have done it is smart. But wisdom lies in what God has revealed about the subject. Activity is weighed morally according to what God has decreed. In an example goal of financial security, one might learn from Warren Buffet. But everything learned is tested in Gods’ word. Are the things Warren did right or wrong? Are they wise or unwise?

For the Christian

Whatever a person’s life strategy, it should be working to do, or provide opportunity to, proclaim the gospel, edify others, exhort, and build up the church. If financial security is a goal, these things should be part of a life strategy plan. Consider personal abilities, affinities, and spiritual gifts. Consider personal spiritual position. Jesus said that the heavenly Father knows people have needs, but they should seek first the kingdom of God and all these things would be given as well. Often, giving leads to abundantly receiving. Many Christians will testify to that though many cannot explain how it happened. This is to the glory of God; all things are His and He will work all things according to His purposes. When brainstorming ideas to accomplish tasks, consider what God has done in your life and what He is doing. His holy spirit is within you as a wonderful counselor.

For the Non-Believer

God has enabled you to do good things. Those good things are done in broken relationship with Him. They may be good for you, for your community for a time. But they will be forgotten, and God does not know them because Jesus doesn’t know you nor you Him. The only way to enact a life strategy that is meaningful is to put on the righteousness of Jesus through faith in Him. I would encourage you to reconsider Christ. The rest of the strategies for life are similar. Consider your abilities, and affinities. Consider these things in light of the past and the present. When looking to the future, what is the wisest course of action according to your root cause origin and understanding? There are many ways to success, align yourself always to root cause to optimize your happiness.

Prayerfully Consider

Consider your dreams and goals with spiritual wisdom. One by one, begin writing how you might accomplish these things. Is there more than one option? Are the tasks required to accomplish your goals and dreams morally acceptable? Is it difficult to discern between tasks? Consider the past and present. What is the wise thing to do? If your strategies and tasks were going to be a testimony in the future, what would that look like? How might that change the way you accomplish goals? Have you discussed your strategies and acts with God? If that makes you uncomfortable, why? Is God revealing something through this unease that is worth exploring?

You have been uniquely made with unique characteristics, in the likeness of God, resembling God, mentally, morally, and socially. God gave you reason and choice. Though broken, He is transforming you towards perfection in Jesus. God gave people, as part of His plan, for different tasks and help. A data analyst is as much in the mission field as the missionary to the Congo. Don’t let perceived limitations hold you back. At the same time, don’t become overwhelmed with believing Gods’ mission is too big for you to handle. Use life strategy to glorify God and enjoy Him. Pray with Him about this and worship if you feel led. This is a worship worthy thing!

5. Reporting and Giving an Account

Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12: 34b, 36 – 37. If a strategic plan is made for a business, there will be reporting for updating along the way. At the end of the plan, a full review is done to learn from mistakes and successes. Then, a new plan is made. A plan for life strategy is personal, but it is good to assess and report, so revisions can be made to accomplish goals.

Many see or declare the environment around them (root cause origin) as the mouthpiece (life strategy) of their actions. (Out of the abundance of the heart, abundance speaks.) This is lazy and false. This duplicative substitution attempts to remove responsibility and accountability for actions. This will always make for poor life strategy. A person can only make changes if they assume responsibility and accountability. Accountability partners are most effective in this area.

Stability of Account

Accountability is ultimately tied to the root cause origin of understanding. Anthropologically, this is likely a peer group. It could be a friend of long time standing not related to any acts or strategies of accomplishment. But it is more effective with a peer group that shares the abilities and affinities of the person with goals. Sharing root cause origin goes even deeper.

For the theocentrically centered, God is the root cause origin, He abundantly fills understanding, and He will be the judge to which a person ultimately gives accounting for the speech of their mouth. The life strategy and actions will report to God.

For the Christian

There is really good news here. Every true Christian by faith in Jesus comes to the Father, by His grace, in the power of the Holy Spirit. When this happens, they are born again. Root cause origin is Jesus, the Christians’ new spirit. This abundantly fills all understanding and life strategy works to act the good works of Jesus. The equation begins and ends with Jesus and looks like this: Out of Jesus as understanding, life strategy acts. Life strategy acts give Jesus in the day of judgement, justifying. It may be grammatically bumpy, but the point is clear, and the Bible is clear. It is by grace and not works. The death of Jesus paid the debt for sin, but His life filled us up in righteousness. It is His works and not ours. So, life strategy towards acts are always for His glory and our sanctification.

For the Non-Believer

There is one primary piece of good news here. Irrespective of personal opinion God is going to judge you, and every person ever, through Jesus. God said there has never been a person who is righteous and He cannot, will not, pass over wrongdoing. God is also holy. He is separated from all moral defilement and hostile toward it. Through the first human, Adam, all people die through unrighteous choice. Through the last human, perfectly righteous Jesus, all people may choose life. You may find life strategy and the acts that follow to be blessings. But if they are only meaningful in this life, the strategy is questionable, the acts are shallow. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. He requires your belief and that’s it. Consider it quickly, the end may come quicker.

Prayerfully Consider

Does Jesus coming back to judge bother you? What is your perspective on judgement? Is it scriptural? Have you wrestled with God about it? How might the idea of giving an account for all your words, actions, and thoughts change your life strategy? How might this affect you daily? In light of Jesus being your righteousness, how might this change your spirit of life strategy and acts? How does accountability relate to having fear of the Lord? Has this changed for you after becoming a believer? Do you take for granted the gift God has given you? How might non-believers feel towards accountability? Is this a topic you tend to ignore or study? How might this relate to being prepared to give an answer for the hope you have?

The Bible is clear that the law condemns. It is work, and it is a burden. It is also clear that God is righteous and must punish wrongdoing. He is also holy; separate and hostile towards moral defilement. God planned and executed a way of restoration and salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He gifts that to people who believe in Him. This is so glorious and wonderful; it is difficult to comprehend.

Participating in Thankfulness and Purpose

This is why it is easy to refuse and easy to abuse. Your life is not your own, Jesus paid a price to gift you. He asks you to help with gifting others not because He ‘needs’ you to do your part for salvation. He wants to work the Fathers’ glorious plan in and through you to save others and later on, to unite in spirit, in the worship of the Father, face to face. Pray how your life strategy and acts honor this spirit.

Wrap up

Life strategy is important. Neglecting it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening and doesn’t mean a person is unaccountable for it. There is good news because through Jesus, Christ, God has accomplished all that is ultimately necessary to bring about His glorious plan to manifest His glory in and among His people throughout His good creation. And, through faith and the grace of God, you and I can participate in that glorious plan as we are brought to the Father in the Son through the power of the Spirit. Reality has not yet been made new because of Gods’ patience and love. He does not desire that anyone should perish. Once life is given, it is never taken away. Jesus is the work that is acceptable to God for justification. This is the only life and death choice of life strategy.

Root Cause Winning

“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” Zig Ziglar. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. It gives account in the day of judgement, justifying or condemning.” Jesus, Christ. “Out of the origin of understanding, strategy acts. Strategy acts give report in the day of judgement, justifying or condemning.” Jeremy Bell. Seriously consider root cause origin, be confident in how that is fueling your understanding, let that understanding guide your life strategy, let your life strategy speak acts of accomplishment, and be ready to present the strategies and acts before the one who holds you accountable. Plan to win, prepare to win, expect to win. Life strategy originating in the Nature of Joy is life strategy indeed.

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Resources and Notes

All scripture in this article is from the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE (WEB). The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.

This is a reliable translation, but it is always good to read other translations as well. Biblegateway.com has a multitude of translations to read from. It is a great resource.

Another great resource is Biblehub.com. There are multiple translations, commentaries, and so much more. Great research can be done on this platform.

One more I use regularly is Gotquestions.org. This is a great site to answer questions and find threads of related questions.

There are many resources. The key is that God wants relationship directly with you, the individual. His primary source for revealing who He is and growing in intimacy is His word, the scriptures. Don’t just read for instruction. Analyze and read for understanding. Explore, ask questions, and be transformed in Jesus every moment you possibly can. There is no dispute this is a key desire of God. People are brough to the Father, in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This… This is the Nature of Joy.

Jeremy is an author, musician, and business intelligence manager. His mission is to equip and encourage those in Christ, to equip and encourage others in Christ. Jesus, Christ, is the Nature of Joy and melody of the heart. Jeremy unites business analytics (business intelligence), songs, and Scripture for Christian living in the power of the Holy Spirit.