THE EMOTION BOX

The goal in the EMOTION box is to have ministry recipients connect with their emotions and to focus on what they feel. Because our heart (or heart) beliefs produce the emotions we feel, by focusing on our emotion we can more easily identify these beliefs and identify any related memory.

We should never send a person looking for a memory or ask them to try to think of a time where they may have felt what they are feeling before, since remembering is an effortless process called association. Our minds will naturally and effortless surface the memory we need to recall when there is nothing hindering this from occurring.

The first step is to connect with the negative emotions that are present so that the mind will do what it was designed to do, that is, to associate the feeling, or emotion, with a memory of the event in which we felt this way before. The emotions we feel are rooted in what we currently believe, and every belief was learned in the context of a life experience. Every life experience becomes a memory the moment it occurs. After the life event, all that we have left is the memory of our past and the way in which we interpret it (belief). If we are willing to feel what we feel and focus on this feeling, our minds will naturally surface an associated memory (event/experience). This occurs without having to look for a memory. Remembering is the process of association that is a natural and effortless task that God designed our minds to do. Later we will discover that we can hinder the association process by choosing not to remember and blocking the association process. When this occurs in a ministry session we are in the SOLUTION Box.

Let me show you how natural association is and how it works. As you are reading the word “CHRISTMAS” here, stop and pause for a moment. Think about this word. What just happened? Probably a memory surfaced. Did you see how quickly this occurred?  If I write “FIRST KISS” … Whoa! You didn’t see that one coming. Maybe that one came too quickly. This is how the mind works. The same thing occurs when you focus on your feelings. Feelings flow from belief and all belief is associated with life events, which are now all memory. This is not a weird or mysterious process. It is a God-designed process that is needed for living life.

Our minds are in a continual state of associating all day long, every day. As our minds relate one thing to another we are able to navigate through life. Association is how we know where we are and where we are going. When we smell something, see something, hear a sound, or taste something, we will instantaneously associate the sensual input to what we have experienced before, identifying (or at least attempting to identify), what we have encountered.

In the same way our minds associate through our five senses, we can also associate through our emotions. Because this is so, the TPM Process uses emotions to help identify lie-based heart belief since emotion is directly linked to belief and memory. Everything that we believe we came to believe in the context of a life event. All life events (even two seconds ago) are now memory. When we focus on what we are feeling our minds will associate the feeling with the belief and the memory in which we used that same belief to interpret the life situation.

So then, when we choose to connect with and focus on our negative emotion, doing so accomplishes multiple purposes. First, negative emotion alerts us to the fact that there is a problem. Second, it can guide us to the source of the pain; the lies we believe. And finally, pain motivates each of us to seek out freedom.

TPM is Not Mysterious or Unexplainable.
There is nothing mysterious or even spiritual going on in this portion of the process. The person does not need God to do anything (other than sustain life) for this to occur. It is a natural and God designed process known as association. If we feel and allow our minds to do what they are designed to do, we will remember. If no memory comes to mind then there is a reason. Going on a “memory hunt” and looking for a memory is not the solution!

When the person reports what she is feeling, the facilitator is ready to ask the second question. You DO NOT need to identify any other emotions, ask any additional questions, or find out more about their current situation or anything else. If the person is unable to describe –give a name to– what they are feeling, it does not matter as long as they are feeling what they are feeling.

In essence, the question, “How does that make you feel right now?” is actually asking, “Are you presently feeling and connected to what are describing to be feeling?”  So then, naming the emotion is not critical, but feeling what they are feeling is. Are they in the “river” or still standing on the bank?

You may need to assure the person of this and encourage him or her to just connect with what he or she is feeling. You might say something like, “It is not important that you name what you are feeling, but only that you are feeling it.” If they report that they are feeling what they are feeling, then move to the second question.

To the degree that the person being prayed with knows and understands the TPM Process, and understands the intent of the questions being asked, all issue and problems will disappear. When the person knows where he is on the “MAP” he will anticipate the questions even before they are asked and will at times even proceed ahead of the facilitator.

Whatever the person reports to you will reveal to you where he is on the “MAP.” If he reports more about his “story” then you are still in the EMOTION Box and should ask the same two questions again. If he continues in his “story” then he either does not understand the intent of the question, or he is engaged in a solution and he is in the SOLUTION Box. 

Avoid rushing the person through his or her current story. Sometimes people simply need to be heard. Listening builds trust and communicates that you care. Take time to acknowledge any injustices, or wrongdoing that they may have suffered. All the while, knowing too that as bad as the situation may be, the emotional pain they feel is still coming from their interpretation of the situation (as an outcome of their belief) and not because of what has happened.

Even when the person’s situation is about a genuine injustice (such as a betrayal of infidelity in their marriage), and they may rightfully feel angry, hurt, betrayed, rejected, etc., there will always be a portion of lie-based pain coming through as well. Each of us interprets life through what we believe whether it is the truth or not. It is often a combination of both. TPM can help to sort this all out.

A transitional phrase you might use between their story and asking the first question could be something like, “I am very sorry to hear that…based upon what you have shared, what happened to you was unjust, out of order, unfair, etc….I am truly sorry that happened to you, etc.” However, it is possible that a portion of what you are feeling may be coming from a lie-based belief and not the truth. So then, if any portion of what you are feeling is not coming from the truth, would you want the Lord’s perspective on this? Can we for a moment, lay aside all of your current conclusions about what has happened and you choose to feel what you are feeling and allow your mind to associate your feeling to any related memory? [then move on to the question]  “How does “that” [what they reported] make you feel right now?”

Because this question can be easily misunderstood by the person to whom it is being asked, it is very important that the ministry facilitator take the time to explain it’s purpose and intent. The person can also be given assignments to read about the purpose and intent of the questions in articles dedicated to this subject. The main thing is that the person understands that the purpose of the question is to simply report whatever comes to their minds while they are focusing on what they are feeling. For example, a simple orientation might look like this:

Facilitator: “When I ask the question, ‘As you focus on what you are feeling, what comes to your mind?’ I am not asking you to go look for any memory. God designed your mind to do this naturally. Our emotions flow from what we believe and all belief was learned in a life experience (which is now stored in our memory).  So, as you focus on what you are feeling, your mind should associate the feeling with a time in which you felt it before. If no memory comes to mind as you focus on what you are feeling, then this is an indication that you may be resistant to remembering. This “resistance” indicates that you believe something that would hinder your remembering. It is important that you let me know of anything that comes to your mind; no matter if it seems relevant or not. If nothing comes to your mind, that, too, is important.”

Sometimes people will have a memory come to mind, but then determine that it is not important and just look past it. It is good to prepare them for this by saying something like, “Please do not disregard any memory that may come to your mind; everything is important even when it does not seem to be so. Report anything to me that comes to your mind.”

Nonetheless, DO NOT ask any question in a way that implies you are asking the person to look for a memory. The purpose of the original question is to determine if the natural process of association is being hindered or not. There is never a need to send a person looking for a memory. If he is feeling something, then he is remembering something.

For example you never need to ask a question such as, “Can you think of a time where you felt this way before?” or “Can you try and remember a time where…?” Asking the person whether a memory has come to mind or not is not sending the person looking, but has narrowed down the question to a “YES/NO” answer. However, if you or the person struggles with the original question, it is probably because you do not yet understand its purpose or intent.

However, by asking, “What comes to your mind as you focus on what you are feeling?” their answer tells you exactly where you are.

Even though we are providing you with some concession by permitting you to ask this modified question when a person lacks understanding of the original one, you should not make this your practice. The right thing to do is take time to teach the person the purpose of the questions being asked. Your primary role is that of a mentor. You want to help equip this person with the life skill of TPM and deepen his understanding of the principles and purpose of TPM. To the degree that the mentee knows and understands the TPM process and principles all issues in a ministry session simply go away, questions will be answered and the process will flow smoothly.

This is why it is so important that we train the person being prayed with so he is equipped in all facets of TPM. Making a disciple is the ultimate goal of the ministry facilitator and not just helping the person to identify a lie or two and find truth. Of course helping him gain more truth is vital, but equipping him for his life journey is more important.

If you ask the first question and the person does not report an early memory but rather tells about the fight he had with his wife the night before or reports a belief such as, “I am too stupid for this process to work,” “God won’t speak to me,” or “I’m just really stressed over my new job,” then he probably does not understand why you are asking him the question. Taking the time to teach and instruct is the right call when this occurs. Encouraging the person to work through the training week-by-week will bring great benefit as the person grows in knowledge and understanding.

No one, including the person himself, can talk him into recalling a memory or focusing on an emotion as long as he believes that there are undesirable consequences for doing so. In this instance, the person needs truth from the Holy Spirit; not coercion, persuasion, pressure, or “rescuing” from the facilitator. He will remember what he needs to remember when he believes that it is safe to do so. Only the Holy Spirit can convince him of this.

It is typical and expected that ministry recipients will say that they want to remember and yet nothing happens. It may be true that they desire to remember, but not remembering is a willful choice based upon what they believe. The very fact that a person is having to try to remember indicates that he is resisting remembering. He is fighting within himself; he desires to remember and yet is choosing not to remember. It is important that you understand what is happening when no memory comes to a person’s mind so that you can effectively deal with it.

If no memory comes to mind after focusing on emotion then there is a belief keeping this from happening. This places you in the SOLUTION Box. The three questions in the SOLUTION Box will help the person to identify the solution belief that has kept association from occurring. Once the belief has been identified and confirmed you will go directly to the BELIEF Box and follow protocol though the TRUTH and TRANSFORMATION Boxes.

Being in a memory does not always mean that you are in the MEMORY Box.

Not all memories are “created equal.”  Just because the person has surfaced a childhood memory is not an indication that you are in the “right” memory. The right memory is the one that can accurately answer the questions: “How did I come to believe what I currently believe and why do I feel what I am feeling?”

All belief was established in a life event. Once the belief is established it becomes the “lens” through which future events are understood and interpreted.  For example, a person as a three-year-old might have embraced the lie, “I am worthless” because her parent treated her harshly. Later as a nine-year-old he might interpret the harsh treatment from a school teacher as “She is treating me this way because I am worthless.”

However, the nine-year old’s memory is not where she came to believe this lie. So then, this is not the “right” memory since it cannot accurately answer the questions “How did I come to believe this and why do I feel what I am feeling.” She did not come to believe “I am worthless” because of the school teacher’s actions, but rather interpreted this event through the “lens” of the belief already established when she was three.

Today, no matter whether the memory is a childhood memory or not, the facilitator should NOT assume the person is in the MEMORY Box. Rather, the facilitator should continue asking the two EMOTION Box questions with each memory that surfaces until the person lands in a memory where no other memory comes to his mind. In the same manner that we ask the EMOTION Box questions when a person shares his current “story” or any other post-childhood memory, we follow the same protocol for all memories that surface.

We should continue to ask the EMOTION Box questions until the person comes to a full stop and no other memory comes to his mind. When no other memory surfaces after asking the second Emotion Box question, then you can assume that the person is in the MEMORY Box and should proceed to ask the ascribed questions. You can make this assumption because the person has made the decision of where he has landed.

If we allow the person to continue to feel and associate until he “lands” in a memory where nothing else comes to his mind, then he is the one making the decision as to what memory should be examined with the MEMORY Box questions and not the facilitator. This releases the facilitator of the responsibility of deciding what memory to examine, allowing him to follow and not lead.

Example of this New Procedure (video found below)

Person: My child will not do anything that I tell him to do!
Facilitator: How does that make you feel?
Person: Out of control, powerless!
Facilitator: As you are focused on what you are feeling what comes to your mind?
Person: When I was in college I had a room mate who was a slob and I could not get him to clean his side of the room.
Facilitator: How does that make you feel?
Person: Powerless and helpless.
Facilitator: As you are focused on what you are feeling what comes to your mind?
Person: When I was in grade school I was continually picked on by this big kid. I could not make him stop.
Facilitator: How does that make you feel?
Person: Helpless and out of control.
Facilitator: As you are focused on what you are feeling what comes to your mind?
Person: When I was little my older brother would hold me down and drool his spit toward my face. I hated that!
Facilitator: How does that make you feel?
Person: Out of control. I cannot make it stop!
Facilitator: As you are focused on what you are feeling what comes to your mind?
Person: Just that same memory. He is sitting on me and spitting in my face.

Now we are ready to ask the MEMORY Box questions.

THE MEMORY BOX

There is nothing hidden from the person that he or she needs to discover during a ministry session.  Neither the lies they believe nor the memory of the time where they came to believe what they believe are out of reach. If anything is hidden, the one who hid it is sitting in the room. The fact that they are feeling emotion is evidence that they are at least unconsciously aware of what they believe. We feel whatever we believe. We do not feel without a reason.

So then,  if the person is feeling something, then he is also believing something. For example, if a person says they feel worthless and yet claims to not know why, this is not entirely true. The fact that they feel what they feel says that they know what they believe. We would not feel worthless if we did not believe we were worthless. However, it is possible for us to deny what we believe with our hearts by filling our conscious thinking with truth thoughts, block out our memories and even suppress what we are feeling. However, none of these behaviors changes the fact that we still believe whatever it is we believe.

It is true that we may push the belief out of our conscious awareness, but the fact we feel what we feel says we know it at some level. It is not a matter of not knowing, but only a matter of a lack of their acknowledgement of this belief. The TPM process is designed to help us make the decision to bring out what we have hidden from ourselves. Sometimes a person can rightly identify what they believe in the current situation that is causing them to feel what they feel, but more often than not, this does not occur. Even if they are able to voice their heart belief in the present moment without going to a memory, vital information is missing that only the memory can provide. Remember the two questions for which memory can provide answers. “How did I come to believe what I currently believe and why do I feel what I am feeling? (Click here to read more about the importance of the memory.)

When the person focuses on what he is feeling, he is actually connected to what he currently believes. The memory is not the source of the pain, but it is related to the belief. This is why it surfaces when the person focuses on his emotion.  What the person currently believes was learned at the time of the life experience. That experience is now their memory, but it is not the reason they feel badly. The person may remember believing the lie when he thinks about the memory of the life experience. However, the belief that they learned in the experience that is the source of their emotional pain is no longer a memory, but rather, has traveled through time with the person and is his current belief through which he views his past and his present situation. This current belief is the lie causing the pain and not the memory. The memory only feels bad because it is being remembered through the lens of what is currently believed.  This concept will be examined often in the discussions that will follow in this training and in other articles.

Again, I remind you of the analogy of the “smoke” that we follow in order to locate the “fire.” If we focus on what we are feeling, we will remember when we felt this way before, unless we choose not to. Without emotion the ministry recipient lacks a definitive way of accurately identifying what he or she believes. Our painful emotion is an indicator that something is wrong and points us in the direction of the source of the trouble.

Remember that unless the person identifies the original context of when he learned a belief, he will possibly come to the wrong conclusions as to why he believes what he does. He will assume that the current situation is the reason for his belief. If all he has is the present situation to go on, his logic will come to the false conclusion that he feels what he feels because of what is currently happening in his life. It is possible — though not probable — that he may figure out that his current situation is not why he feels what he feels, but rather he feels what he believes. Nevertheless, without memory he cannot know how he came to believe what he believes or why he feels what he is feeling.

Identifying the Heart Belief Using the Three MEMORY Box Questions.

It is heart belief that is the source of the emotional pain the person feels, but it is any and all lies that we want to see resolved. Therefore, the prayer ministry facilitator should not be looking for just the “heart” belief, but following the person wherever he or she is going. Often — and to be expected — people will need to expose many other lie-based beliefs that are hindering the person from exposing their heart belief.

Imagine that the heart belief causing the pain is at the end of a long hallway that has a series of doors that have to be unlocked and opened before you can proceed. Each of these doors is held shut by the person because of his or her belief. There is no other way to get to the heart belief without going through the doors. You cannot rush this process and there is no workaround. Each door was put in place by the person, and unless he chooses to open them they will not be opened. He will open each door as he receives the Lord’s perspective. These beliefs are not heart beliefs, but nonetheless, lies. [The Questions found in the SOLUTION Box will help us here.]

THE MEMORY BOX Questions

Why do you feel that way?”

“Why does believing that [what they have reported] make you feel [what they are feeling]?”

Notice that one of these questions is very similar to the first EMOTION box question. However, we never use the other MEMORY box question when in the EMOTION box. The same holds true for not borrowing questions from any box outside of the box for which it was intended unless otherwise instructed.

These questions do not have a sequential order in which they are asked. The context determines which question to ask and when to ask it. When the person is working through the memory and he reports memory content, general information or a belief, then the right question to ask is, “How does that make you feel?”  When the person reports an emotion, then the right question to ask is, “Why do you feel that way?”

The first question is designed to have the person connect with the emotion associated with the information they have just reported.

For example, if the person says, “Nothing I ever did was good enough for him!” This statement is giving information regarding his understanding as to why what happened, happened and is not describing what he is feeling. The person believed that he was not able to please the person described in the memory, but he has not told you how this belief makes him feel. So the this question is asked here to help identify his feelings; “How does that (what he has reported) make you feel?” You could state the question as, “How does believing that ‘nothing you ever did was good enough for him,’ make you feel?”

The second question is designed to help them to identify their belief that is associated with what they are feeling. So when the person reports what he is feeling or states an emotion, you ask the other question: “Why do you feel that way?”  This question reveals the belief behind the emotion. So depending on what the person reports, you alternate between the two questions. Over time doing this will become second nature for the facilitator and will require little thought.

Sometimes you will ask the same question several times in a row and not alternate back and forth because of the responses of the person are the same. You are following the ministry recipient and asking questions according to what his responses provide you. For the novice facilitator, this can become confusing at times. It requires some measure of listening skills to determine rightfully what is going on. There are times when the ministry recipient might answer the question, “How does that make you feel?” with a belief answer. He may even state his belief response as an emotion when it is not. He might say something like, “I feel like it was impossible to make him happy.” This statement is not an emotion; this is a belief even though prefaced with the word “feel.” When this occurs, the novice facilitator might get tripped up. Because of this, the ministry facilitator must listen carefully and rightly discern what is being said.

Typically an emotion response to the question asked is usually a one word answer or simply “I feel sad, mad, alone, afraid, etc…” This is because most emotions are defined with one word: sad, happy, worried, anxious, depressed, angry, lonely, overwhelmed, helpless, powerless, weak, dejected, etc. This is not a firm and fast rule, but can be helpful.

Also, when the person uses the words “that” or “like” in his response it is usually a belief and not an emotion.  For example, “I feel [that or like] no one loved me,” or “I feel [that or like] he was impossible to please.”  So when you hear things like, “I feel [that or like] there was nothing I could do to please him” or “I feel [that or like] no one ever loved me” or “I feel [that or like] my dad wanted a boy and not a girl” these are not feelings but rather beliefs. When this is the case, you will want to ask: “How does that… [their belief] …make you feel?” or “What does believing that… [the belief] …make you feel?”

Here is an example of what this might look like:

Person: “Nothing I ever did was good enough.” (Belief)
Facilitator: “How does that make you feel?” (Emotion)
Person: “I feel like his standards were way too high.” (Belief)
Facilitator: “How does believing that make you feel?” (Emotion)
Person: “Afraid.” (Emotion)
Facilitator: “Why do you feel that way?” (Belief)
Person: “Because I will never make him happy.” (Belief)
Facilitator: “How does believing that make you feel?” (Emotion)
Person: “It makes me feel really sad.” (Emotion)
Facilitator: Why do you feel sad? (Belief)
Person: “I feel like there is something wrong with me.” (Belief not emotion)
Facilitator: “How does it make you feel to believe that there is something wrong with
you? (Emotion)
Person: “I feel like I am defective.” (Belief not emotion)
Facilitator: “How does that make you feel?”
Person: “Like there is something wrong with me. I am defective.” (Belief -probably the
heart belief -Self-identity. Notice that he is repeating the same potential heart belief answer.)

“Why does believing [their reported belief] make you feel [their reported feeling]?”  

Person: “I just feel really afraid.”
Facilitator: “Why do you feel that way?”
Person: “Because I believed my uncle is going to hurt me.”
Facilitator: “And how does that make you feel?”
Person:“Afraid.”
Facilitator: “Why do you feel afraid?”
Person: “Because my uncle is going to hurt me.”
Facilitator: “And how does that make you feel?”
Person: “Afraid.”
Facilitator: “Why do you feel that way?
Person: “Because, my uncle is …”

The person is looping by giving the same answers over and again to the two questions being asked and their response is not a lie-based heart belief. There are reasons that this might occur. The primary reason is that the person has chosen not to go any deeper and has found a way of escape by looping his answers. The “Looping Question” takes both of his responses away by combining them in a question that requires that he go deeper.

The question stated as in this example wold be: “Why does believing your uncle is going to hurt you… [the belief they have repeatedly reported] …make you feel afraid… [the emotion that they have repeatedly reported]?”

This question takes the person’s looping answers away and requires that they look deeper toward the heart belief, or if they refuse to go deeper, it will expose a solution that needs to be dealt with. A solution is any behavior a person might do to keep from moving forward. We will deal with all solutions using the “SOLUTION Box questions.

ALERT: What follows concerning asking the looping question here was not included in the video posted on this page. This particular video was recorded in 2015.

Facilitator: “Why does believing that your uncle is going to hurt you … [his belief]
   … make you feel afraid?” [his emotion]
Person: “Because I was powerless to stop him.” (He just went deeper.)
Facilitator: “How does that make you feel?” (Emotion)
Person: “Out of control and defenseless.” (Going deeper)
Facilitator: “Why do you feel out of control and defenseless?” (Belief)
Person: “Because I am helpless and powerless to do anything. I cannot make him stop!” (Potential Heart belief – State of Being lie)
Facilitator: “How does that make you feel to believe you are powerless to stop it?” (Emotion)
Person: “Like I am powerless and out of control.” (Now it appears that he is looping with a heart-belief response.)
Facilitator: “How does that make you feel?”
Person: “Like I am powerless and out of control and cannot make it stop.”
Facilitator: “Why do you feel that way?” (Belief)
Person: “I am out of control and powerless and cannot make him stop!” (Very likely
looping with a State of Being heart belief.)

The Redundancy of the Questions in a Ministry Session

There have been some people who have suggested that the MEMORY Box questions can become redundant and monotonous and even frustrate the person receiving ministry. This is understandable if the person receiving the prayer ministry is uninformed as to why these questions are being asked. However, for the person who has been taught well and is oriented to the process, the questions make sense and the person will flow with the process. He hears the “redundancy” as a reminder for him to dig deeper, look in new directions or to clarify. This is why it is so important to train the recipient with the process as well as the principles and concepts of TPM.

You are encouraged to invest at least 20-25% of each session in orientation and training of the person. A sandwich approach works well. Begin the session reviewing the process and questions and general principles and then do the session. Following the session return to training and use what occurred in the session to formulate what aspect of the process and training you need to emphasize.

A well-equipped ministry recipient will result in smoother and more successful ministry sessions. He will also become equipped in TPM for his daily life.

THE BELIEF BOX

“Not is it true, but does it feel or seem true that.. [the heart belief they have identified]?” or “Not that it is true, but does it feel or seem true that… [the heart belief they have identified]?”

First, it requires the person to take ownership for what he experientially believes—that which feels true, as opposed to what he may intellectually know to be otherwise.

Second, it has him focus on what “feels true” as opposed to what he may intellectually know to be the truth. This moves him around his intellectual belief –that may indeed be truth– and exposes what he experientially believes that is false. His response to this question requires that he acknowledge what feels true to him as opposed to what he may know intellectually. What we experientially believe will feel true even when we know the truth with our intellect.

Third, it establishes a “base-line” to which we will return to when testing to see if genuine transformation has occurred. We will discuss this in a moment when we look at the TRANSFORMATION box.

By saying the words, “Not is it true …” or “Not that it is true…” you are acknowledging your recognition to the person that  he probably knows the truth, but that this is not what you are asking. Instead, you are asking him specifically to identify what FEELS or SEEMS true, not what indeed may be true. When a ministry recipient experientially believes something to be true, it will “feel” or “seem” true. If we do not experientially believe it, it will not “feel” or “seem” true. This is because we “feel whatever we believe.” Sometimes it is important to put the question into the context of the memory itself by prefacing it with, “In the context of that memory, not that it is true, but does it feel true that…?”

Since this is the “base-line” question that you will reference when testing for transformation, it is very important that you write down the person’s exact words in response once it is stated and confirmed as feeling true. You will later need to repeat this statement verbatim when you test for transformation, neither changing the person’s words nor their meaning.

Once you have established what feels or seems true for the person, you are ready to move into the TRUTH box.

THE TRUTH BOX

Up to this point, all questions have been asked of the ministry recipient directly.  The second question is the only question that is not asked of the person. The second question in this box is directed to the Lord.

Be careful not to make this phase of the process more complicated or “spiritual” than it needs to be. Keep it simple. This is NOT the time for well-meaning drawn-out prayers. “Dear Heavenly Father ….” is not what we are looking for here. We simply are offering the belief to the Lord for His truth and perspective. Jesus does not need an ornate prayer at this stage in the game, nor does the recipient. In fact, to do so runs the risk of hindering the process. Asking this second TRUTH box question as worded should not cause the session to slow down, pause, or stall. Ask the question and then get out of the way. Here is where you leave the person alone with the Lord. The ministry recipient does not need you to encourage him to listen, look for Jesus, think about anything, or envision anything. Just step back and wait.

Don’t rush the Moment. It is important that you not rush the moment. Give the person time to process and potentially receive. Typically, the person will report what he believes has happened –or that nothing happened. If he does not report something verbally, he will usually give some nonverbal cue that he has experienced something or not. As long as something appears to be going on with the person, try not to interfere with what he or she is doing.

There really is no need to ask the person what happened or didn’t happen as long as they are giving you verbal or nonverbal cues. What you may believe has happened, or even if nothing appears to have happened,  mean nothing for you. You should not come to any conclusions about whether the person has received anything from the Lord or not based upon what you witness. What visibly occurs in this moment is NOT a test or an indication of whether the person encountered Christ or not. And so, you do not need to ask the person what happened, what he heard, saw, experienced. There are no other questions to ask when in this box except unless the person has giving you no information.

[Note: If there is any time during the ministry session that the person has not given you an indication of where he or she is, then you do not know where you are on the “map.” Here is where you would ask, “What is going on?” or “What is happening?” These questions allow the person to help you to know where he or she is on “the map.” If you do not know where they are, then you can not know what questions to ask.

For example, if the person says, “Nothing is happening. My emotions just went away.” You know that you have moved over to the De-Solution Tool. If they say, “The Lord just told me that He is with me and that I was never alone.” You know you are in the TRANSFORMATION Box. If they say, “I just felt some anger stir up.” You know that you are on the “ANGER” place on the map. If you have not been given any clue as to what is happening, then you do not know what is going on.

THE TRANSFORMATION BOX

Rightly Handling the Word of Truth While Allowing the Spirit to Do What Only He Can Do

In the earlier years of TPM training we expected the ministry facilitator to determine if the person was reporting actual truth or not when in the TRANSFORMATION box. We stressed the importance of the facilitator knowing and being able to “rightly handle the Word of Truth…” (2 Tim. 2:15) and that the Bible was the standard for all that occurs in a ministry session. This is of course still very important, but not for the purpose of determining if the person is reporting truth or not. There is a time and place for our Bible knowledge in a ministry session, but it is not to give direction or determine if what the person reports is biblically correct or not.

What we are looking for in the TRANSFORMATION Box is whether there has been a true shift in the person’s heart belief from believing a lie to knowing the truth and not whether what the person has reported is biblically correct or not. It is very possible that the person will report having heard the truth and quote a Bible verse word perfect, but this is not any guarantee that his heart belief has been renewed, but only that he holds some measure of Bible knowledge.

When the person is in the BELIEF Box we ask the “base-line” question to establish whether the lie-based heart belief feels true (not if it is true). Once this is established we move to the TRANSFORMATION Box to see if there is a shift from the lie feeling true to the truth feeling true. This can only be accomplished by the Spirit. The person cannot talk himself out of his own lie-based heart belief. However, he can know the truth with his intellect and report the truth in the TRANSFORMATION Box even while believing a lie in his heart.

So even though it is vital that we each “rightly handle” the Scriptures, we need not bring this knowledge into the ministry session to make any determination as to whether the person is reporting the truth or not when asking the TRANSFORMATION Box question. The question itself will help to determine if the person has made a shift in his belief. The person reporting the truth is not a guarantee of transformation. Transformation occurs when the lie once believed has been replaced with the truth by the Spirit and it no longer feels true.

If the lie no longer feels true and the truth feels true, then something has been accomplished. Just because a person can give the right Bible answer does not mean that transformation has occurred.

We are not saying that the Scriptures are not vitally important in all that we do. What we are saying is, TPM is not about the facilitator giving truth, correcting lies or determining whether the Spirit has “spoken” or not. TPM is allowing the person to process while him personally engaging the presence of Christ. Determining whether the Spirit has reveal truth to the person’s heart or if the truth being reported is the person’s Bible knowledge, is not the responsibility of the ministry facilitator. It is also not the responsibility or need for the ministry facilitator to determine if what has been reported is the truth or not. If the person reports something that is not biblically correct, then what he has “heard” will not transform his heart belief. Only the truth from the Spirit can change what we believe. Also, if it is the ministry facilitators responsibility to determine if what has been reported is biblically correct, this requires a high measure of biblical knowledge to assure reliable oversight. When does the ministry facilitator meet the requirement for determining what is biblically inerrant and when it is not?

There is a time and place for biblical teaching and instruction, but it is not needed in a TPM ministry session.

Proper Protocol

In order to make this determination, when in the TRANSFORMATION Box we refer back to their answer to the “Base-line” question asked in the BELIEF box. This is where you need to state their belief verbatim.  Do not add to, interpret or vary how it was reported by them. So again, it is important that you write this belief down so that you do not misrepresent their words.

If the belief still “feels” true, then they still believe it to be true. What we believe with our hearts will feel true. But if it no longer “feels” true, then they no longer believe it to be true. This is the only test we use to see if mind renewal has occurred. We test for transformation of the belief and not anything else at this juncture.

What they say happened and what they may have displayed is not a test that something occurred. People can have what appears to be “glorious” experiences and then tell you the lie still feels true. People can see things, hear things, and sense things all with their imagination. However, they cannot make the lie stop feeling true with their imagination. Unless the Spirit persuades them of the truth, they will continue to believe the lie and their belief remains unchanged. This is due to the fact that our mind’s imagination is able to create all manner of illusions in an attempt to remedy the problem. But only the Holy Spirit can renew our minds with His truth and cause the lies to no longer feel true. 

What About the Peace Test?

Some people ask, “Why not simply check to see if the person still feels the painful emotion? If the pain goes away, then they have been healed. Right?” Not necessarily. It is true that when the lie no longer feels true, the emotions that are related to that particular belief should change to match the truth. Nonetheless, it is not our goal to change what the person “feels,” but rather to have the Holy Spirit replace the lies he believes with the truth.

Also, a change in emotion is not an accurate indication of whether or not mind renewal has taken place with a specific belief. For example, a person can “feel better” by simply suppressing his or her emotion without there being any change in what he or she believes. Not only that, but the person may still feel “bad” about other lies still believed even if they no longer believe the specific lie that was offered to the Lord. So it is vitally important to check for a change in belief before doing anything else. This is accomplished as indicated above by asking the person if the lie that was offered-up “still feels true.”

Saying, “Thank you Jesus! I am free indeed!” is not necessarily an indication that something happened.
So, after we ask the Lord for truth and the person suddenly raises his hands and starts praising God with a loud voice saying, “Thank you Jesus! I am free indeed!” This does not mean that something just happened. This may in fact be the very way the person typically deals with his pain, by distracting himself with praise and worship. The only conclusive test we have is by asking, “Does the lie still feel true?” (If the lie feels or seems true, then it is believed to be true. If it does not feel or seem true, then mind renewal has occurred.) Only the Holy Spirit can bring about this change in thinking.

After asking the Lord for His truth in the TRUTH Box, there is no need to ask the person what happened. All we need to do is give the person a few moments and then move on to the TRANSFORMATION Box. If you are uncertain if the person is ready to move to the next BOX you can ask the “LOST” Question, “What is going on?”

This is not to say that it is not a blessing to hear the person’s testimony and to rejoice in what they believe has occurred. It is just very important that the facilitator understands that the test for transformation is only that the Lord has dispelled the lie and replaced it with truth. When this occurs, the lie will no longer feel true and we can rejoice indeed!

No Directive Questions Needed
You should avoid asking directive questions such as, “Did the Lord tell you something?” Or “What did Jesus say to you?” or “Did you see the Lord?”  If you are uncertain about what is going on, the best questions is simply, “What is going on?” This leaves everything open-ended and is making no assumptions.

At the same time, the person may report that many things occurred. But nonetheless, what he reports is not the test of transformation. He may tell you that he saw angels singing, the Lord hugging him, a bright light surrounding him with perfect peace. He may report that he received some glorious sounding truths, but again, you do not know what happened. This is not to say that something did not occur, for it may have. It is only to say that you do not know and you do not need to determine what was valid and what was not. This is not your job. Just ask, “Does it still feel truth that…?” How he answers this question will give you clear indication of what has occurred.

Corrections and Interpretations Never Needed
There are times when the person will report something that is obviously not true and clearly not from the Holy Spirit. For example, a person might say something like, “I see Jesus standing looking at me in a scornful way. He is very disappointed with me. I hear Him saying that I am a worthless piece of trash and that I deserved what happened to me.” The facilitator might be tempted to defend the person, try to cast out the “false jesus” and speak the truth for God. Nevertheless, the facilitator needs to hold his tongue and trust God and the process. So then, you do not need to do anything to determine if something happened or not. The person does not need you to interpret what he has reported.  You do not need to discern if the person heard the truth or not. The TRANSFORMATION Box question will take care of this.

Even if the person is hearing a message from a “false jesus” it does not matter. You NEVER have to deal with this; the devil is not a problem. If a “demon jesus” provides the person with a message, the lie will continue to feel true. Besides this, anything that the demon gives the person will be reflective of the person’s own belief anyway.  So the demon speaking lies in the moment are actually helping to expose the person’s lie-based belief. If the demon says something like, “You are worthless, you deserved what happened to you, you will never be free,” then this is all reflective of the person’s belief: Otherwise it would have no impact.  If after all of this happens and the lie still feels true (which it probably will) the next question to ask is the EMOTION Box question, “How does that make you feel?”

The person may provide himself with the truth and even suppress his bad feelings, but the lie will still feel true. No matter how glorious or “un-glorious” the experience may appear to be, if the lie still feels true then the person has yet to receive what the Lord has for him.

So then, after offering up the person’s belief to the Lord for His perspective, you move directly to the TRANSFORMATION Box. After allowing the person a moment to relate to the Spirit, you ask the TRANSFORMATION Box question, “Does it still feel true that ________ [their belief from the BELIEF Box]?” If the Lord has not granted His perspective then they will say that the lie still feels true. (Since you have taught them that only the Holy Spirit can cause a lie to stop feeling true, asking this question will reveal to them that the message they received was not from the Holy Spirit.) Nothing more will need to be said about it. You need not comment on why what they saw and heard was false.  No demon will need be confronted. No matter whether they say the lie stills feels true or not, and if you have time for another session, you will move directly to the EMOTION Box and ask, “What are you feeling now?”

You are NOT asking the EMOTION Box question in order to see if anything happened or to even confirm that the lie no longer feels true.  This is not a “peace” test. The purpose of this question is to determine if there are any additional lies that are presently triggered. When this question is asked you are looking for negative emotion and not peace. If however, they say that they feel perfectly peaceful and calm after asking the first EMOTION Box question, you can opt at that time to revisit any memories that they surfaced during the session. This would  include their “current story” they brought into the session. However, the only reason for revisiting these memories is to simply trigger any lie-based belief that might be present. Therefore, be sure that you have time to do another full session before doing so. (Learn more about the CLOCK Principle)

You have only one test for genuine transformation in this moment: does the lie still feel true? Only the Holy Spirit can make the lie stop feeling true. The TRANSFORMATION Box question will take care of all of this.

Different Answers, Same Protocol
There are several different ways the person may answer the TRANSFORMATION Box question. He may say that the lie no longer feels true. This is good. This is an indication that he has received the Lord’s perspective. He may say that the lie has not changed at all and that it still feels true. This is not a bad thing; it is just an indication that you are not yet where you need to be. He may say the lie feels less true, but there is still some element that has not been changed. No matter the person’s response, you are in the same place and ready to take the next step. No matter what answer they give to this TRANSFORMATION Box question, or even if they say nothing at all, you immediately move back to the beginning of the process into the EMOTION box if time permits.

The question asked at this juncture is slightly different from the wording of the first question in the EMOTION Box, but serves the same purpose. Your next question is;

“What are you feeling now?”

If they report a negative emotion you follow with;

“As you focus on what you are feeling what comes to your mind?”

This question may land you back in the same memory that you have just worked through, put you back in their current “story”, or open up an entirely different memory all together. You also may discover that they still feel something badly and yet no memory comes to mind. Or perchance their emotion may suddenly suppress. If this occurs then you are in the SOLUTION Box.

If the lies they believed no longer feel true and no other memory comes to mind and yet they feel something like sadness, regret, disappointment or remorse, they may be feeling a truth-based emotion. You will need to follow the prescribed protocol for dealing with this issue.

Again, before you rush back up to the EMOTION box you will want to look at your clock and see if you have time to continue.  Facilitators sometimes lose track of time and then open up areas of pain that they do not have time to address.