THE INQUIRY

Examining beliefs that cause you pain

The Inquiry, by Byron Katie, is a powerful practice (also known as "The Work") that helps you process, understand, and release beliefs that are causing you pain. She recommends you start with a “Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet.” After filling it out, you question each of the statements on your Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet using the "One-Belief-at-a-Time Worksheet," which uses four questions and a turn around.

*Note – Byron Katie’s work is not based on Christianity, but it can help us put it into action, providing useful steps to put the Bible texts to work in our life.  For example, the following verse from Matthew 7 can be difficult to live out truly and deeply.  

 1  Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

You may find that The Inquiry helps you with this verse and others in a practical way. There are likely many truths within us that we have not allowed ourselves to see yet, including emotions, thoughts, judgments, beliefs, and the source of our perceived significance. These truths within ourselves need to be explored with Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit. He will help us find our true self and identity in him and who he made us to be and to become. As you pray your way through it, the Holy Spirit can bring the divine power of God to your work and transformation to become more like Christ.