Why your theology isn't changing your daily life.
We often pride ourselves on what we know about the Faith. We consume podcasts, we read the history, and we can win an argument about theology.
But there is a dangerous gap between "knowing" and "living."
Cardinal Newman famously distinguished between two types of belief: Notional Assent and Real Assent.
The Trap of Notional Assent Notional assent is abstract. It is agreeing that a chemical formula is correct without ever stepping into the lab. In the spiritual life, this looks like a person who fully agrees that "God is present everywhere" but still lives their Tuesday morning with high anxiety, acting as if they are totally alone. You have the map, but you aren't walking the terrain.
The Shift to Real Assent Real assent is when that truth pierces the imagination and becomes part of your reality. It isn't just a concept anymore; it is as real to you as the chair you are sitting in.
When you have Real Assent regarding God's presence, you don't just "believe in prayer"—you actually pray. You can't help it.
The Diagnostic Question Look at your last 48 hours. Does your anxiety level match your theology? If you say you believe God is Providence, but you are paralyzed by worry, you are stuck in Notional Assent.
You don't need more books. You need to move from the head to the heart.
Start the Reset
If you are tired of the gap between what you know and how you live, you need a practical way to bridge that distance.
I created the 5-Minute Prayer Reset to help you make that move. It’s not a study guide; it’s a practice.
