Shine a Light on 9 Ways We Lose Our Way {Enneagram Series #24}

See the 9 ways (Passions) each Enneagram type can lose their way. And learn Bible verses to shine a light on them.

9 Ways We Lose Our Way

How do we lose our way? There are many roads we take that we mistakenly believe will help us reach our goals. But when followed to their extreme, they can lead us down darker paths, separating us from each other, from ourselves, and from God.

Each type is associated with a key path or “passion” on the Enneagram (also called the 9 Sins). These are the coping mechanisms we use to defeat our fears. But they hurt us more than help us.

Christopher Heuertz describes it this way:

“The Passions could be viewed like a small keychain flashlight used while lost in the middle of a forest. Though it may seem helpful because of the brightness of a simple light in the darkness, it is still an entirely inadequate lifeline.”

Let your little flashlight illuminate something you need to see in yourself.

The following descriptions are excerpted from The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

1 The Perfectionist

Passion: Anger (Resentment)

“Anger in itself is not the problem, but in Ones the anger is repressed, leading to continual frustration and dissatisfaction with themselves and with the world.”

2 The Helper

Passion: Pride

“Pride refers to an inability or unwillingness to acknowledge one’s own suffering. Twos deny many of their own needs while attempting to “help” others. This Passion could also be described as pride in one’s own virtue.”

3 The Performer

Passion: Deceit (Untruth) (Vanity)

“Deceit means deceiving ourselves into believing that we are only the ego self. When we believe this, we put our efforts into developing our egos instead of our true nature. We could also call this passion Vanity, our attempt to make the ego feel valuable without turning to our spiritual source.”

4 The Individualist

Passion: Envy

“Envy is based on the feeling that something fundamental is missing. Envy leads Fours to feel that others possess qualities that they lack. Fours long for what is absent but often fail to notice the many blessings in their lives.”

5 The Investigator

Passion: Avarice (Stinginess)

“Fives feel that they lack inner resources and that too much interaction with others will lead to catastrophic depletion.This Passion leads Fives to withhold themselves from contact with the world. Thus they hold on to their resources and minimize their needs.”

6 The Loyalist

Passion: Fear (Anxiety) (Angst)

“This Passion might be more accurately described as Anxiety because anxiety leads us to be afraid of things that are not actually happening now. Sixes walk around in a constant state of apprehension and worry about possible future events.”

7 The Enthusiast

Passion: Gluttony (Insatiability)

“Gluttony refers to the insatiable desire to “fill oneself up” with experiences. Sevens attempt to overcome feelings of inner emptiness by pursuing a variety of positive, stimulating ideas and activities, but they never feel that they have enough.”

8 The Challenger

Passion: Lust (Shamelessness)

“Lust does not only refer to sexual lust; Eights are “lusty” in that they are driven by a constant need for intensity, control, and self-extension. Lust causes Eights to try to push everything in their lives—to assert themselves willfully.”

9 The Peacemaker

Passion: Sloth (Laziness)

“Sloth does not simply mean laziness, since Nines can be quite active and accomplished. Rather, it refers to a desire to be unaffected by life. It is an unwillngness to arise with the fullness of one’s vitality to fully engage with life.”

Read more about the nine Enneagram Passions here.

Spiritual Practice #16—Learn Your Verse

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

Allowing God to shine light on our unconscious motivations can help us break unhealthy or addictive patterns we have developed.

Here are some individual lights from scripture that we can use to shine truths into our lives. They are combined from these online articles: Bible Verses to Overcome Each Enneagram Type’s Greatest Fear and The Perfect Scripture for Your Enneagram Number by Beth McCord.

Verses for 1s

• 2 Corinthians 12:9
  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
• Psalm 86:5
  You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
  

Because of Christ in you, you are good. He makes you righteous.

Verses for 2s

• Romans 8:37-39
  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Zephaniah 3:17
  The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Because of Christ in you, you are wanted and loved.

Verses for 3s

• Colossians 3:23
  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
• Matthew 11:28-30
  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Because of Christ in you, you are valued for simply being yourself. You can rest in His accomplishments.

Verses for 4s

• John 15:11
  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
• Psalm 139:14 
  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Because of Christ in you, you are special. You are seen, loved and valuable.

Verses for 5s

• Psalm 118:6-7
  The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me. The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
• Isaiah 40:31
  But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Because of Christ in you, you will always be replenished. Your needs are not a problem.

Verses for 6s

• Deuteronomy 31:6
  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Joshua 1:9
  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Because of Christ in you, you are safe and secure. He is always with you and for you.

Verses for 7s

• Jeremiah 29:11
  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
• John 4:14
  But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Because of Christ in you, you can be completely satisfied. He has planned a magnificent future for you.

Verses for 8s

• Isaiah 52:12
  But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
• Isaiah 41:10
  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Because of Christ in you, you are protected. You will not be betrayed.

Verses for 9s

• 1 Peter 1:2
  You have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
• Ephesians 2:10
  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Because of Christ in you, your presence matters. God sees you and created you for a specific purpose.

Does your passion describe you? How have you learned to reroute it? Please share in the comments.

• Start here to begin learning your Enneagram number. 
• See the series index here.

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