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Friday, February 5, 2021

Purity 334: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


Purity 334 02/05//2021 Purity 334 Podcast

Good morning!

Today’s breathtaking sunset photo comes from a friend in Adelaide, South Australia.  While I have been to a few of the continents on earth, I have not yet made my way Down Under.

Me sharing this sight truly is a testimony of the goodness of God because my new friend just happened to listen to the podcast of the first lesson of our “Victory over the Darkness” discipleship class that I posted last night.  They reported that they were familiar with the book and enjoyed listening to a podcast on the material. They listened to it while they were driving, IN AUSTRALIA! 

If I had any doubts about doing this series of classes or starting a community freedom ministry at my local church, they have evaporated after the first class.  

Not only did the freedom message I delivered last night make it to the other side of the globe, but there were also other testimonies to report from our first night of class.

Days before the class began, a friend reached out to ask about the books for class via FB messenger.  I explained that students had to provide their own copies of the book for the class, but I could help out if there was difficulty getting a book and encouraged them to email me if they needed help.   They never responded, so me being a great man of faith, figured: “Oh great, they won’t be coming!”  

Well, imagine my surprise when this friend walked through the door last night, with another friend to boot!   I would have been happy with that! But there’s more.   There always is, right? 

So anyway, I notice that they both had copies of the book, and copies of the Steps to Freedom in Christ as well.   And I said: “Oh great you got the books!”   But then my friend explained to me why he sent that message to me.  He sent that message to me because the books just showed up at his house.  He thought that I had sent them, but I didn’t. Somebody else, who remains anonymous, sent the books to them and that free gift and encouragement resulted in these two men being motivated to attend the class and make a commitment to one another to come and finish the course!   That’s a God thing. 

Pretty great right?   But its not over yet.  

So I start teaching and the podcast is recording, and a late comer comes in and sits down.  I finish my lecture and am ecstatic because the late comer was my dear friend, brother and Christ, and former ministry partner, Tom Fisher.  

Some of you may recall that last late summer or early fall. Tom taught at our recovery ministry on a Thursday evening, and by the weekend He couldn’t walk. He went into the hospital and had back surgery and I have been praying for his healing and his return to us ever since.  Because of the madness of Covid-19, the holidays, and life, I have continued to pray for Tom and his wife, but I hadn’t seen him.  He couldn’t come to our ministry meetings because He couldn’t walk without a walker and He couldn’t drive.   

He was in that condition, walker – can’t drive, until yesterday.  The first day he was able to walk and drive, he came to our discipleship class.  Tom said He was blessed by the class but brother I was blessed to think how amazing God’s timing can be that He would bring our friend back to us to on the opening night of our new ministry!

Our Lord is alive and well and He is moving in our lives. Sometimes we just plod along doing the best we can to keep the faith and then He shows you that He is with you and He is working all things for good.        


This morning’s meditation verse is:

Romans 6:13 (NLT2)
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

 This is the journey we are on when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. The thing I am trying to teach at the discipleship class is that we have been supernaturally given a new life when we put our faith in Christ and when we understand our identity in Christ our behavior will follow who we are in Christ rather than the broken lives that we used to a walk in. 

 The key to the new life in Christ is faith! Believing that this supernatural change has already happened to you is how we can experience our freedom rather than work toward it.  

 When we got saved and understood the gospel, there may have been a period of doubt but eventually through understanding the word and experiencing a change in our hearts, we agreed “Yeah I am saved! Good is Good!” 

 The same follows for our sanctification. We can say goodbye to our old ways just like we could say goodbye to those doubts about being saved. 

 “I really have been set free from sin! I said no once, and if I understand that those old ways are a contradiction to who I am in Christ. I can say no again. In fact, I don’t want to say yes to sin, because it just isn’t who I am anymore, and that stuff gets between me and my relationship with God and I don’t want it to anymore.” 

 Freedom and a life in the Spirit is merely a product of our believing what we received from God and agreeing with it by how we live our lives. 

 When we know, experientially, relationally, that we are a child of God in our hearts, our hearts will reject the old ways we used to live in.   Instead we give ourselves completely to God, body soul, and spirit, and begin to live the life of righteousness that will give Him the glory.  

 It is a choice.  Will we go on in the dark ways of this world, that we know from experience doesn’t work, or will we follow the life in the Spirit that calls us to declare publicly our faith through our words and actions that will demonstrate a transformed life?

 Choose life more abundantly. Choose to give your life to God and know the peace that goes beyond all understanding, even in the midst of the world’s turmoil.     

 

I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we will continue to share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Self-Worth: Discovering Your God-given Worth”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

D. Why Is Wrong Thinking so Wrong?

Dorie had every reason to develop wrong thinking and form faulty perceptions of herself. From her earliest memories, all she was told was that she didn't do anything right, that everything was her fault, that she wasn't good enough, that no one loved her or found value in her. Besides all that, she knew she was ugly. She thought, "I must be the ugliest child that ever walked. I felt so ugly on the inside that I believed I was ugly on the outside ... maybe it's my curly hair or my nose!"

Do you go through life fearing what others think? Some people look in the mirror and see only an ugly duckling — a sad little bird with no self-worth. In her early years, Dorie considered herself the "ugly duckling"—ugly, unadoptable Dorie. Not only was she called ugly, but she also felt ugly because of the repeated pain of rejection.

In Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," the title character felt rejected and rebuffed by all the barnyard birds because they didn't like his looks or his awkward waddle. He didn't see the beautiful swan that was within although the beauty was there all along. In truth, many people suffer from self-rejection ... thinking they possess no personal value. Yet like this young little duckling, they look only to their outer image to determine their inner worth. If they could see what God sees, what a difference that would make! The Bible says ...

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth — he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do."
(Psalm 33:13-15)

Low self-worth can result from how you see or perceive yourself and how you think others see and perceive you. Faulty perceptions lead to faulty conclusions.

Faulty Perception

Faulty Conclusion

Perfectionism

"I didn't do it right — I can't do anything right."

 

Overgeneralization

"I failed, so I must be a failure."

 

Overreacting

"I am horrible for having failed."

 

False guilt

"I am the reason my dad left."

 

Unforgiveness

"I can't forgive myself."

 

Projection

"My mother didn't love me; therefore, no one will ever love me."

 

Condemnation

"God could never forgive me."

 

Unrealistic expectations

"I'll never measure up to what people expect of me."

 

Fatalism

"No one believes I will ever amount to anything."

 

Hopelessness

"There isn't anyone who holds out any hope for my life."

 

Myth: "I will never be able to change the way I see myself and the way I think others see me."

Truth: Your faulty self-perception will automatically change as you fix your thoughts on the truth ... on Jesus.

"... fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest" (Hebrews 3:1).


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Self-Worth: Discover Your God-Given Worth.

 

-----------------------------more tomorrow -------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Join our “Victory over the Darkness” or “The Bondage Breaker” series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

 

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Message to Discipleship Class Podcast Students


 

 Message to Discipleship Class Podcast Students     02/04/2021


Podcast Student Information Podcast

 Hello. I appreciate your interest in attending our Christian Discipleship Class via the MT4Christ247 podcast.  

Our textbook is Dr. Neil Anderson’s Victory Over the Darkness.

Students are required to obtain their own copy of this text. You can find it at the Freedom in Christ Ministries website bookstore: freedominchrist.com, Christianbook.com, thrifitbooks.com. or Amazon.

If financial hardships prevent you from obtaining the text, please let me know and we can try to fill the need.

In order to participate in the class, please email me, MT Clark, at mt4christ247@gmail.com to let me know who you are, and where I can email you a copy of class materials and the discussion/homework questions that we will use in the class. 

The pace of our study is deliberately slow so you can meditate upon and absorb the material being presented on a relational or experiential level. 

The podcast will be updated after each Thursday night lesson, either Thursday evening or sometime on Friday. 

Students are to read one chapter of Victory over the Darkness per week. For the first week you should read the introduction and Chapter 1.  For week 2, chapter 2 and so on, until we finish the text. 

I hope you enjoy the class and experience new levels of freedom in your relationship with Jesus Christ.  

Sincerely, 


MT Clark 

Purity 333: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


 Purity 333 02/04/2021 Purity 333 Podcast

Good morning!

Today’s photo comes from a friend’s “first day” hike of 2021 at Stafford Lake Bike Park in Novato California.   I just love the way they captured the sunshine coming in over the stairway as if God Himself is inviting us “to come on up” to the new life that He has for us.  

Today, I am excited as I begin the Christian discipleship class at Rock Solid Church tonight and I truly believe the course material has the potential to bring people to a higher understanding of what it means to be free in Christ.   It has been over a month since I have taught, and I am really looking forward to teaching from Dr. Neil Anderson’s Victory over the Darkness.

I am also excited because I have decided to make the classes available to all through the mt4christ247 podcast (https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, you can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154).  So if you can’t make it to class you can follow along with us as I will make the lessons available to listen to after we meet each Thursday.   

So I am excited about tonight and the podcast but mostly I am excited to see Christians develop and grow in their faith by seeking to apply the truths from God’s word to their lives.   

The Christian faith is supernatural and when we seek to live our lives according to God’s way, we discover that God is with us and He can give us the strength and wisdom to transform us into the new creations that He intended us to be.   

We are never too old to learn something new and I pray that you choose to take our invitation to pursue the life God wants you to have.    

In Christ, there is no one or nothing that can keep you from being the person that God created you to be!

 (An Audio version of this messages is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, you can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154)  and at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Psalm 118:8 (NKJV)
8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.

 The psalmist gives us some excellent advice this morning!  It is far better to trust in the Lord than to put our confidence in man.  

 Those without faith will undoubtedly have a real problem with this as God doesn’t broadcast from the heavens to everyone what they should do on this earth. 

 Often, I have seen unbelieving people throughout my life, mockingly look to the heavens and challenge God to speak or to contradict what they are saying or stop them from doing what they are about to do. By the way, in every instance the things these people were saying or doing were foolish, selfishly motivated, or just plain wrong.  As much as I wish God had sent lightning bolts or stuck someone dead, He remained silent. 

 God’s silence was taken as evidence that God didn’t exist and that this foolish person was right! 

 Knowing that God is patient and righteous, I shudder to think what may happen to those people for their blasphemy and unbelief if they don’t change their course.  

 Ironically, unbelieving people will take demonstrations like this or instances of unanswered prayers as evidence that even if God does exist, you certainly can’t trust Him to help you.  So they put their faith in other people, or political systems to solve the problems in their lives.  

 Amazingly the mountains of evidence against the trustworthiness of men or for the downright evil things that men do, seems to be ignored by these people.  

 Some like myself before coming to Christ, don’t ignore the evidence, and determine that “people suck” and seek to live a life of isolation, only trusting in themselves.  But the folly of that is demonstrated by the countless mistakes that we have made in out lives. 

 But regardless of all this the thing that should bring us to trust God is the fact of our existence itself.  We didn’t determine when we would be born. We didn’t make this world. And by our own reasoning, we don’t really know what will happen after our lives end.  

 These existential ponderings should send us to seek the truth.   And I know from years of searching that God, as creator, is the author of truth and that Jesus came to earth to reveal it to all of us.   

 I don’t ask anyone to take it on my word, but I do encourage everyone to investigate Jesus Christ with an open heart and an open mind.  When I did that, God revealed the truth to me, and it has given me a transformed life where I know I am not alone and have been given an enormous gift to share with all who will listen.   

 Trust in God and He will show you the way.   

 

I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselor’s work to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

Today we will continue to share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Self-Worth: Discovering Your God-given Worth”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

C. Why Is Comparing Yourself to Others Costly?

Dorie's life was a perfect setup for comparing herself to others. Her mother constantly compared her to her sister, resulting in her little sister receiving lavish affection and gifts from their mother and Dorie being pointedly ignored. Her mother verbally let her know that she did not measure up. Everywhere Dorie turned, Marie was the favored one. Thus, Marie was everything Dorie wanted to be. Both had brown eyes, but Marie's were beautiful. Both had dark hair, but Marie's lay in place. Marie's skin was fairer ... her face thinner. Dorie said, "I was looking for a way to be like her, but there was no way."

At the orphanage, in school, and in the various foster homes where they lived, other children were chosen or received decent treatment while Dorie was rejected and subjected to abuse. Dorie described the couples who came to the orphanage considering which child they would choose — which child they would cherish — as "well-dressed and carefully manicured. We could hear their muffled conversations, 'She's cute, isn't she?' or, 'There's one we might want to talk about.' My heart beat faster. 'Try me,' I screamed within, hoping that someone would look at me and want me. But my day never came. I soon got the message — only cute children are chosen." Dorie lost out every time she was compared to the other children. She was never chosen ... never ... not once. How could she not compare herself to others under those circumstances?

However, God had a plan for Dorie, and He would work out His purpose ... His will for her life. The Bible makes this clear. ...

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
(Ephesians 1:11)

Has comparing yourself to others become so automatic that you hardly notice you're doing it? People often compare themselves to others in appearance, abilities, affluence, and accomplishments. Read the statements below to see whether they have become part of your self-talk.

Appearance

Physical features

"I am not as attractive as           ."

 

Clothes

"I cannot dress as nicely as           ."

 

Mannerisms

"I am not as graceful or suave as           ."

 

Abilities

Physical abilities

"I am not as athletic as           ."

 

Mental abilities

"I am not as smart as           ."

 

Social abilities

"I am not as popular as           ."

 

Affluence

Financial/job status

"I am not as financially secure as           ."

 

Family status

"I don't have a home as nice as           ."

 

Social status

"I am not as influential as           ."

 

Accomplishments

Education

"I don't have as many degrees as           ."

 

Talent

"I am not as gifted as           ."

 

Recognition

"I am not as accomplished as           ."

 

Myth: "I'll never be able to stop comparing myself to others."

Truth: Life is a series of choices, and while you may feel that you cannot change, God would not instruct you to do something without giving you the power to do it. God says if you compare yourself to others, you are not wise. ...

"When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12).


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Self-Worth: Discover Your God-Given Worth.

 

-----------------------------more tomorrow -------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Purity 332: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


 

Purity 332 02/03/2021 Purity 332 Podcast

Good morning!

Today’s sunset photo comes from a friend who either lives in or was visiting somewhere in Florida on January 20th.  The photo archives and my memory are dwindling apparently. So I apologize for not having the location for this shot, but I know it was somewhere in Florida.    After dealing with snowfall over the last two days, I for one wanted to look at something that wasn’t white! 

The ground hog has declared what seems to be obvious to us in the northeast: there will be six more weeks of winter, but I wish to encourage my friends in the north that the best way to manage our mental health over the next 6 weeks is to focus on the good things that can easily be forgotten if we are dreading the next storm.  

Even in February, we will experience days that are not dominated by clouds and snowfall, so if that yellow orb should make an appearance in the next 6 weeks, rejoice!

But even if it doesn’t, remember that the joy in our lives is not determined by the circumstances around us as much as the way that we decide to perceive them and by what we put our focus on.  If it’s not nice outside, let’s look at what is good inside: our homes, our relationships.  

Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes those are a mess too. Shakespeare didn’t write “now is the winter of our discontent” for nothing.  

However, there is one thing that we can focus on that stands above the weather and our dysfunctional lives: God. 

If you’re suffering with seasonal affective disorder, stress, or depression, don’t focus on yourself. Focus on your relationship with God. He will listen to you when no one else will. He comforts you even in your loneliness.  If we follow His ways, the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is peace, will cultivate in our lives.  

Don’t look to the weather or anything else to lift your spirits when the only One that can consistently do that is God.  

 (An Audio version of this messages is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, and at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse is:

John 7:18 (NLT2)
18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

Before this verse of scripture, Jesus is speaking about the fact that He is only relaying the message that He received from God and that anyone who wants to do the will of God will know that His teaching is from God and not just from some carpenter from Nazareth.     

 How will we know someone’s words are speaking for God? 

 Well this verse shows us that if we are seeking to encourage people in the ways of the Lord, our words will not be bringing glory to ourselves but will bring glory to God by focusing on what He has done and what He can do when we follow Him.  Also a good litmus test for discerning whether or not someone is representing God is honesty.  

 When we come to faith in Christ, we have to speak the truth in all matters.  Our lying ways of the past have to go, because if for no other reason, they don’t honor God and they compromise our message. 

 As Christians, we should seek to bring people the hope of a new life based on God’s truth.  If we lie or come across as arrogant (giving glory to ourselves), we are hindering people from being able to trust God because of our sketchy witness.   

 So seek to give God the glory and speak the truth, when you do you will personally benefit but more importantly, you could be used by God to bring someone into His kingdom.

 I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselor’s work to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with there walk. 

 

Today we will continue to share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Self-Worth: Discovering Your God-given Worth”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

III. Causes of Low Self-Worth B. How Can Rejection From Others Rule You?

Dorie writes about monthly visits to the orphanage by couples looking to adopt a child. "My dread of those 'special days' escalated month by month. No doubt I reflected the rejection I felt. My shoulders drooped with the agony of that lineup. I could not look up with smiling anticipation as the cute children did. I detested being inspected by people I knew would never accept me, so I would hide. I would be dragged into the room with a dirty, tear-stained face."

Thankfully, Dorie's story does not end with her not being chosen by these people, for she was chosen by Another ... by God Himself as stated in James 2:5 ... "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"

Those who repeatedly experience significant rejection by others receive the message that they deserve rejection. Then they internalize that message and begin to reject themselves. This is especially true when rejection comes from those who are in positions of authority and on whom the child depends.

Such children grow up replaying in their minds the recorded messages and tapes of rejection they have received until the voices on the tapes become their own voices. It is virtually impossible for children to replace the big, booming voices of adults or parents with their own small, inner voices. Only the loving, accepting voice of God is powerful enough to override and eventually silence the voices of rejection — and thus salvage the self-worth of these rejected children. Only God can bring them to the point of saying ...

"Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me."
(Psalm 27:10)

Parents and Authority Figures

Messages Children Receive

Overly critical

"I am incompetent."

 

Overly protective

"I am inadequate."

 

Overly controlling

"I am unacceptable."

 

Overly permissive

"I am not valuable."

 

Siblings and Peers

Messages Children Receive

Overly critical

"I am inferior."

 

Discouraging

"I am hopeless."

 

Pushy

"I am weak."

 

Overly competitive

"I am inept."

 

Societal Messages

Messages Children Receive

Overly competitive attitudes

"I am insecure."

 

Materialistic

"I am unimportant."

 

Academic or physical limitations

"I am insignificant."

 

Racial or sexual discrimination

"I am rejected."

 

Have you let negative circumstances shape your thinking and self-perceptions? If so, allow God to search your heart in order to reveal any misperceptions or messages that are inconsistent with His Word. The more you allow God's probing light to illumine the faulty thoughts and perceptions in your heart, the more you will be able to see your God-given worth and walk victoriously according to His Word. Let this be your commitment ...

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
(2 Corinthians 10:5)

Myth: "Because of the way I've been treated, I will never feel competent."

Truth: Since people fail people, God never intended your competence to come from other people. As you continue to yield your life to the Lord, your competence will come from Him. ...

"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5).


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Self-Worth: Discover Your God-Given Worth.

-----------------------------more tomorrow -------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Purity 331: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


 Purity 331 02/02/2021 Purity 331 Podcast

Today’s photo was taken by a friend in the first weeks of the new year, presumably in upstate NY as the photo’s origins have been obscured by time and my own forgetfulness.  I share it because of the beauty of the freshly fallen snow and the crisp blue sky but also to remind myself that we can find beauty in the aftermath of life’s unexpected changes.  

Yesterday’s (and today’s?) snow has to be dealt with and its visitation has disrupted my normal routine.  The weather is just one example of the fact that we are still subject to the circumstances that surround us and that sometimes what we thought would be the plan for our lives are radically altered.  

As we place our faith in Christ, we have to face the fact that our lives have changed.  In our pursuit to be followers of God’s plan for our lives, we have to acknowledge that some of the desires of our hearts and the ways we normally do things are in opposition to the ways of the Lord.  

In my walk, dreams and hopes for the future have changed to align with my desire to follow Christ.  Even with that intention, hopes, dreams, and expectations have been altered as I have been shown new perspectives as I have grown or have come to the realization that some people, I thought would play a part in my new life were shown to be on a different path.  

So, we keep going. We keep doing what we have to do, dealing with the changing circumstances, but always resting in the assurance that God is with us and that His plans for our lives are better than anything we could have devised on our own.   

(An Audio version of this messages is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, and at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Psalm 119:37 (NLT2)
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

 As always, the Holy Spirit seems to direct our eyes to similar themes when we seek to get a word from the Lord.  The above entry was inspired by actual dreams I have had in the past that were repetitive and seemed to be a prophetic glimpse into a possible future for my life.  But as I have continued to walk those dreams seem less likely to be prophetic as some of the characters in those dreams seem to have been replaced by new unknown cast members.  

 So we lament over the possibility of our lost delusion or selfish desire but will remain hopeful and patiently continue in the course that the Lord will lay out before us, as we walk in the Spirit, and seek to do His will for our lives.  

 A huge part of our freedom and maturity process in Christ is recognizing when we are looking at “worthless things”: things of this world that seem to be harmless or even “good” in some way, that ultimately leads us away from what the Lord would have us focus on. 

 Be it a hobby, or a show, or a person, no matter how good or interesting they may seem, if they, or it, draws us away from our faith life we may come to the realization that spiritually, they are in fact: “worthless”.  

 The things in this world will either build us up in our faith or take away from it.   When we become followers of Christ, our hearts are changed, and we gain spiritual discernment.  Our transformed life will lead us to perceive things differently and we will see the truth that many of the things that held our attentions and interests in the past are distractions that consume time that would be better spent doing something else.  

 God’s word and God’s way are what leads to new life and what revives our spirit. 

 We all have different interests and talents. So, enjoy your life by doing what you like but recognize whether or not what you are “in to” should be something that you should get “out of”.  

 I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselor’s work to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with there walk. 

  

Today we will continue to share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Self-Worth: Discovering Your God-given Worth”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

III. Causes of Low Self-Worth

For many reasons, people fail to perceive themselves as having value or worth to God, to themselves, or to others. Generally, negative self-perceptions develop in people as a result of their being treated in ways that cause them to feel devalued by significant people in their lives. Unless these perceptions are changed, self-devaluation will worsen over time.

Negative perceptions that begin in childhood are difficult to replace with positive perceptions in adulthood. The best time to examine and evaluate self-worth is before self-perceptions become strong and solidified.

As in the case of Dorie, the more she was rejected, the more she rejected herself and those around her. Her greatest need was to have someone accept her and value her as a person, someone to heal her emotional wounds and to cause her to see her significance. That Someone turned out to be the true Healer of the brokenhearted. ...

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
(Psalm 147:3)

A. What Is the Impact of Having Rejecting Parents?

When Dorie and her sister were left at the orphanage, her mother promised to visit them. And she did — twice over a span of seven years. At the first visit, Dorie, exuding immense excitement, immediately ran to her calling out, "Mother! Mother!" In her exhilaration, Dorie had forgotten she was to call her mother "Laura," never "Mother."

Repeating her past pattern, this "Laura" pushed Dorie aside only to greet her sister with both a hug and a gift. Such harsh, heartless rejection of Dorie by her mother continued throughout her mother's lifetime.

The roots of rejection are not always easily uncovered, especially when their tentacles reach deep into childhood. Those who are rejected from conception can have a lifelong experience of never feeling loved and accepted, of never knowing the comfort of a mother's warm and reassuring embrace or the security of a father's strong, protecting arms.

When rejection is all that has been known, identifying its origins can feel overwhelming and frightening. But if rejection is to be removed from your life, it must be fearlessly faced and dug up by the roots with the help of the Lord and replaced with His loving acceptance. ...

"This is what the Lord says — he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid
(Isaiah 44:2)

The actions and attitudes of parents toward their children send clear messages to children about their value and worth — not just their value to their parents, but their value and worth as human beings. These messages "stick like glue" and carry lifelong implications. The Bible says ...

"... do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
(Colossians 3:21)

Addicted Parents

Messages Children Receive

Chemically dependent parents

"Their alcohol/drugs are more important than I am."

 

Workaholic parents

"Their work is more important than I am."

 

Compulsively spending parents

"Their money and things are more important than I am."

 

Perfectionistic parents

"Their demand for perfection is more important than I am."

 

Abusive Parents

Messages Children Receive

Emotionally abusive parents

"I am a nobody."

 

Verbally abusive parents

"I am deserving of put-downs."

 

Physically abusive parents

"I am meant to be a punching bag."

 

Sexually abusive parents

"I am nothing more than a sex object."

 

"He stands at the right hand of the needy
(Psalm 109:31)

Myth: "I will never overcome my painful past — it's impossible for me to become whole."

Truth: No matter what your past was like or the extent of the pain inflicted on you by others, healing and wholeness are possible through Christ.

"... with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Self-Worth: Discover Your God-Given Worth.

 

-----------------------------more tomorrow -------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Monday, February 1, 2021

Purity 330: Encouragement on the Path of Christian Discipleship

 


Purity 330  02/01/2021 Purity 330 Podcast

Good morning!

Today’s photo comes from a friend’s hike last weekend at Hand Hollow Preserve in East Chatham NY.   I share it this morning because as we “stream” into the month of February, I want to remind myself that for the most part the month of January was mild in terms of snow and there were times during last month that the snow had dwindled to almost nothing.   As we were walking through it, we might not have thought we were particularly blessed but as this photo shows the evergreen trees were green!

As I write this, the snow has begun to fall and it is predicted that it won’t stop until tomorrow, so the green branches will undoubtedly find themselves covered in white. But that’s okay.  February is a short month, and we will just have to walk through it the best we can. 

Of course the best way to walk through February, or any month for that matter, is to walk in the Spirit: a journey where we abide in the presence of the Lord and are continually replenished by the peace that only a relationship with Him can provide. So choose the pathway to peace.  

If you can stay home, stay home. If you go out, travel safely.  But either way, go with God by reminding yourself that He is in control and He will always be there for us regardless of the storms of this life.  

(There is More at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse is:

1 Peter 3:12 (NKJV)
12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

 As new Christians, or old Christians, we may have a tendency to highlight the New Testament because that is the place in the Bible where Jesus is revealed as the Messiah and it may feel more appropriate to focus on His ministry and the fulfillment of God’s plan for the earth than to look to the Old Testament.  

 But Peter shows us that Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and that our relationship to the Lord has its origins in the Old Testament. Here Peter quotes Psalm 34 to demonstrate that the Lord doesn’t change. He heard the prayers of the righteous and was against those who did evil before Christ, and He will continue to do so now that Christ has come.   

 But the major difference is that the mystery of the Messiah has been solved, (He is Jesus) and that a proper understanding of righteous has been revealed. Our righteousness comes from our relationship with God through faith in Christ. 

So the idea that we earn “our righteousness” through good works, has been shown as false.  

 While we are called to do good works, we are not established by them.  Only our relationship with Christ makes us righteous, any good works we do are a demonstration of the work that Christ has done in us, not our fee for admission into God’s kingdom.  

 So don’t try to earn what you already have been given. Instead seek to do things that will give God the glory and give you the opportunity to testify about what Christ has done for you.    

  

Today we will continue to share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Self-Worth: Discovering Your God-given Worth”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

B. What Are Substitutes for Healthy Self-Worth?

Although Dorie was powerless to prevent unjustified beatings at the oppressive orphanage, she learned how to gain power by overpowering the other children. This gave her the feeling of significance — a sense of self-worth.

"It I can be tough," she reasoned, "I can survive. ... I bullied the other children. I was never subtle. I pushed and shoved. I hit. If another child wouldn't let me see his toy, I would grab it. The others didn't hit me, but I hit them and felt good about it."

All of this false bravado merely served as a substitute for true self-worth — a quick fix that was really not a fix.

If you are suffering with low self-worth, you may be seeking ways to deny, disguise, or diminish your emotional pain. People cope with their woundedness in different ways; however, many of these ways do not offer a cure, but rather are a counterfeit ... an adhesive bandage that only covers up the wound without healing it.

The problem with "self-worth substitutes" is that they do not deal with the cause of the pain — the wrong beliefs that fester in the heart and mind. The true solution to low self-worth is to apply the healing balm of truth to the wound in the soul in order that your mind will be transformed and your life changed. Therefore, beware of worldly substitutes that ultimately do not satisfy. ...

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
(1 John 2:15-17)

Self-Worth Substitutes

If you are suffering with low self-worth and think you may be pursuing a substitute to make up for an emotional deficit, note the statements below that are true about you.

  • I am impressed with status symbols and often live beyond my income.
  • I am overly competitive and view losing as a reflection of my value and worth.
  • I am seeking approval and am envious of important people.
  • I am constantly striving for recognition.
  • I am perfectionistic in an attempt to earn approval.
  • I am addicted to substances, sex, food, and/or __.
  • I am angry and intimidating at times in a zeal to accomplish my goals.
  • I am financially extravagant in an attempt to impress others.
  • I am obsessed with having certain possessions.
  • I am insistent on getting my way.

If you struggle with any of these substitutes, ask yourself this question ...

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"
(Mark 8:36)

C. What Are Sabotages of True Spiritual Growth?

At the orphanage, Miss Gabriel believed that sickness was always a result of sin. Therefore, whenever Dorie became ill, the stern matron would snap, "It's the Lord! He's punishing you. If you weren't so naughty, you wouldn't be sick." A harsh, punishing God was the only kind of heavenly Father Dorie ever heard about ... she heard nothing about His love.

Those who have a warped view of themselves often have a warped view of God. When people feel unworthy of love, respect, and approval from others, often they feel even more unworthy of God's love, respect, and approval. Their faulty beliefs lead them to draw faulty conclusions about God. These wrong beliefs about God serve only to sabotage their relationship with God and kill any hope of ever being valued or used by God. ...

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
(Proverbs 14:12)

Spiritual Sabotages

If you suffer with low self-worth and feel concerned about your relationship with God, note the statements below that are true of you.

  • I have difficulty feeling acceptable to God.
  • I have difficulty admitting my guilt to God.
  • I have difficulty forgiving God.
  • I have difficulty trusting God.
  • I have difficulty accepting the forgiveness of God.
  • I have difficulty living in the grace of God.
  • I have difficulty feeling loved by God.
  • I have difficulty feeling wanted by God.
  • I have difficulty acknowledging that God has designed a special plan for me.
  • I have difficulty believing that the promises of God are for me.

If you are struggling spiritually, wondering about the reality and role of God in your life, you need to know that ...

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
(Psalm 34:18)

God and Abuse

Question: "How could a loving God allow abuse?"

Answer: God did not create people to be puppets but free agents, able to make their own choices. In granting people this freedom, He knew that people would choose to sin against Him and against one another. Make no mistake: God is not the abuser. He hates the evil of abuse and will one day repay those who do evil. ...

"I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless" (Isaiah 13:11).


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Self-Worth: Discover Your God-Given Worth

-----------------------------more tomorrow -------------------------

 

God bless you all!