Listen to Lesson 1 of our Bondage Breaker Discipleship Class
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Thursday, May 27, 2021
Bondage Breaker Lesson 1
Purity 429: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
Purity 429 05/27/2021 Purity 429 Podcast
Good morning.
It’s Thursday and as is
my habit I usually share photo’s that show a pathway to encourage people to
attend my discipleship class tonight as I seek to instruct other’s in how to
apply their Christian faith to their lives in hopes that they will experience
their Freedom in Christ and overcome whatever circumstances they are facing to
experience a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
I, myself was stuck in a
dark forest for most of my life and I consider it my purpose in life to
encourage others to discover the power of their Christian faith by developing
their relationship with God.
While I have experienced
great victories in my Christian walk, I didn’t do it by myself. God, of course,
was with me every step of the way but through the years there have been several
brothers and sisters in Christ that have encouraged and inspired me along the
path.
While we are all on our
own walk of faith, we were never intended to walk out the Christian life
alone. The weekly worship service is
the most obvious place to gather together, but I believe that small groups
where Christians can learn about the application of our faith and openly discuss
their lives with one another is another way that the Lord intended for us to
grow, as the example of the Apostles and the early church shows us how
Christians did life together.
While I am not suggesting
we pool our resources and live in a commune, I am suggesting that Christians
can meet periodically to encourage and support one another in ways that are
more personal that the weekly worship service.
One criticism of the
church that is made from time to time is that church isn’t “real”, that
everyone is putting on a show. Well, if
you want to get real, I invite you to step on the path of Christian
discipleship tonight. You can join me at
Rock Solid Church in person at 6:30 pm or you can follow the class remotely by
contacting me at mt4christ247@gmail.com.
Tonight we start our “Bondage
Breaker” study, based on Dr. Neil Anderson’s The Bondage Breaker where we will
be teaching on the reality of spiritual warfare. But I must give a word of warning: the enemy
doesn’t want you to take this class. He
will do everything to fill your mind with excuses for not checking it out. Some
of the enemy’s lies will appear as first-person thoughts like: “I don’t need
this.”
Before you determine
that our class isn’t for you, I would ask you to examine your experience by
asking these questions:
Do I have a constant
negative outlook on life?
Do I lack peace in my
life?
Do I have periodic or
constant anxiety?
Do I have low self-esteem?
Am I angry?
Am I depressed?
Is my relationship with
God less than it should be?
Do I struggle to
concentrate when I try to pray or read the Bible?
Do I have trouble
sleeping or have nightmares?
Do voices or thoughts
influence me to not go to church or pursue my faith?
If you answered “Yes” to
any one of these questions, I would say that indicates that you could benefit
from the material that we teach and that you could benefit from the community of
support and encouragement that our class provides.
However, just like Jesus
asked the man at the pool of Bethesda, I have one more question for you to answer: Do you want to be healed? (John 5:6)
If the answer to that question
is “Yes”, I would offer you Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see” (John 1:39) what
the Lord can do in your life when you decide to “be real” and walk with Him.
But whether you take our
invitation to our class or not, I would encourage you to keep walking and
talking with God because even if you are in the thick of it, where you can’t
see the forest for the trees, if you listen to His voice and follow where He
leads, He will take you to the light at the end of the tunnel.
This morning’s meditation
verse is:
2 Timothy
3:16 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Today’s verse speaks
the truth that the Bible is God breathed.
The word of God is unlike any other book. It is the all-time best seller
by leaps and bounds and has been translated in over 2,500 languages. Its accuracy
has been proved by archaeology and through it fulfilled prophecies. The mathematical
odds of one person fulfilling all the prophesies that Jesus did are
astronomical. The word of God is true
and the one narrative of the Bible is that God’s redemptive plan worked
throughout history and culminated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. It also tells us of the future
and how Christ will return to fulfill God’s plans for the universe.
So it is totally rational and reasonable for us to believe that the Bible really is God’s message to the people He created. In fact, I plan on teaching an entire lesson on this theme this fall in our ministry’s upcoming “Freedom in Christ” course.
Not only does this verse assure us of that the scriptures are divinely inspired it also tells us why we should read and study it.
The Bible “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” The Bible teaches us the right way to live our lives and will convict us to changes the things in our lives that don’t align with its wisdom.
I can attest that studying and following the word of God is profitable because it has transformed my life. God loves us and the Bible is His love letter to us that invites us to follow Him into all He has made us to be.
I invite all to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today, in continuing recognition of mental health awareness month, we continue
to share from Dr. June Hunt’s “Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless
“.
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. If you need this title you can find it online at several
sites for less than $5.00:
H. How to Hold On to the Lifeline of Hope
God’s Word emphasizes the importance of belonging to and attending a
supportive church and encouraging church. That means gathering regularly with a
group of people who can love you and encourage you. There’s a community of
people near you who need you as much as you need them. The Bible gives this
message of encouragement ... “Let us not give up meeting together, as some
are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25).
Then, if you begin to feel like you’re drowning in waves of despair, when
you’re at your darkest moment of desperation, you’ll have people you can
contact, people who will connect with you, who truly care when you’re in
crisis. You are not alone. Let God love you ... through His people. ...
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for
each other and for everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
Crisis Card
How can you be rescued in an ocean of despair? You need to be prepared before
you are overwhelmed by wave upon wave of hopelessness. With or without the help
of others, you can equip yourself ahead of time by making a Lifeline Crisis
Card.
From the following suggestions, choose what is appropriate for you, then
outline the steps you will take when you find yourself in an emotional crisis.
Give a copy of your plan to trusted family members or friends, and keep a copy
with you at all times—in your wallet, car, desk, medicine cabinet, and kitchen
cupboard. When you first begin to feel your heart sinking: Reach out for
your lifeline! ...
“Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to
shame, for I take refuge in you.” (Psalm 25:20)
• When
in crisis, I will focus on God ...
— I will pray:
“In you, O Lord,
I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your
righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of
refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me” (Psalm 31:1–3;
pray verses 1–9, 14–24).
— I will recite Scriptures aloud:
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you
my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the
disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1; also
read Psalms 27 and 28).
— I will claim God’s promises:
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise
preserves my life” (Psalm 119:50).
— I will consider how special it is to be a child of
God:
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).
• When
in crisis, I will listen to Christian praise music and Scripture songs:
“Sing to the Lord,
you saints of his; praise his holy name. ... Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:4–5).
— I won’t listen to heavy metal or acid rock.
— I won’t listen to rap or hip hop.
— I won’t listen to sad, country-western music.
• When
in crisis, I will question myself:
—“Why do I feel the need to hurt myself?”
— “What do I think I will accomplish through this?”
— “According to God, is what I am telling myself the
truth or a lie?”
— “Are my actions and desires reflecting my true
identity in Christ, or are they coming out of my past experiences?”
— “What effect would harming myself have on those who
care about me?”
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach
me wisdom in the inmost place” (Psalm 51:6).
• When in crisis, I will make positive affirmations:
— “My life is worth living because His Word assures me that I am a child of
God.”
— “God loves me and has a purpose for my life.”
— “Because God has a plan for me, I will treat the body He gave me with respect.”
— “Even though I can’t see the future, I will walk by faith, not by sight.”
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
• When
in crisis, I will review encouraging words:
— Read aloud positive letters and notes from friends
and family.
— Review positive thoughts of why it’s worth it to
heal.
— Recall those who believe in me and in my growth.
— Remember what others have said about why there is
hope for me.
— Rehearse God’s promise. ...
“The Lord
himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
• When
in crisis, I will not:
— Act on impulse
— Do any harmful act or anything even potentially
harmful to myself, to others, or to property
— Drive my automobile if there is a possibility of my
driving recklessly
— Act rashly
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power
and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7
NKJV).
• When
in doubt as to whether an action is harmful, I will ask myself:
— “Would God approve of this?”
— “Would the people I love approve of this?”
— “Would the people who care about me approve of
this?”
If the answer is NO! then I must not do it! If I would hurt innocent
people whom I care about, then I must not do it! No rationalizations, no
excuses, just Do Not Do It!
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the
will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).
• When
in crisis, I will:
— Make a list of names and phone numbers of people I
can call for help.
— Make copies of my list and put them in strategic
places (bedside table, medicine cabinet, file cabinet, desk drawer, car).
— Give my list to several caring people.
— After going through the previous steps—if I am still
in a crisis—I will reach out and call others who will be helpful and truthful.
(They can help me regain perspective.) I will continue to go down my call list
until I have reached someone.
— State directly, “I am calling because I am in an
emotional crisis.” I will honestly discuss the feelings and events that led to
the crisis and will explore possible solutions.
— Continue to make phone calls, including repetitions,
until the crisis is resolved, no matter what time of day or night.
Friend:
Relative:
Friend:
Relative:
Friend:
Therapist:
Doctor:
Church:
Pastor:
Crisis Hot Line:
Suicide Prevention: 1-800-Suicide (784-2433)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good
return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity
the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
• If
still in crisis after completing these steps:
— I will ensure my physical and emotional safety by
going to a safe environment where I am not alone.
— I will make arrangements to be with a friend or supportive
person.
— I will go to a public place where harming myself is
difficult.
— If all else fails, I will go to a hospital emergency
room and tell them, “I am at risk of harming myself.” I will make it clear, “I
do not want to check in—I simply want to sit in the waiting room for a little
while so that I won’t act on my impulses.”
— If I have diligently and honestly worked through
these steps and I’m still in trouble, then I’m truly in a crisis situation that
may require hospitalization for my protection.
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the
end you will be wise.” (Proverbs 19:20)
Say to yourself, “I can make it safely through a crisis. In God’s eyes I am
valuable, and my life and safety are important!”
No matter your painful ordeal, no matter the hurt that you feel, God knows.
... God hears. ... God cares. ...
“You hear, O Lord,
the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry ....
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their
plea.” (Psalm
10:17; 102:17)
Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys:
Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless.
----------------------------more
tomorrow------------------------
God bless
you all!
Join our
Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class 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) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D
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
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Purity 428: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
Purity 428 05/26/2021 Purity 428 Podcast
Good morning.
Unlike the regularity of
the work week, when we are transitioning in life from one season to the next we
are not always sure whether we are at the beginning, the middle, or the
end. When we are going through seasons
of loss or change, some of us want to push to the ending, some want to go back
to where they were, and others don’t want to go any further and would choose to
not experience anymore changes and just stay where they are.
We all have different
situations in life and what might be good advice for one person isn’t necessarily
going to be good advice for another. I
am a “push to the ending” or “go to the next thing’ type of person. Perhaps because I grew up in a home where
alcohol was abused, I tend to look beyond the trauma of what has happened and
seek to clean up the mess and move on. “Yeah
stupid stuff happens, and things get broken around here… let’s just pick it up
and make it nice again.”
The problem with that
response is that we have done nothing to change the “stuff that happens” or to
prevent things from breaking in the future.
The person who made the mess is not held accountable and is not
suffering the consequences for their actions.
I used to clean up my
own messes for most of my life and thought I was the only one to suffer from
the consequences but that wasn’t true.
We don’t live in a vacuum. When we do stupid things or break stuff it
impacts the other people in our lives.
My ex-wife and children had to live with the unpredictability of an
alcoholic in their lives while I just thought “that’s they way we do things
around here.”
Fortunately, the Lord
called me out of the darkness of who I was and lead me to repentance and
sobriety. I am happy to say that my
children report that they don’t think of me the way I used to be, and, unlike me,
they have decided to not have drugs and alcohol in their lives.
Unfortunately, the
transition to Christianity and sobriety proved to be too much of a change in me
to allow my marriage to survive. While I was willing to “clean up the mess and
make things nice”, the other party decided that they didn’t want to play nice anymore
and as much as I tried to save it, I realized that the pain that my family was
feeling would only be healed by letting go.
As much as I wanted to
make things nice, I realized I had to get out for peace to come. I faced a
difficult road to a new home, one on which I didn’t know if I was at the beginning
or the middle, but I sure knew I wasn’t at the end. I didn’t know if there would be an end.
But God…
God was with me every day
as I sought His presence, wisdom, and strength in prayer and continually
seeking Him. Through His guidance, what
seemed impossible was accomplished. My children and I live in a safe place
where we know peace again.
So I don’t know if you
are at the beginning, in the middle, or near the end of this transitional season
of your life and I don’t know if you need to stay or if you need to go. Sometimes we can’t clean up the mess.
Sometimes we can.
I know one thing from most
of my life watching things get swept under the rug and doing a fair amount of
that myself. It’s better to stop the person
making messes rather than continually cleaning them up. If they won’t work to change and save what
they’ve broken, it tells you something about them and your relationship.
The mess maker needs to
be held accountable for what they have done. They need to realize the damage they have done. When God showed me the extent of my
depravity and the abundance of His love and grace, I followed where He led me.
And while it has never been easy, I knew it was the right way to go.
So keep walking and talking with God because He knows the right way for you to go. No two people are the same so your path will be uniquely yours to follow but there will be few regrets if you listen to God and lean on Him.
This morning’s meditation verse is:
Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)
17 And whatever you do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through Him.
Today’s verse is the most basic instruction for those who are called to walk the Christian disciple’s path.
I had originally written for those who “want” to walk the Christian disciple’s path, but I realized that in and of ourselves there is nothing that would want to choose a lifestyle where you are guaranteed persecution. Before the Lord revealed the Truth to us, our desires were consumed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
No, we must be called. The question is: how will you answer it?
While we believe in Jesus Christ and His redemptive plan for those who put their faith in Him, God didn’t just want “believers”. Jesus called people to follow Him and those who did He called His disciples.
Being a disciple of Christ was demonstrated by learning from Him and living with Him. Being a disciple is the same today.
I think the biggest distinctions in the disciple’s walk that differs from “believers” are compartmentalization and context.
We all compartmentalize our lives. We behave one way at home, and we behave another way at work. Although many of the ways we behave at home and at work are consistent with who we consider ourselves to be, certain protocols at work demand we behave differently. The way we act, the things we say, the clothes we wear are just different from one sphere to the next. When quitting time comes on Friday afternoon, we can feel the weight of our work-selves being lifted as we are “free to be me”. We have shifted gears from business to pleasure, or from professional to personal.
Unfortunately, this compartmentalization of the way we live also happens in our spiritual lives as we act one way “in the building” than we do outside of God’s house. Just like work, we may agree and behave according to the protocols of church while we are there but lose that demeanor the moment we are back in the world. Have you seen yourself or others put on their Sunday best in terms of a righteous demeanor at church to watch it all but vanish when they passed through the threshold of the church’s exit?
As this verse in Colossians indicates, the word of God directs us that in whatever we do we do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, that we live according to His way.
As we walk the disciple’s path, we begin the process of tearing down the walls of compartmentalization, the divisions of the secular and the spiritual, and we start living in the context of God.
By abiding in the Lord’s presence and by reminding ourselves that we are Christians, we begin to see that there is no separation from the spiritual realities of life. God is omnipresent. If we feel God is distant, we are the ones who have turned a blind eye to Him.
The disciple’s path isn’t just living by a code of ethics or following rules, the disciple’s path is abiding in God’s presence and responding to life in the context of the truth of who we are in Christ and according to God’s wisdom.
When we start walking with the Lord, we take our faith with us wherever we go. Our faith survives leaving the church building, goes home with us, and amazingly it goes with us to work on Monday morning too. Our interactions with others become a part of an overall spiritual practice as we are grounded in God’s love and will seek to share it through acts of service and kindness.
When we realize our faith is in a God who never leaves us, we will naturally express His love to others and give thanks to God for all that He is and for all that He provides.
The disciple’s walk does not need to be a stiff march our authoritarian obedience but is better understood as one that utilizes God’s wisdom and love to be a compassionate response to the world around us. It is a walk that strengthens us as we make our way through the world and it empowers us to respond in a loving way that will show others that God is with us and that we are increasingly representing the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we do.
I invite all to mt4christ.org where I always share
insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters
in Christ with their walk.
Today, in continuing recognition of mental health awareness month, we continue
to share from Dr. June Hunt’s “Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless
“.
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. If you need this title you can find it online at several
sites for less than $5.00:
G. How to Turn from Feeling to Healing
When you’re in the darkest depths of despair, when you feel emotionally
trapped with no way out, remember ... you’re not alone. Countless
thousands all around the world are experiencing the same feelings of
hopelessness.
Besides pursuing activities that will help dissuade suicidal thoughts, reach
out to others who are hurting just as you are. Find comfort and solace in
sharing feelings and encouraging one another. There’s no better way to bring
hope and healing to yourself than by bringing hope and healing to someone else.
Your own spirit will inevitably be lifted. ...
“Our hope for you is firm, because we know that just
as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:7)
If you focus on feelings of despair, then hopelessness will inevitably lead
to depression and possibly to suicidal thoughts. Replace those negative,
self-defeating thoughts with constructive thoughts. ... Occupy your mind with
uplifting activities. Above all, if you are thinking about suicide, call your
pastor, a suicide prevention center, a counselor, or a trusted friend. They
want to help you.
Activities to Alleviate Suicidal Obsession
• Walk, jog, bike, or swim ... for physical release
• Lie down or take a nap ... for physical renewal
• Take a long hot shower or bubble bath ... for physical soothing
• Curl up with a heating pad ... for emotional warmth
• Play with a pet or cuddle a stuffed animal ... for emotional comfort
• Journal or draw your feelings ... for emotional release
• Watch an inspiring movie ... for emotional enjoyment
• Play Christian praise music ... for spiritual inspiration
• Read a Christian book or biography ... for spiritual pleasure
• Memorize a verse of Scripture ... for spiritual focus
• Work a jigsaw or crossword puzzle ... for mental stimulation
• Do indoor or outdoor chores ... to remove clutter
• Clean a refrigerator, cabinet, closet, or a drawer ... to feel
productive
• Prepare a grocery list, selecting healthy foods ... to meet physical
needs
• Organize coupons and go shopping ... to meet practical needs
• Take prescription medicine as needed ... to meet medical needs
• Go to the park and watch the people ... to enjoy others
• Sort through clothes to give to the needy ... to benefit others
• Volunteer at a ministry, church, or charity ... to serve others
• Call a friend and offer help ... to reach out to others
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope
will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18)
Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys:
Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless.
----------------------------more
tomorrow------------------------
God bless
you all!
Join our
Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class 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) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D
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
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Purity 427: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
Purity 427 05/25/2021 Purity 427 Podcast
Good morning.
After starting yesterday
with a mild “case of the Mondays”, I struggled to experience the contentment I
knew I should be walking in as someone who is alive and well and blessed to
know the Lord. I went through my regular
practice of gratitude and attempted to be thankful for everything I had only to
have a contradictory attitude rise up in me as I was annoyed at having to go to
work and instead of seeing the good of what I had in my life, I had critical
thoughts about the quality of my standard of living and doubts about my immediate
and distant future.
It was with this battle
of mental warfare that I took to the road yesterday and thankfully it didn’t
take long for the Lord to bless me with an insight that changed things.
While we are not supposed
to base our self-worth according to material possessions, personal attributes, or
our station in life because someone invariably will have more things, talent,
wealth, beauty, or intelligence than us, sometimes comparing ourselves to
others can really help us to gain some perspective.
As I drove through
various parts of the capital district on my commute to my first job I was
convicted about being critical about my standard of living when I realized that
many have less than I do and some live on the streets.
The mad pace of some
other commuters in traffic also reminded me that even though I left home at the
last minute, I realized that I wasn’t in a hurry or fearful of being late and
that I was blessed with a job that gave me a great deal of independence and
financial security.
I was shamed by my
negative thoughts about what I had and realized that they were tied to hopes
for even better things in the future.
Hoping for and planning
for good things in the future is great but I, and possibly with some assistance
from the enemy, as I am teaching on spiritual warfare this week after all, took
my vague hopes for better things in the future and turned them around to be a
present moment condemnation. My critical
attitude was fueled by my hopes for a better tomorrow.
Although I have vague
plans and hopes for the future, somehow I didn’t manage to accomplish them all
over the weekend. Somehow I didn’t wake
up magically delivered from my current situation and I still had to go to the “same
old grind” on Monday. And because of
that irrational feeling coupled with fears that I might not accomplish my goals,
whatever they may be, I viewed my present state with an extremely critical
eye.
Thankfully, my eyes were
opened to the fact that I have it pretty good right now and everything turned
around to the point where I was able to stop and “smell the roses” later in the
day to capture today’s photo.
For someone who is
teaching discipleship and spiritual warfare, I realize that I am still a
student, but I am becoming more adept at recognizing the fact that our thoughts
are something that we can control and that we can challenge any negative
thoughts and change the narrative that defines our day.
We have to ask ourselves
questions like: Why am I feeling this way? What am I thinking about? Is that
true? Why am I thinking about this? Do I really want to dwell on these things
that I am thinking about and feel this way?
And when we do all that
we should also ask: What does God say?
The Lord will never
leave us or forsake us. He has given us the power to overcome by renewing our
minds with His wisdom and by drawing on the strength of His presence.
So keep walking and
talking with God, because brother, when we just talk to ourselves or listen to
those nagging voices or impressions that tell us that we are not good enough, we
know that dialog isn’t coming from God.
The Lord wants to work
everything together for good for those that love Him, and part of that work
happens in our minds. When we focus on what He says about us, we will know who
we truly are and will experience peace regardless of the circumstances.
This morning’s meditation verse is:
John 1:14
(NKJV)
14 And the Word became flesh and
dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth.
Today’s verse points to the incarnation: God becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ.
We don’t celebrate Christmas for nothing! The invisible God becomes visible to us all in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ’s words, actions, and miraculous works show us that God is good, just, faithful, loving, and holy.
The incarnation, God becoming man, was not only the Lord’s plan to redeem mankind. Forgive the play on words but, it also shows us that God likes us and is like us.
First, the incarnation was done out of God’s love for us. So yeah, He really, really likes us. Christ’s earthly ministry, death and resurrection all point to God’s great love for us. John 3:16 ring a bell?
But another thing that we may miss is that the incarnation was to show us that God is like us. God is a person. God is not some mystical alien intelligence that man can not relate to. Man is made in God’s image and while we are not little gods, we are a reflection of God in our attributes that allow us to be kind, loving, just, and wise.
Of course man shows his true wisdom in following what the word of God says as we were created with the intention that we would give God glory by being like Him. Christ became flesh to show us that God understood our struggles and that when we abide with God like Christ did, we can live a righteous life. Jesus showed us the way. We just have to follow His example and accept the new life we have been given by faith.
So if you run into anyone who tells you that you can’t really know God, introduce them to Jesus. He didn’t come to earth so people could say you can’t know God. He came to show us who God is and to let us know that God loves us.
I invite all to mt4christ.org where I always share
insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters
in Christ with their walk.
Today, in continuing recognition of mental health awareness month, we continue
to share from Dr. June Hunt’s “Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless
“.
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. If you need this title you can find it online at several
sites for less than $5.00:
F. How to Forgive
Is your sense of hopelessness caused by unforgiveness? Have you ever said:
“I have been so wronged. I know I should forgive, but how can I simply
let my offender off the hook? I just can’t!”? If these thoughts are
driving your depression ... if these words have passed your lips or even
crossed your mind, be assured you are not alone. That is precisely why you need
to know that you can let go of the hurt and the heartache. You can learn ...
How to Handle “The Hook”
- Start by
making a list of all the offenses caused by your offender.
- Imagine
right now a meat hook around your neck and a burlap bag hanging from the
hook in front of you. And imagine all the pain caused by the offenses
against you—each offense on the list—dropped like rocks into the burlap
bag—the bigger the offense, the bigger the rock. So, now you have 100 lbs
of heavy rocks—rocks of resentment—hanging from the hook around your neck
... weighing you down in despair.
- Ask
yourself, Do I really want to carry all that pain with me for the rest
of my life? Are you willing to take the pain from the past and release
it into the hands of the Lord?
- If so,
right now, take all the pain and release it to Jesus.
- Take the
one who offended you off of your emotional hook and place your
offender onto God’s hook. The Lord knows how to deal with your
offender ... in His time and in His way. God says ...
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
Prayer to Forgive Your Offender
“Lord Jesus, thank You for caring about how much my heart has been
hurt. You know the pain I have felt because of (list every offense). Right now,
I release all that pain into Your hands. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the
cross for me and extending Your forgiveness to me. As an act of my will, I
choose to forgive (name). Right now, I move (name) off of my emotional hook to
Your hook. I refuse all thoughts of revenge. I trust that in Your time and in
Your way You will deal with my offender as You see fit. And Lord, thank You for
giving me Your power to forgive so that I can be set free. In Your holy name I
pray. Amen.”
A Bitter Survivor
Question:
“How can I release bitterness toward my loved one who committed suicide?”
Answer: Although you cannot confront your offender in person, you can
confront indirectly by saying what you would want or need to say as if your
offender were in front of you.
- Consider
the “chair technique.” Imagine your offender seated in a chair placed in
front of you. Say the things you would say if the person were actually
seated across a table from you. Express your feelings about what was done
to you and the painful ramifications those events have had on your life.
Then extend forgiveness and explain that you have taken the person off of your
emotional hook and placed the person onto God’s hook.
- Write a
letter to your offender, stating every painful memory. Read it over the
person’s grave or at a place where you can openly speak as though you were
in each other’s presence. Then at the close, choose to forgive by
releasing your offender into the hands of God.
- Make a
list of all painful as well as positive memories. After completing the
list, go back to the beginning and write the word “past” by each memory.
Acknowledge and accept that the past is in the past. Release all the pain
as well as the person into the hands of God.
The fact that your offender has died does not mean you cannot forgive and
thereby release bitterness that may have established a foothold in your heart
and mind. The Bible says ...
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and
that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15)
Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys:
Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless.
----------------------------more
tomorrow------------------------
God bless
you all!
Join our
Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class 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) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D
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