Friday, March 10, 2017

Counselor’s Corner: What does it mean to Rest in God?


I like to know what’s going to happen next in my life. I have this insatiable need to figure out outcomes of situations for myself and for others, but this causes an unrest. When you become the “controller” of outcomes, the root is primarily a lack of trust in God. Many people have a deep-seated lack of trust in God because of unanswered prayers, pain and suffering, loss, and an inability to understand the Father’s love.

When you do not fully trust God, you will become anxious, fearful, stressed, worried, and maybe even depressed. Getting to the “roots” of why you have difficulty trusting God will be important as you work towards entering His rest. It is possible to enter God’s rest while going through tough times. This rest will not come through any type of escapism such as alcohol, drugs, TV, or a vacation. It seems to make sense to “do something” when your life is turned upside down, but when you can have complete confidence that God will come through somehow in your circumstance; you begin to enter into God’s rest.

Reflect and ponder: Have you entered the rest of God or do you strive to solve your own problems? Do you trust God and His Word completely?

Counselor’s Corner:

How to enter God’s rest:

1.      Complete trust in Christ. Trust means an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone. Do you trust God in everything, with your loved ones? Tell God if you have trouble trusting Him in all things, and then ask Him to help you.
2.      Faith in Jesus and His promises, even when your circumstances are the exact opposite of what you are believing God for. The Israelite's did not enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief.
3.      Believing and receiving the Father’s love. Knowing that you are loved and that God cares for you as one of His children can cease all striving and works of the flesh. You don’t have to prove your love to God or to anyone else.
4.      Let go of all control and figuring out outcomes. Submit and surrender your cares to prayer and then leave the finished work to Christ.

Benefits of entering God’s rest:

1.      Profound peace despite your circumstances. Peace means a state of tranquility.
2.      Fears are calmed. Calm means a period of freedom from storms. The “storms” in your life can have the ability to induce fear. In the middle of your “storm” you can have an inner calmness from the unknown.
3.      You will be in a state of rest at all times-trials and joyful times.
4.      You will have a sense of stability. You won’t be shaken by life’s circumstances.

MEDIATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

The Lord replied, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14

For anyone who enters this rest also rests from their works, just as God did form His. Let us, therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:9-11



Thursday, March 9, 2017

Counselor’s Corner: Releasing the Familiar and Walking in the Unfamiliar by Faith


Familiar things are comfortable to us, we are creatures of habit and like to dwell in places that are known to us. However, you know in your spirit it is time for change, and God is calling you to a new and unfamiliar territory. You would like God to give you not just a rough outline of what is in this new territory but a detailed plan of what to expect. The problem is rarely if ever God gives such detailed plans for the unknown that He is asking you to march forward in. When it is time to go forward, God does provide discomfort in your familiar comforts, such as things just don’t seem to work and flow as they used to.

You may be in a transitional phase as you are trying to crossover to the unfamiliar that God is asking you to step into. In this transitional phase you will be challenged by the enemy to go back to your comfort, but you are well aware that your comforts are not covered in the grace of God any longer. Going back would mean a type of death, maybe not a physical death but a spiritual death. God has given you a mission to fulfill but you keep looking back, you have one foot in the past and one foot going forward.

You may have finally come to realize that some relationships will not be able to go with you in this new territory, and other relationships will not be able to have the same place in your life. This can be particularly difficult with family relationships and friends that you have had for a long time. God does not ask you to leave family and friends behind because He wants you to be alone and torture you, but so that He can get you to the place where you do not make these relationships idols, and your heart can heal to make room for godly relationships. If there are any unhealthy attachments and connections, and God is leading you to a new place of freedom and service for Him-these unhealthy ties cannot go with you into the new territory. God can and will work on those that are left as you venture into the unfamiliar.

Old habits, sins and lingering doubts of God’s goodness and if you can really trust Him shou be left in the past (familiar) and new ways of relating to God should go forward with you into the new territory (unfamiliar place). For instance if in your old familiar past you entertained thoughts that you were an “orphan” and not really loved by God, this lie needs to be dismantled and the truth should go with you into the new territory, “You are adopted and an heir to the Kingdom of God.” This truth may seem unfamiliar because in your familiar past you related to yourself as unlovable, unworthy and not good enough. What was familiar to you in the past, needs to now become unfamiliar, and the old self cannot be brought into the new season God has for you. How you thought of not only yourself, God and your relationships need to be dismantled and put under the blood of Jesus Christ, and resurrect the new truths the Holy Spirit reveals about who He says that you are, His love for you, and how to let go of relationships that cannot go with you into the Promised Land. Some of the relationships that you let go of during this time, will cross over into the Promised Land with you eventually and some will stay in the pit. If you have come out of the pit and are now in the Promised Land, don’t go back into the pit to get these people out. Enjoy your new place of freedom and trust that the Holy One will make a way for all those who desire to get out of the pit, just like you desired!

Reflect and Ponder: Has God called you to a new season but you find you are resisting walking into the unfamiliar territory? Are you at the crossroad, wanting to move forward but sense a tug-of-war happening to keep you looking back at your past? Perhaps you are thinking, “What will people think of me?” or “What will happen if I move forward and leave my loved ones behind?”

Counselor’s Corner:

Steps to move forward into the unfamiliar:

1.      First and most importantly, know that God is calling you to the unfamiliar. Seek the Holy Spirit and write down what He shows you. Let nothing be done because it feels good to your flesh or because you have always done it that way (comfort).
2.      If you feel fear, anxiousness or uneasiness about going forward in the unknown, stop and be still. Wait for God to reassure you and to confirm what you believe He is asking of you.
3.      Recognize that leaving the familiar behind can produce feelings of ambivalence, loss, sadness and guilt. If you have done something a certain way for years, and now you are doing things a new way, it may not feel right at first. Realigning significant relationships can be even more challenging, you very likely will come against an arsenal of attacks from the enemy as you surrender to God these relationships. Why? The enemy would love nothing more than for you to be bound to unhealthy, ungodly connections where all spiritual life is choked out of you.
4.      Expect resistance from the enemy and from relationships that you are surrendering to God. The enemy hates progress and growth and will use the people closest to you to get you to abort the necessary changes in your life. The voice of condemnation will get the loudest as you are getting ready to plant both feet in the new territory God has for you. If you know God is calling you into this new, unfamiliar territory then by faith move forward! The only other option is to go back to the familiar. You will need to in faith push forward as the enemy aggressively pursues in hindering your new territory. Right before you plunge completely forward, the battle will intensify-make the decision to trust God and GO! MOVE!
5.      God will not give you a detailed plan as to how everything will work out in the unfamiliar territory, expect a rough outline. When you step out in faith and decree and declare your new territory as something God has positioned for you, then God will fill in what’s next.
6.      As you GO FORWARD, march like a solider and keep your eyes on what is ahead and not behind you. When a solider marches they can’t look behind them because they will most likely miss their step.

MEDIATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along am unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16

Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and don’t depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all that you do and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6


Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Counselor’s Corner: God Gives Buffers in the Midst of Your Pain


A buffer can be defined as to lessen or moderate the impact of something; something that reduces shock or damage; or something that serves as a protective barrier.
Going through traumatic seasons in your life can be painful, but God always sends a buffer to ease your pain. A buffer is anything that softens the blow of your suffering. God does not just allow painful events in your life, but He also is a loving Father who provides cushions to reduce the sorrow and heartache. Pain and suffering can have tremendous purpose in your life, but during those times of agony God brings good gifts to you. The problem usually is we are so consumed with our pain that we can’t see the good gifts God has brought along the way.

Reflect and Ponder: Do you know what buffers (good gifts) God has brought you to cushion the pain and suffering you are enduring? Perhaps you have a prodigal child but you have an incredible Godly husband to buffer the pain of having a wayward child. Maybe you are not close to your family of origin but God has placed brothers and sisters in Christ in your life.

Counselor’s Corner: God gives different blessings to different people, I may not have a house full of children but I have a strong, godly spouse. It is important that I enjoy and be thankful for the blessing of my husband, and not be consumed on what I don’t have. There at times we make the pain in our lives an idol, we want what we want-even over intimacy with God! Our eyes can become laser focused on the thing that is seemingly being kept from us, while the good gifts we have go by the wayside.

Not everything is tough or painful in your life, there are aspects that are good and beneficial to you. If you choose to focus only on the hardship in your life, you won’t be able to see the goodness that God has given you. At times your pain may be so deep that you feel God has abandoned you, but He never leaves you alone or without. Look around and see what good gifts God has given you in the midst of your pain and suffering, and give thanksgiving for them.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James 1:17

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.
Matthew 7:11




Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Counselor’s Corner: The Difference between When the Holy Spirit Convicts and the Enemy Condemns


When the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin or wrongdoing, it is always done gently and lovingly as a father would disciple his children. When a father disciplines his children it should be not only correct the misbehavior but to offer love and forgiveness afterwards. God corrects His children as a loving father would, with His goal to bring you in a closer relationship with Him.

When the enemy condemns you for a wrongdoing, you feel bad about yourself. Condemnation pulls you away from God because you feel unworthy of your failures, weaknesses and sins in light of God’s Holiness. The enemy will began playing “visual” and “audio” tapes over and over in your mind to cause you to feel not good enough or like a failure. Condemnation prevents you from moving forward by causing you to stay stuck in your past defeats.

Reflect and ponder: Do you feel like you have been in a boxing ring with the enemy, as he pounds you over and over with past failures? Have you asked God to forgive you of any wrongdoing? If you answered yes, then it is the enemy who is making a list of your prior offenses and accusing you.
Counselor’s Corner:

How do you know when the Holy Spirit convicts and the enemy condemns?

1.      The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin quickly, He does not wait months or years down the road to bring up past sins (unless you have never repented of a particular sin but even then when He brings up prior sins it is done quickly). When the enemy condemns he brings up the past so you can stew on all your wrongdoings and failures. When you stew over something you already confessed it gives place to the enemy to plant “seeds” that you were not forgiven, or that you are not a “real” Christian. Stewing over past sins causes discouragement, doubt, and depression.

2.      Through condemnation, the enemy assaults you with false guilt, shame and regret. If you have asked God to forgive your sins, then going back and replaying what you could have done differently opens the door even further for the enemy to build strongholds through the lies you believe. Once you believe the lies, strongholds (fortresses in the mind) are formed that can take a very long time to tear down.

3.      The voice of condemnation is nagging, intrusive, harsh, constant and demeaning. You end-up feeling like a total failure and want to give up. You don’t see a way out. The Holy Spirit speaks softly, gently, suddenly, and lovingly. The enemy can use people to speak condemnation to you and the Holy Spirit can use people to speak life and blessings over you.

4.      When condemnation attacks you, past memories of sin, guilt and shame are dug back up. The Holy Spirit never brings your past up without applying hope that He has not only made a way to forgive your sins but now He can use what was in your past for good. The enemy stirs and looks for your weaknesses and past failures, but God uses your weaknesses when you are submitted to Him. The enemy hopes that shame and regret from your past failures will keep you from moving forward, but God always wants you living free from your past and going forward.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
Romans 8:1

For whenever our heart condemns us; God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.
1 John 3:20



Monday, March 6, 2017


Daily Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner by Stephanie R. Reck, LMSW, LBT, BCCC

February 10, 2017

How Do You Know the Holy Spirit is Leading You?

Without being led by the Holy Spirit, we can do things we are not supposed to. The enemy loves when we stay distracted and busy doing and going. I believe busyness is straight from the enemy. If you are a people-pleaser or need people approval it is very likely you will please man rather than being led by what the Holy Spirit wants. Most likely some of the Christians you go to church with are operating from a fleshy desire to please self and man rather than a desire to please the Holy Spirit. It feels better to our flesh to go along with what everyone else is doing.

Just because something seems right to do, does not mean that it is! We can wear ourselves out by agreeing to do everything that comes into our path. There are certain things we are not to be involved with even if it seems good and right. The Holy Spirit knows what is best for us, and what we can handle.

Reflect and ponder: Do you make decisions or agree to do something because everyone else is going along but you already have a full plate or don’t have peace? Or do you just do what your flesh wants, not stopping to ask the Holy Spirit if He wants you to be involved?

Counselor’s Corner: The flesh is always deceiving-it wants what it wants! Moving in the flow of the Holy Spirit makes you come alive and energizes you, operating in the flesh usually drains you of energy and spiritual strength.

How do you know you the Holy Spirit is leading you?

1.      Don’t make rash or impulsive decisions. Learn to say, “I need to pray about that.”

2.      Wait on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you before forging ahead with your agenda. Yes, there are times we have to make quick decisions, but if you have developed an intimate relationship with God and are acquainted with His ways through reading the Word and prayer, even when you have to make a quick decision it will be more likely you will make one that is Holy Spirit led. Training yourself to be still before God to hear His voice will equip you better when you need to make a quick decision, you will already know how the Holy Spirit speaks.

3.      The Holy Spirit never, ever works in confusion. There is an unexplainable peace when the Holy Spirit is prompting you. If you are not being led by the Spirit, you will experience confusion, chaos, lack of direction, and stress.

4.      When the Holy Spirit leads-He leads! You don’t have to figure out what or how to do something because the Holy Spirit places the answer deep into your spirit. The Holy Spirit does not always give concrete answers, sometimes we just know the “direction” we should take. Sometimes God just wants us to set out in faith before He gives us more detail, but even then, there is peace. You can do something afraid and still have peace!

5.      There is an inner-knowing deep in your spirit, you just know you are supposed to do something.

6.      The Holy Spirit never, ever operates in guilt! If you hear,” You should be, you ought to be or you need to be doing something,” these are laced in guilt from the enemy.

7.      Usually when the Holy Spirit is directing you to do something you will have confirmation with other believes-particularly your spouse if you’re married.



MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:



But if you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:18



For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Romans 8:14

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