Thursday, June 1, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner Be Still to Hear God’s Voice


You will have difficulty hearing God’s voice if you are busy with one activity after another, or you are addicted to your electronic devices. It is important to get quiet before the Lord, and tune-out all distractions. This means turning off your cell phone or putting it away, turning off the TV an iPad and other electronics.


There are many things that compete for our time and attention, and numerous distractions pop-up unexpectedly. Learning to carve out regular time alone with God to hear His still, small voice is important in maintaining your peace, gaining wisdom and direction from the Lord for your daily life. For most people, having time with God first thing in the morning will help you throughout your day. If you have been feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or fearful, ask yourself, “Have I pulled away to be alone with The Father?” Things will come up in your life to compete for your time and attention even that will seem like a “good thing.” However, not everything that is asked of us or that comes our way is a good thing for us that is why we have to have time with the Lord so we can hear His direction.

A lot of people end-up living frazzled lives because they just do whatever comes in their path.

There will never be anything more important than daily time being still before the Lord.

I know this is a foreign concept in our western culture to be still, but too many people are not taking this valuable time and are enduring high levels of stress. We must learn to step away daily to connect with the Father. He has guidance and direction that He wants to bestow upon us, but we must receive that impartation daily, and not try and “store it up.” Our daily “manna” is given to us daily, not weekly or monthly. We must not put anything else before our relationship with God, and a relationship can only happen when you spend time together. God must first be on our schedules of priorities.

When we are still before God He will speak to us through His Word, through nature, through our spirit, through writing and journaling, and through worship. He can also speak to us through a combination of these things. Check your schedule and see what you can cut back, such as Face book, Pinterest, TV, iPad, and carve out time for God. Put God first in your life. It is okay to say, “No” to the demands of others, to shut your cell phone off temporary, not answer your emails and face book.

It is okay not to follow the crowd, and instead follow Jesus and sit at His feet.


In God’s presence you will find peace and rest. 

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner How to Accept Your Life Just the Way It Is


Have you ever told yourself, “Life is not fair?” Have you struggled with the reality of the way your life has turned out? Did you have different dreams and hopes for your life?


One of the best ways to deal with the unfairness of life is acceptance-accepting that this is how things are and how you can find ways around it to thrive better. You have to learn how to navigate your life differently. If what you are doing is not working, such as, hoping and wishing things were different in your life; you need to change the direction in your thinking and responses to these adverse events in your life. Acceptance may seem harsh, but living in the cycle of continual dashed hopes is exhausting. Your life plan will not look like everyone else’s life plan. Stop comparing what other people have and you don’t.

Living in a continually state of surrender, and letting go of control can be a challenge; especially if life has not quite worked out the way you thought it would. You can try and control your environment, other people, but you will end-up frustrated. Letting go of things that are out of your control is a key step to acceptance.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Marin Luther King, Jr.

Focus on you. It is not your job to fix everyone else’s drama. Accept the fact that some people may not want to change, and you have to accept this reality. You may need to accept that some people are not good for you, and learn to release them fully into God’s care.

Learning to let go of things that are not in your best interest can ease stress and lift your mood. Trying to change people or continually trying to fix them, will cause you to live in a state on continually unrest.

When you begin to ACCEPT your life as it is there will be benefits. Does this mean you should stop praying, believing, and hoping? Absolutely not! However, you may need to step into the reality of how things are right now, but always keep the door of hope open. If you are living in a state of looking at others’ lives wanting what they have, or wanting a different life; then you are in jeopardy of discontentment. Acceptance of your lot in life can bring less stress, you will be able to let go of past trauma, your mood will improve, your sleep will be better, you will be more content, depression will decrease or maybe even completely lift, and you will feel more control over your life.

When you have things in your life that linger or that bother you daily, it is time for a change. Many people linger on about things that are out of their control, this can bring stress, depression, and anxiety. Learning to count your blessings every day is a start to accepting your life. In other words, what is right in your life? REFOCUS. Instead of reflecting on what you do not have, start choosing to see what you do have. Keep your mind off the situations in your life that cause you the most depression and anxiety. Instead cast your cares on God (1 Peter 5:7). Cast your cares, and then go do something else, don’t stew over them over and over.

Not that I am speaking in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11

And He said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15

What are some things that you may need to let go of?




Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner How to Walk in Peace among the Enemies Distractions


I like peace, I like quiet and I like order. What happens when distractions bombarded you to steal your peace? Do you react in anger or annoyance or do you remain in peace? If we are honest, a majority of the time we react in anger or frustration to a disruption in our plans or when the enemy plays havoc with our peace. Distractions can come from people, situations, or circumstances.

Do you know what steals your peace? I do! I have found when I react to the peace stealers, it makes matters worse. I am a Christian who loves Jesus and truly desires to follow Him, but there are times that if you cross my path the wrong way, you wish you had not! The enemy knows our blue prints, he has studied us to see how we react when he brings in distractions and annoyances. If you blow up when the vacuum cleaner breaks or you get “ghetto” on your neighbors who know how to work your last nerve, then the enemy takes note and brings something similar again and again to us knowing we will take the bait.

We must die to the flesh when the distractions come barreling against us. My first reaction to a distraction or an annoyance is to get frustrated, and eventually I lose my peace. We all feel we have rights and when those rights are violated, we can get disturbed.

 A definition of distraction is an unhealthy attraction that breaks your focus and hinders you. Why do you think the enemy is trying to distract you?

How to walk in peace among the enemies distractions:

1.      If you are dealing with people who are being used by the enemy to cause trouble, meditate on this promise: When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 1:7. God does not promise freedom from enemies, but He promises that when we do have them He will make our enemies be at peace with us.
2.      Have the posture of rest and faith until God makes your enemies your footstool. The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Psalm 110:1-2. Be at rest not focused on the problems. Our job is to believe before we receive the help from God that He will take care of our enemies-we must rest in the promises that God will take care of all that concerns us. When we rest, He works! When we strive and react, God slows down a bit waiting for us to trust and rest. God did not say, “Wait until all of your enemies have been destroyed and every problem in your life has been resolved, then you can rest.” God wants us to rest first and then He will make your enemies a footstool.
3.      Psalm 23:5 says that God prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies, not the absence. You eat in the presence of your enemies, and God will take care of your enemies. Our job is not to react to our enemies and become like them, but to remain in peace that we sit at the table prepared for us by Jesus in the presence of our enemies! Don’t war with your enemies, simply remain in peace and allow Jesus to take over.
4.      Don’t take revenge or escalate the problems concerning those who have offended or angered you. Seek peace. Seeking peace over revenge may hurt your flesh, but the enemy will lose ground when you obey Jesus. Learn to forgive offenders, and those who repeatedly do things to upset you. Some people are like sandpaper to us, they just rub and rub us raw. Take the higher ground, and let no one steal your peace or control you.
5.      When the distractions are not coming from a person but through circumstances such as when several appliances stop working in the same day or week. Yes, there are times that appliances stop working and vehicles need repair but the enemy can also cause some of these problems. Ask the Holy Spirit if what you are experiencing is just normal break-downs or if you need to take authority over the enemy and your possessions. Either way, keep your FOCUS on the Lord and ask for His swift intervention. Then rest, knowing He will take care of what has been broken. If you lose focus over the situation, it is a demonic distraction. Demonic distractions will also cause you to lose time because you become focused on fixing the distraction.

Distractions are one of the easiest and greatest tricks of the enemy. Until you pinpoint what is distracting you, the enemy will use that same scheme over and over again.

No matter what distractions come your way, when you remain in peace and in rest, anything the enemy would try and throw your way will be stopped.



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