Counselor’s Corner: Beginning Again: Out With the Old and in With the New

Before you can move into your new season you have to let go of the old first.

“Old what you may be asking?”

1.      Old attitudes that keep you in the “wilderness,” and moving into your “promised land.” These attitudes include: complaining, murmuring, fault-finding, covertness, thanklessness, self-pity, blaming others, being a victim of your circumstances, and idolatry (placing anything ahead of God).

2.      Old mind-sets. Allowing your minds to think whatever it wants, and not taking every thought captive into the obedience of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Thinking thoughts that are negative, faithless, and hopeless. Some of you have strongholds and lies that you have believed for years and need to be torn-down by renewing your minds in the Word of God.

3.      Holding onto the old things of the past. Some friendships, ministries, and possibly marriages did not succeed but when we hold onto these things and condemn ourselves repeatedly for our past mistakes we cannot move forward. Ask God to forgive you if you need to, and believe that God has forgiven you and that He does not want you dwelling in your past any longer. (Philippians 3:13-14).

4.      Living in cycles of defeat and hopelessness. Believe in this new season you will be victorious and an overcomer in every situation. Begin to believe the best about yourself and others.

5.      Get comfortable with not fitting in with the crowd and being different. Stop allowing yourself to be consumed by what people think of you. In this new season care more about what God thinks of you.

Moving forward into your promised land will require “letting go” of former things. Former things that are no longer working for you, and possibly areas of sin in your lives that must be dealt with.

Ask yourself what is no longer working in your life?

For example you want to go forward in your life and experience all that God has for you but you are still holding onto selfishness and pride. Perhaps God is asking you to let go of worry and fear. Anything that could be hindering you from moving forward God very well may have you to remove these before preceding to what He has for you next. If you have gotten yourself into the habit of complaining, God may have you deal with this before experiencing your breakthrough or blessing that you have been waiting for.

Ask God what old things need to be discarded in your life, and what new things He is wanting to bring into your life. You may have to get rid of the old before God can make room for the new. Some things no longer work for us, and we need to have wisdom to what those things are. If you are going to purchase a new car and your old car is still in the garage, how can you make room for that new car? Some will try and fit the new car with the old car, but why would you want to hold onto your old car if it no longer is working? Some of us need to stop holding onto to the things in our past, so that God can make room for the new things He is trying to bring to pass.

If what you are doing in your life is not working, it is time to make some changes. The mental health definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Is it time for change?

7 things to do When You are disappointed

A relationship does not work out, a job does not go through, or your prodigal child that you have been praying for does not seem to leave their rebellious life. We all have experienced times of disappointment, and it is a normal part of life. What is important to know is that if disappointment is not dealt with, it can eventually lead to depression. This is a scheme from the enemy. Something you really wanted does not work out, you dwell on why it did not work out, and eventually you begin to feel depressed. Your thoughts will always follow your behavior.

7 Things to do when you feel disappointed:

1.     Consider that what may have not worked out could be God’s doing. Perhaps, He was protecting you from something you did not even know about.

2.     Go before God and ask Him to help you deal with your disappointment, and to show you the truth.

3.    Take every thought captive. Do not let your mind wander and think whatever it wants. When something disappointing has happened in your life it is natural to want to feel sorry for yourself or even think about it endlessly, but do not go there! IT IS A TRAP THAT WILL LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

4.    Do not feel sorry for yourself and “lick your wounds.” Go to God and tell Him how you feel and then release the need to feel sorry for what has happened to you.

5.   Realize that everyone, not just you, will have times that things disappoint them. It is what you do with the disappointment that will make the difference.

6.     Get up again. Shake it off. Cry if you need to, but then move on! That may sound harsh, but it is not. The enemy would love for you to “camp out” in your disappointment. He hopes you will stay a while so that it will develop into total despair.

7.    Sit at Jesus’ feet as long as you need to for Him to speak to you and lift off whatever is causing you to feel disappointed.

All kinds of discouraging encounters can happen to us. When they seem to pile-up on us, that is when we need to be most aware. One disappointment in our lives can be tough, but when a series of disappointments come at us, that can paralyzing if we are not careful. Recognize those times in your life when it seems that one thing after another is occurring in your life to bring you discouragement. Discouragement is always rooted from the pits of hell, and is never originated from God. Check the source, is it God bringing discouragement or the enemy? Think about where you are at in your life that so much discouragement is coming your way. It is always a set-up to defeat you.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.      Are you getting free from some sin area in your life, or have completely been set-free from some  long-term sin in your life?

2.      Are you standing for the truth in God’s Word?

3.      Are you using your life to better the Kingdom of God?

4.      Have you recently given your testimony somewhere?

Answering yes to any of the above questions could be a very good indicator why so much discouragement has come your way. Ask God to show you. Keep moving forward, do not stop and look at all what has gone wrong, and resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Worshiping and praising God will lift off feelings of discouragement. Keeping things in perspective as well as counting all that is a blessing in your life will help.

What about you? How do you deal with disappointment in your life? Share your story, leave a comment. Others will be blessed by your words.  Thank you and may God bless you!

WE RAISE OUR BANNER HIGH

God wants to make you a warrior in the battles you face, and make you victorious over everything that come against you. Jesus wants you to raise or elevate Jesus Christ over everything that rises up against you. He is your defender, your protector, your shield, your covering, your refuge, and He is your help in times of trouble. God does not want you to take matters into your own hands, and try and figure out how you can win your battles. God will take care of all that concerns you. Raising the banner of Jesus Christ means not reacting when the trials come, but instead calling on the assistance of Jesus; and remaining still to watch for His help to come.

The just live by faith not by sight. Habakkuk 2:4. We have to believe that God will triumph over our enemies and the trials of life, even if we cannot see it in the physical sense. Our faith must arise and we must believe that even though a situation looks bleak and hopeless, that God will prevail over it. Speak life, faith, and hope over all your trials and battles that surround you. Believe God is bigger over every situation that arises in your life to defeat you. It is not God’s will for you to be defeated in your battles, but instead come out as a solider in Christ’s army, and to triumph over your adversaries. This can only be done by placing God over the things that overwhelm and overcome you, saying, “God, I believe you will work this out for my good because I do love you (Romans 8:28), I don’t know how, but I know you will cause good to come from this suffering.” When struggles come, watch what you are speaking out, and instead begin praising God for His protection, deliverance, help, and protection. Do not speak out defeat or what you see, but praise God for His shelter, defense, and shield.

You are my help and my deliver; Do not delay, O my God, Psalm 41:17

The Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah Nissi- THE LORD OUR BANNER

The scriptures teaches us that as God’s people we are to RAISE HIGH THE LORD JESUS AS OUR BANNER for all men to see! We do this by the words we speak and the life we live.

In Exodus 17, after a battle God instructs Moses to record the battle and to build an altar. Moses called it “THE LORD IS MY BANNER.” Moses wanted Israel to know that is was not by his power, his own arms that they fell into victory, but it was God who raised THE BANNER OF PROTECTION, PRESENCE AND AID that brought victory.

A PRAYER FOR VICTORY IN BATTLE, Psalm 20:1-6

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;

May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

May He send you help from the sanctuary,

And strengthen you out of Zion;

May He remember ALL your offerings,

And accept your burnt sacrifice.

May He grant you according to YOUR HEART”S DESIRE,

AND FULFILL ALL YOUR PURPOSES,

We will rejoice in your salvation,

And in the name of our God WE WILL SET UP OUR BANNERS! May the Lord FULFILL ALL YOUR PETITIONS.