Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner:

In God’s Presence There is Peace, Safety, Guidance, Joy, and Love.

  

Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, lacking in peace and joy, frustrated or even worried? Are you involved in various church activities, functions and attendance but don’t feel refreshed? Maybe it’s time to step away from the busyness of life and step into His presence. People may not understand, and they may try and sway you to do things. There is refreshment and restoration in His presence. Sometimes we need to say “No” to things and people, even if they are good things. Life will keep you busy.

You should get into a quiet place and get rid of all distractions like electronic devices.

If we stay so busy we can have trouble hearing from God and what He wants for us. We can become easily distracted and lose focus. Our strength comes from the Lord. If we feel weak and worn-out, we may need to step away and go to the throne.

When you come into His presence He will lighten your load, and will speak truth about your situations. There is no other place to “fill up” like this. We try and bring comfort to ourselves with food, TV, staying busy with activities, electronics, and for some it can be sex, alcohol, and drugs. But there is no replacement for God’s Holy presence.

What can you do in His presence?

You can sing and worship with praise music.

You can read the Bible and selected scriptures to meditate on.

Be sill and listen for His voice.

Cry, rejoice, and talk to God as if He is your best friend.

Journal what God speaks or impresses to you.

There is no formula to being in His presence. You can do a mixture of things or just one thing, and each time you spend with God can be different. Don’t be set on spending time with God in a certain way. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to what He wants you to do.

Anyone need refreshment, restoration, and guidance? If yes, plug into the source, the presence of the Holy Spirit. After being in His presence you will feel refreshed and renewed and in His presence there is no fear, worry, anxiety, stress, and frustration. Step away, carve out time, and say, “No” to things/activities that would pull you away from this time. Everyone needs this, not just pastors and leaders but every Christian who is fighting in this spiritual battle needs to be in His presence. Every Christian also needs this for God to direct and guide their steps, plans, and pour out His anointing on what He has called you to do. In His presence you can receive an outpouring of grace, mercy, joy and peace, and every believer needs this.

You will show me the path of life. In your PRESENCE is fullness of joy;

As your right hand are pleasures fovermore.

Psalm 16:11

How to Improve Your Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Health

To begin improving your mental, physical and spiritual health start by making some realistic goals, and begin implementing small steps towards these goals.

The most important goal you can make is taking care of your spirit. Make goals towards spending daily, intimate time with God. Let all that distracts you and deters you from this time be put aside. Allow at least 30 minutes per day of quiet time with the Lord. Start a Bible study to aid in your spiritual growth, and if you are married make a goal to pray together daily and have a Bible study that you can do together. Do whatever the Lord leads you to do, but do something that will feed your spirit and cause you to mature spirituality. This may look different for other people. That is okay, do what will cause you to grow and mature. If you need spiritual healing in this season, then take some time where you pull back from ministry positions and leadership roles, and allow God to “pour back into you,” and restore your soul. If your “cup is empty” you cannot effectively help anyone. There is a season to be on front-line ministry and a season to allow God to pour back into your cup. You may need to be refilled in this season. Go before God and ask Him, “What season am I in?” This may not be the time that you are serving full-force, but a time that God is going to bring refreshment into your dry places.

 Take care of your spirit first, and everything else will come easier.

Next take care of your mental and emotional health. Start by saying, “No,” more often. Do things just for fun and pure enjoyment. Listen to your favorite music, read, garden, or paint. Try and spend at least 10 minutes outside in the sun. Set boundaries and limits with other people and on your time. Limit your time with negative and draining people. Set a guard on what causes you stress, and limit what stresses you as much as possible. Do not allow other people’s problems to become your problems! Do not carry the burdens and responsibility of other people. Cut out all unnecessary things in your life, make priorities.

Finally, take care of your physical body. Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Eat balanced meals with daily fresh fruit and vegetables. Stay away from fried foods and sweets as much as possible. If you do not exercise, start walking at least 3x per week. Take a multi-vitamin and B vitamin daily.  Drink plenty of water and drink green tea daily. Take warm baths to relieve tired muscles and to relax you.

The mind, body and spirit are connected so, implement goals to improve not just your physical health but your mental and spiritual health as well. 

Step away and come into His presence

In His presence there is peace, safety, guidance, joy, and love.

  

Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, lacking in peace and joy, frustrated or even worried? Are you involved in various church activities, functions and attendance but don’t feel refreshed? Maybe it’s time to step away from the busyness of life and step into His presence. People may not understand, and they may try and sway you to do things. There is refreshment and restoration in His presence. Sometimes we need to say “No” to things and people, even if they are good things. Life will keep you busy. You should get into a quiet place and get rid of all distractions like electronic devices.

If we stay so busy we can have trouble hearing from God and what He wants for us. We can become easily distracted and lose focus. Our strength comes from the Lord. If we feel weak and worn-out, we may need to step away and go to the throne.

When you come into His presence He will lighten your load, and will speak truth about your situations. There is no other place to “fill up” like this. We try and bring comfort to ourselves with food, TV, staying busy with activities, electronics, and for some it can be sex, alcohol, and drugs. But there is no replacement for God’s Holy presence.

What can you do in His presence?

You can sing and worship with praise music.

You can read the Bible and selected scriptures to meditate on.

Be sill and listen for His voice.

Cry, rejoice, and talk to God as if He is your best friend.

Journal what God speaks or impresses to you.

There is no formula to being in His presence. You can do a mixture of things or just one thing, and each time you spend with God can be different. Don’t be set on spending time with God in a certain way. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to what He wants you to do.

Anyone need refreshment, restoration, and guidance? If yes, plug into the source, the presence of the Holy Spirit. After being in His presence you will feel refreshed and renewed and in His presence there is no fear, worry, anxiety, stress, and frustration. Step away, carve out time, and say, “No” to things/activities that would pull you away from this time. Everyone needs this, not just pastors and leaders but every Christian who is fighting in this spiritual battle needs to be in His presence. Every Christian also needs this for God to direct and guide their steps, plans, and pour out His anointing on what He has called you to do. In His presence you can receive an outpouring of grace, mercy, joy and peace, and every believer needs this.

You will show me the path of life. In your PRESENCE is fullness of joy;

As your right hand are pleasures fovermore.

Psalm 16:11

Additional resources from author:

Online Christian Counseling: www.gospelguidance.com/advisors/5311-sreck

Book publication on negative thinking, Wilderness Mentality, Stop your Stinkin’ Thinkin’. Can be found @ www.createspace.com/4036785

You Tube Videos on Hope & Encouragement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOEcx8uKfKE