Produced by the Pastoral Counselling department
We sow not to eat today, but to eat tomorrow. Psalms 126:5-6 those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go and plant their seed, but sing as they return with the harvest.
Tears are a safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid upon it. To cry is to release all sorts of ugly little pressures. You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalms 56:8 NLT
Because we think we are going to live forever we procrastinate on life's important tasks.
Anxiety can be the cause of coveting something badly. We need to focus more on wanting God before anything else.
When we look back on life we can see clearer that many worries were unnecessary.
Psychological research on memory show that you reconstruct memories slightly differently every time you recall them. Lamentations 3:19 (MSG) I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed
Trapped in the cycle of harmful coping mechanisms? God is that safe person who can help you break the silence, and break the cycle.
Your mind my not remember past trauma, but your body keeps score! Job11:16 You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.
Viewing your trauma incident repeatedly helps to reduce feelings of fear, horror and anxiety it also decreases hyper vigilance and flashbacks. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety in him for he cares for you.
Flashbacks are like having nightmares while you awake. Flashbacks come in waves, so if you can't stop the wave learn how to surf. Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
People, places, thoughts, smells and sounds, basically anything that reminds you of your trauma, can trigger the same anxiety in you as when you experienced the traumatic event. Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me
With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) the anxiety of the past continues to interrupt the present. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Gaslighting, it as form of psychological manipulation in which someone sows seeds of doubt in your mind, making you question their own memory, perception, or judgement. Romans 16:18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world
Life begins when you acknowledge that life is filled with good and bad, happy and sad, simple and complex, anger and calm, joy and melancholy; yet lives peacefully amidst these paradoxes. Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore
Surrendering your life to God is an act of admitting that you have been defeated and want to stop fighting. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
What does it mean to be an immovable force? It means if you build a wall of kindness no storm in this life should change you into someone unkind. Psalms 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength,always ready to help in times of trouble.So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Don't let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game. Mathew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
I want to be left alone, but then I feel so lonely. Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
psychology suggests that distancing yourself from a painful experience may help you make better decisions. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever
What if everything you are going through is preparing you for what you ask for? Ephesians 1:11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan
Most people believe that they will be happier once they get what they desire. Matthew 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul
Don't allow fear to shut you down, let it wake you up! Psalms 18:29 In your strength I can crush an army, with my God I can scale a wall.
Being rested is vital to happiness in life. A person who is constantly tired misses out on important opportunities. There are many reasons why a person may wake up tired but dehydration is probably the most surprising and common reasons that people feel tired. Jeremaiah 31:26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
When planted in the right soil, given water sunlight and protection a plant that seems almost dead can be brought back to life. How much more those who are part of Gods vineyard be brought back to life if the circumstances of life has killed you on the inside. Psalms 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me
Imagine a person that can motivate you, show loving care, offer a song, poem or verse of encouragement, listen attentively, offer an embrace, and feed your soul with advice. All at the right time, I'm the right amount and in the way that will truly help you. Such a person does not exist, and we often discard valuable relationships because of unrealistic expectations. There is only one person that is like this. Psalm 35:10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?
James the brother of Jesus called Job A MAN OF GREAT ENDURANCE. Endurance is the ability to go through wear and tear and still complete the task at hand, to fight through your issues no matter how hopeless they may look. James 5:11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
Self-denial prepares a person to bear with the hardships and toils of life. Some people are always striving for MORE. This can be exhausting, It is better to endure cheerfully every inconvenience and apparent lack than to loose your peace and happiness because of a desire for MORE. Sometimes you got to tell yourself: “its ok if I do not get it.” Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said: The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation. It is God alone that can save us from this life of misery, pain and sickness caused by sin. And with certainty I can say HE will come and save you oh weary one. Isaiah 34:4 Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you
Havent you ever wished you could just “sit down and rest” from all your problems. All the worries, fears, anxieties, pain, heart ache, to just sit down and rest from them all. If Jesus can set a demon possessed person free and allow him rest at His feet, he can do the same for you. Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind:
Most of us experience a mundane, boring, recurring cycle of work day in and out. This destroys the joy and hope of present day living . however when we include prayer and the Sabbaths rest into that life cycle it brings pieces of the beauty of Gods kingdom and the sacredness of eternity into every day life. It enables you to experience sacredness right now in the midst of an ordinary life. Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save...
The ever exhausting chasing after the standards of the world will leave you feeling mentally and emotionally worn out. It destroys your inner being, your inner person, you loose your soul The continual pursuit of earthly standards will wear out your strength and sap your life from you. Matthew 16:26 ESV For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Admitting your brokenness is better than pretending you are whole. “When you come clean about your brokenness, others catch glimpses of how the real grace of a real God works in the messy life of a real person.” - Jason Gray. VERSE: Psalm38:8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.
Psychology teaches that the ability to correctly asses what we feel on the inside is called introception People who are good at introception have shown to have less mental health problems. Psalms 84:2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
The disciples were weary, but they were so glad to be once more in the presence of their Lord that they forgot their weariness. Remembering the joy of being in Gods presence makes you forget the weariness of everyday problems. Isaiah 46:9 “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me
Pain has a strange way of giving us tunnel vision. Why did this happen to me we ask? Well that is just it... THIS is only one thing in the scope of life. So this ONE thing went wrong, what about ALL the other things in your life that has gone right? Mathew 6:25 Is not your life not more than food? And your body more than clothes?
The greatest mask we wear, is the mask of “I am ok”. We pretend to be doing well. How will you call on the Lord to help us if you keep pretending everything ok, keep pretending difficulties don't exist. Psalm 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Are you waiting for a a breakthrough in your life that seems as if it's not coming. Be patient, tolerate delay, long-lasting problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
So while you cannot always run away from or change difficult times. You can rise above them in our thoughts and emotions. Colossians 3:2-3 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Jesus had a few vision statements foe his life which kept him on track regarding his actions. What is keeping you on track? What helps you decide if you will do something or not do it? Matthew 20:28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many
Somedays you may feels like highway 401. Bombarded with half a million different kind of outward stimuli that directly effect your inward wellbeing and peace .. and it seems to never end like a 828 km highway. Psalms 116:7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you
Be daily keeping so close to God, by beholding Him every minute. In every unexpected trial your thoughts will naturally turn to Him, as naturally as the flower turns to the sun. Proverbs 3:25-26 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared
What makes you act on your inspirational ideas? Ever noticed some ideas you follow through into fruition others not? What makes the difference? Why do you sometimes strike while the iron is hot and other times not Because maybe you don't really, really, really, really want it… Luke1.37 For nothing will be impossible with God
Your greatest ability as a human is the capacity to improve who you are. Its an ability you have above the animals. A dog cant be anything but a dog. A tree cant be anything but a tree, but as a human being you have unlimited potential. You can put effort into you, and by concentrating and developing yourself with Gods help, you can transform your life and be anything. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Jesus only lived 33 years, and it ended on the cross, an apparent failure. Yet he said in John 17:4 I have finished the work thou gavest me to do. Living a life of quality is more precious than a long life. It doesn't matter wether you live another year, or two years or five years. What matters is how you spend those days. James 4:14 What is your life it is but a vapor that appeareth for a little while and then vanishes away
When an enemy cant gain entry into your soul temple, they tend to engage psychological warfare while standing on the outside they may insult, curse and even threaten your life. This is a weak attempt to destroy you on the inside psychologically because they don't have any real access. 2 Chronicles 32:7 be strong be courages, don't be afraid or discouraged because of the king if Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side.
Healing your soul temple starts with fixing the broken down doors. Doors are there to keep what belongs outside outside, and what belongs inside safe. Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Remember most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. If you asking “How long should you try?” The answer is. . . Until. 1 corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. .
Hope in the Christian tradition is hope because of a new state of being. Hope in the fact that you are not who you use to be. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new
If your soul, inward person (your little bob) is tired, dirty, hungry, thirsty, toxic, diseased, hurt, out breath, worn out and ready collapse Gods message to you is: Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Making the conscious choice to let go of bad habits and addictions is only the first step to achieving mental health. Its going to take focus and dedication to Gods ways to stay on track, but be encouraged God will strengthen you. 2 Chronicles 16:9 the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committee to him.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
