Freedom From Bad Memories

We've become adept at suppressing distressing and painful chips and chunks of memories. At the time when bad things happened to us or when we did something bad to others, we were not able to process it, so we buried it and hid from it. This is often the source of an unhealthy mental state.

 

Hurtful memories cannot be laid to rest as long as they are suppressed. Offending persons cannot be forgiven as long as the thoughts of them are suppressed. We can't forgive ourselves until we face our offenses. The results of trauma cannot be converted through healing and deliverance as long as they are suppressed.

God shows us how to get free of the debilitating effects of these hidden facts. When the Holy Spirit allows a memory to surface, it's usually at the most unexpected time. It's often something that you think would be long forgotten and in which you are surprised that it has come back to memory. It was always there and we are adept at fooling ourselves that anything that we are not conscious of doesn't matter.

Don't ignore the pop-up memories that God allows to plague you. Face the feelings that they unearth. God often asks us to relive painful memories so that we can endure them in a new state of mind that can go through and overcome them. No, it's not fun and it doesn't feel good but if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. All things have become new. (11 Corinthians 5:17) Painful memories can only be crucified by facing the origin of them.

 

I am on that journey of deliverance. Bad memories, the ones that we were able to bury deep inside, are like gray shadows behind a thick, gauzy, misty curtain. Something is there but consciously we don't know what it is. Despite that, it effects our personality and our daily life.

 

We would never open the curtains to see the trauma that doesn't exist but God is able. Our Father, in his loving kindness and mercy, would never force us to face something that would cripple or destroy us any more than it already has. We usually don't know but God knows when we are strong enough. 

You might say, Well, it sounds like I would have to relive the bad experience in my mind and emotions. Yes, you would to a certain extent. Experiencing some parts of traumas with a strengthened, spirit-filled heart again lays them to rest. God decides what we are to revisit in our emotions and to what extent. We feel these old but potent, living emotions with a reborn mind and heart, abilities we did not have back then.

 

As we grow in Christ we become more able to handle difficult circumstances. We were not able to handle what was happening before, especially in childhood. Because of that, the secret memories keep hurting us today.  The whole point is that we can't go back and change things but Our Loving Father will help us come to terms with the bad memories from traumatic experiences.

Allow God to take you through the healing process and purge you of bad memories because of past offenses. You don't have to keep hurting and suffering through things that you did or didn't do, or things that someone did to you or didn't do for you. Even though you are lost about it all, you are not alone.

 

Stand firm on your daily prayer life and determine to have faith in your daily Bible reading, because you know that the Word of God converts. It's the Living Word and no word goes out of the mouth of God without effect. All of God's words accomplish what he intends for them to. His words in you are life, healing and health. 

When he begins to lift that curtain on your memory, go with God. Our Heavenly Father himself will hold you with the right hand of his righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10) He does care. He will guide you on how to be delivered. Whether it is in private between you and God, whether he leads you to a good Christian counselor, whether he prompts you to join a support group or whether it is a combination of these and other things, he will lead and guide you into all truth. (John 16:13)

 

You might say, Well, I could never talk about my bad memories with anyone. Well, God knows that and he understands. You may not have to. Don't be afraid. He's ready and willing to help you on your own level, from where you're at in this challenge. He won't force you to do anything. He never does. He's kind and considerate and will always work with you. He wants you to be free.

 

Knowing God is supposed to make a difference in our lives. If we allow him to, he will deliver us from the evil of past traumatic memories, no matter what they are or how they came about. God does not want you to keep carrying that burden or burdens. Don't turn away anymore when he shows you a past memory. Trust him, draw nigh to him, obey him and get freed.

***************************

Stop bad memories from popping up, Stop bad memories, Eliminate bad memories

No Doubt Jesus Is Alive!

 

Honoring Jesus Christ Of Nazareth Today

For He Is Most Certainly Alive

Happy Easter from Draw Nigh To Hope

  He Arose & He Is Without A Doubt Alive!

God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die for us.

Happy Easter!

This is the day that Jesus arose!

We celebrate his obedience to the Father

and love for us!

 

He was obedient to the cross.
He was separated from his Father for a period in time,
all for our salvation.

We remember his selfless act
and how he submitted,

because his Father
asked him to.

It was all for us. 
For God so loved us 
that he sacrificed His Only Son,
so that whoever believes on Him
should have everlasting life.

I hope your Easter

is full of joy and peace
that will carry throughout the

rest of your life here on this earth.

Remembering Jesus' Palm Sunday Journey

Happy Palm Sunday!

Happy Palm Sunday!

We remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

We remember that today represents the day that Jesus Christ of Nazareth made his humble but triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Jesus on the donkey is a beloved Christian icon.

He rode upon a donkey as he made his journey in.

I wonder what led to him sitting on that donkey.

Did he allow the throngs of people to put him on the donkey because that is how they wanted to honor him?

Was he simply weary from a long, hot, dusty journey and in danger of collapsing? Whatever the reason, Jesus on the donkey is one of the many revered icons of Christianity. It symbols victory!

Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Christian icons in themselves don't possess any power and we don't idolize them. Like the Cross, they are beloved touch-points for our great love for our Savior and all that he stands for.

We honor Jesus' obedience.

Today we remember with joy that Jesus was obedient to the Father. He was strengthened and determined as he journeyed towards that inevitable suffering that we remember with sorrowful joy.

Jesus Christ gave his life for our salvation.

 We thank you, Dear Lord Jesus, for your obedience.

Help us to be obedient always to Our Father God.

Image Credits Starting At The Top:

1) 123RF.com

2) PicSunday.com

3) St Paul's United Methodist Church

4) Pinterest.com

5) SPWOC.com

6) 101Greetings.com

Tithing With Wisdom & Faith

Are you tithing out of desperate need?

I believe giving 10% of all funds that we receive is a good point from which to start tithing. We can always give more or less. Additional offerings can also be given. I don't believe that tithing should be done if a Christian has only enough money or less to pay the bills. To be faithful, some Christians give part of their bill money in tithes, believing for an immediate return from God. When God does not make it up by bill time, the person is in a worse situation than before.  Oftentimes, they have given into ministries where the ministers and staff are doing much better economically than they are.

 

I am not begrudging ministers for prospering. The Bible teaches that we should not muzzle the mouth of the oxen. (I Corinthians 9:9) I am asking you to examine your faith if you've been struggling to tithe or give because you observe the recipients prospering, but you do not do any better financially.

I know many Christians believe that in order for our financial status to grow we have to give out of our lack. They often use the widow's mite Biblical story as an example. (Luke 21:1-4) I agree to a certain extent. I like tithing and giving into God's work. I think, however, that people who are struggling financially are often coerced to give and they do it because they need an immediate return. Their intention is sincere, but they can't afford to give and wait on a return that may not come until who knows when. It may come tomorrow but often it does not.

 

If a Christian has a spouse and family and is tithing and giving significant portions of their finances away when they are barely making ends meet, it is poor money management. If God instructs a person to do it though, he/she should follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. The question is whether or not the Spirit is truly leading. We all make decisions and choose to believe that God is leading us when he is not. He did not put us into the situation and it was never his desire for us to suffer like we did. We were misguided in our desire to be faithful.

Is your tithing equal to poor money management?

More people than ever are in precarious financial situations today and our economy has been crippled for some time. Tithing and giving should be tailored to each individual who desires to do it. I do believe that the widow's mite example can inspire faith in a clear mind and a pure heart. I once gave 5 cents in offering, all that I had but I was not thinking about that Bible story.

 

I was visiting a cramped, bedraggled, storefront church and felt the desire to give it, but then drew back in my spirit. It was all that I had and I was putting a penny a day into the Lion's Club bubblegum machine to get 3 little square pieces of gum. This was my daily encouragement as I went to the library to use the computer to search for work. If I gave these 5 pennies, I wouldn't have that little bubblegum encouragement anymore.

 

For some reason, my desire to give was stronger so I placed the coppers into the offering basket. The youth who was helping gawked at my 5 pennies and my face felt hot with shame and embarrassment at my paltry offering. If it had been an adult who gawked, I would not have cared. It was something about that youth  not understanding that made me feel like I was being a poor example. I so wanted to explain to him but I just dropped my head in humbleness.

Are you tithing because you need an immediate return?

The next day a stranger with a black dog that I met gave me $50 for no reason other than that we started talking in the park. I only needed $6 to get where I needed to go, but had not even thought about that impending trip when I gave the pennies the day before. I gave all that I had, like the widow did. Note that my return was 1000 times what I gave. Wasn't that magnificent! The 5 pennies could not pay any bills and I had no dependents so I did not hurt anything or anyone by giving all that I had. It was a personal sacrifice that God honored.

 

The return was swift, coming the very next day! It was showered on me, pressed down, shaken together and running over. I have given up 15 pieces of gum and I was then able to buy all of the Chiclets that I wanted and more. I was so grateful that I made that $50 last me for weeks. Most importantly, I was able to travel to where I needed to go so that I could accept help to begin rebuilding my life. It was weeks before I connected my church donation with that astounding blessing.

If you want to tithe but you are struggling financially, maybe you should consider this. Pray to God to help you get your finances in order so that you can begin to tithe. If you have dependents and you barely have food, your lights are about to be turned off for the nth time and your rent or mortgage is behind, consider this. If you give a large sum of your funds in tithes, assuming that God will make up the difference by the time the bills are due or by the time dinnertime arrives, you and your family just may suffer more than you already are.

 

Assuming and presumption are types of faith but they don't produce faith-filled results. God wants us to develop and practice good money-management skills. If you take money and give it away, to ministries or to anyone, and your dependents suffer more than they are suffering now, what type of witness for God is that? What type of example would you be to your children, your spouse? How would you be representing the Kingdom of God?

Do you need your tithes to pay off by a certain date?

How can I sacrifice if I don't give what I can't afford to give, you ask? Well, tithing is always a sacrifice whether we are financially sound or not. When we are financially stable, the tithe could be used for something else, so it is a sacrifice to be obedient. A greater sacrifice is when we give above and beyond our tithes, when we occasionally give away money that we were going to use on ourselves. Work with God and get to the point financially where you can tithe regularly, then start to give above that and watch your cup overflow!

Is your tithing equal to gambling?

You do what you feel is best according to your relationship with God. If you feel that you can release some funds, just not 10% at this time, do that. Just remember that to give money for God's work while expecting a needed return by a certain time is unwise. Some may call it give and name it/claim it. Some may call it great faith. It can, on the other hand, be gambling and that is not something that our Heavenly Father wants us to be involved with.

 

He wants us to give from a pure heart. To do that, we have to give not needing an immediate return. The Bible tells us that we will receive when we give but we should give being happy if we never, ever receive a return. It's best to be in a position to kiss the tithes goodbye and forget about them, in Jesus' name. 

God Is Love One Way Or Another

God emits love all of the time.

God is Love. Everything God does is based in love. Sometimes it's hard to phantom, but everything that God allows is based in love. For those who believe, all bad and difficult things can be turned around and used for good to bless us and others. One way or another, even if it's not till after we leave this earth, God's love will win out. His love also triumphs many times in this world.

 

This is not so very easy to believe when we experience and see suffering, especially when we learn of the various ways that children are suffering everyday. Nevertheless, God emits love all of the time. If we were able to trace all of God's feelings, actions and thoughts to their origin, it would always lead back to a holy love that one day we will understand. God loves more than we ever can in our present condition.

We will experience God's love in the way that we think we should.

I learned a little something about who God is by reading the Bible completely through from Genesis to Revelations. Of course, with that being done many, many years ago, the Bible continues to be all new to me as I read and study it everyday. I also have learned a little about God through to the best of my ability being very honest with Him. I regularly ask Him questions and worship Him in spirit and in truth. I tell Him the truth about how I feel, which often is very different from the truth that I know.

I believe with all of my heart that God Is Love, and that one day we will experience His love in the ways that we think we should experience it and in many more ways than we can't imagine. There will be no more pain, no more tears, no more suffering, no more evil. It will be all over. We'll exist with Him, no longer in the ways in which His divine love must manifest in a fallen world, but in a perfect existence.

We will know God's love in a perfect existence.

Let's do all that we can today to accept God's love for what it is in this world as we wait for the perfect New Heaven and New Earth. His love is perfect here in this world but the way that we experience it here is not. We should always ask for a fresh filling of His Spirit each morning so that we can experience some of the truths of His Love everyday, not through our flesh but through the holiness of His Spirit in us. We appreciate him more when we do. Appreciate Him and he'll show you just how much he appreciates you!

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary VI

Answer for sluggish weariness and hopelessness.

I know you feel so sluggish emotionally, so down, so weary, so hopeless. Make yourself get on your knees. Do you go down on your knees to talk to God? If you are in the habit of praying like that first thing every morning, then you know that feeling of reverence that it instills towards Our Heavenly Father.

If you don't do that, then please start. Pick a throw pillow for your prayer pillow so your knees won't hurt. I dedicated one for this and keep it slid under my bed, handy for me to reach under and slide out in an instant.

Thank God now for all that he has done for you when you were not aware of it. Thank him for what he is doing now of which you are not aware. You're speaking to God in faith that he is right now working on your behalf. You're choosing to believe it though you don't feel it and don't have any hope of ever feeling it. You are choosing to believe that God is moving and shifting things on your behalf. You are choosing once again to believe that he is closing some doors and opening others.

Our prayers at this time do not have to be long.

At times like this we must force ourselves to repeat things that we believe about God and his kingdom, no matter how we feel. Our prayers at these times do not have to be long. We may feel bad when we pray these short prayers, almost like our prayers are fake. We may feel like we are not giving God a fair amount of prayer time to ask or believe him for anything.

After all, we've been led to believe that in order for prayers to be authentic they must be long, drawn out and we must be exhausted when we finish. We are reminded of the scriptures where Jesus asked his disciples why they could not tarry with him for one hour. (Matthew 26:40-45) There is a time for long prayers but this is not one of those times.

You are holding on for dear life. Your faith is in jeopardy. A sentence or two or prayer here and there will carry you through to understanding answered prayer. Pressing your body and spirit to do this little bit is a sign that your prayer is not fake but sincere. Take the baby steps that show that you are a devoted person who refuses to give up on God.

Thank God now for all that he has done for you when you were not aware of it.

Don't allow the devil to convince you that it has to be a long prayer or no prayer at all. His intention is to stop you for good. We battle the world, the flesh and the devil. Thank God now for all that he has done for you when you were not aware of it. Thank him for what he is doing now of which you are not aware.

Resist the devil and he has to flee for a season! God's word declares it! (James 4:7) If those two sentences that I've said for you to pray are all that you can say for days, weeks, do it! Fight for your prayer life! Build up your most holy faith and God will faithfully increase it!

When you get stronger, don't forget to ask God for something one time only. If you forget and do it again, that is ok. Our Father understands. Get back on track. From then on, thank him for it whenever you feel the desire to pray about it again. Also remember to always ask for his will to be done too, like one of my readers who said,

I DID need to stop begging for certain things. I actually started praying more for God's will to be done and not for my own desires. I know that's best and once I came to terms with that, I had (have) a whole new outlook on life.

 

Gather Strength Through My 

Tired Of Praying & Weary

Series:

 

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary II

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary III

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary IV

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary V

 

 

 

 

Growing Into God's Lessons

 

God carries and supports us through painful training.

God has taught me, through so many stressful lessons, how to not fly off the handle. When we put our training and growth in God, it is painfully endured but he does carry us on each journey. There is something to the quote no pain, no gain. Just read John 15:2 and tell me if you don't think it means some type of pain to be endured. If you persist in thinking that you are ok without any growth pains, then that is probably why you have not grown up in the Lord very much. What is the pain of growth all about? 

Well, it's emotional pain primarily, the pain of being treated unfairly and not jumping to retaliate, the pain of not being allowed to repay evil for evil, the pain of not giving as good as we get, the pain of not seeking justifiable revenge, the pain of not allowing vengeful thoughts to develop, the pain of not correcting others and demanding from them, the pain of being constrained in thought, word and deed, the pain of not vindicating ourselves, the pain of learning to love our enemies (real and imagined), the pain of learning to bow our knees and pray for those who use us in hateful ways, the pain of waiting on God.

We are rewarded on the other side of painful training.

When we choose to put a challenging situation in his hands first instead of acting upon our initial, vehement response, we grow into the lesson that God intends. We are also rewarded on the other side of the pain because we don't suffer for nothing. When we handle a distressing situation on our own, however, we don't get anything everlasting out of it. As it says, we got our reward, in the flesh, and that's all we'll get out of what we did (Matthew 6:5, 21, I Corinthians 3:12-15). That reward is in our flesh. What else does that kind of unrestrained behavior cause?

As a result, we will most likely go on in life feeling resentful about the situation, recounting it and allowing it to replay over and over in our minds. We may have thought what we wanted to, said what we wanted to and did what we wanted to but we end up defeated. We have nothing of significance about our resolution to offer ourselves or anyone else. Most of all, we end up without any hope of spiritual, heavenly rewards for our fleshly effort. 

We end up defeated and without spiritual rewards when we behave any kind of way.

Many times, when I journeyed through with God to the end of the situation, he showed me that my hurt and/or rage was built up through untrue assumptions anyway. I don't think I would ever have found out had I flown off the handle at the onset of the situation. Even if someone or some entity was guilty of what I thought, because of my additional assumptions, they would not have deserved the ballistics that I would have leveled at them had I operated in my flesh. God gets to the root and leaves no stone unturned. A little assumption, a lot of assumptions, it's all the same to him.

Allowing ourselves to be taught and pruned by God quietly detonates the powder kegs of assumptions. Believe me, when we are obedient to God, often he will supernaturally shift things so that the least damage, to us and to them, will be done while he's teaching us. You'll see his right hand work! He's wonderful!

God will supernaturally shift things for damage control.

We don't have to fly off the handle anymore. We can triumph and have peace through every trying event. We can receive rewards for our obedience and endurance, not only here, but most importantly in Heaven. 

Gratefulness Equals Miracles

 

Raining cats and dogs, what to do...?

There is much to be grateful for, even though there can be trials, challenges, difficulties and struggles. Sometimes we may be so discouraged that we feel like we have to search for things for which to be grateful.

We feel so beaten down by life in this lost and dying world that we just get tired. At those times, we find it hard to be thankful because it may not be just raining. It may be raining cats and dogs and maybe it has been raining for some time. So what is there to do?

Living by faith so choose faith.

We know that we live by faith so we choose to turn once again to the author and the finisher of our faith, the precious Son, Jesus Christ. We choose once again to turn to our Heavenly Father, who through his loving kindnesses and mercies sent his Spirit to comfort us. We once again choose our ever-growing faith and what does our faith require?

Have faith, don't pretend.

Faith does not require that we pretend that the strains are not there. Faith requires that we rise above them by focusing on the things that make us grateful. While the answers and solutions to issues are being prepared by Our Heavenly Father, seeking gratefulness is a worthy effort to make, for it brings the light of His sunshine into sight.  David said, Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all." (Psalm 34:19) 

 
Choosing our faith every time reminds us that there is hope in a Father who will not allow anything to separate us from His love. There is hope in a Savior who will never leave us nor forsake us. There is hope in a Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us into all truth.

Gratefulness = Faith = Hope. Miracles are not far behind.

HAPPY SUNDAY!

 

 

Why Should We Pray Daily?

It's Called Prayer

Did you forget to talk to God this morning? It's also called prayer. It's good to have a formal prayer session with him at the beginning of every day. We are then prepared to successfully tackle whatever should come. We won't be alone and victim to the daily whims of the world, the flesh and the devil.

You don't believe that the devil, Lucifer, Satan exists? That's a whole 'nother can of worms. We need to crack that nasty can open, but at another time. 

We Can Go To God Directly

I talk with God informally throughout the day, not because I have to, but because he's my heavenly Father who loves me. We naturally want to spend time with those whom we love.

Jesus' obedience when he died on the Cross made it possible for us to talk to God directly. We no longer need a priest of God to be a intermediary for us. We can come to God ourselves, without the blood of bulls and goats being sacrificed on our behalf.

 

Grow Closer To God

Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the all-inclusive sacrifice, the final sacrifice. We should take advantage of what his suffering provided for us. We should go to God The Father every morning and often all day long.

Don't just be a saved, stagnant Christian. Draw nigh to God. Grow closer to him and you won't want to miss a day of going to him. You'll be daily accessing the most powerful and valuable asset that we possess!

HAPPY SUNDAY & BLESSINGS TO YOU

What Is My Ministry Or Spiritual Gift?

As A Christian You Are An Important Member Of The Body

When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and explained how the Spirit of God give various gifts and ministries to each Christian, it was not an all-inclusive list. I Corinthians 12:8-10 is an example list. It includes some of the personalities, talents and strengths that each of us may have. It is a short list outlined to help us to appreciate who we are and our own unique abilities as God has blessed us.

Many churches preach this list as the ordained and exact gifts of the Spirit, persuading many to feverishly search for theirs. Some teach that all of us have them in one form or another. This prompts some Christians to adopt one, deceiving themselves and others. Others promote them as motive gifts and say that we have one of them or none at all, leaving many Christians feeling inadequate and deficient.

Paul was ministering in the synagogue and founding what was to become a powerful and vibrant church. In listing possible abilities, he gave a sampling of the various talents that we each are blessed with. The Holy Spirit is not limited to this 9-point list so please don't feel coerced to fit yourself in to validate your relationship with God. There are more gifts, varieties and combinations.

To the question what is my motivation gift, I say get to know yourself. Learn what your  substance is, what motivates you, what activities fulfill you. What are you inclined towards? What do you feel compelled to do? It will be irresistible. Sometimes people will tell you over and over what you excel in. Stop brushing it off. If you find that your inclination is not listed in I Corinthians 12:8-10, please don't despair. That list is just an example.

You still fit in because your unique capacity, whatever it is, is a gift from God. Grow in it through the Holy Spirit who lives in you. God himself will make a place for it where you can thrive and be appreciated. As Paul said, you are, after all, an important member of the body. There are diversities of gifts, ministries and activities.