I’m always amazed when I read the word and see psychological/health principles vividly displayed. Many think the word of God irrelevant, and yet more and more, current brain and psychological studies reveal what the Bible has been saying all along, specifically in this discussion: For happiness and health, we need forgiveness. Internalizing our fears and guilty feelings creates havoc in our minds and bodies.
Let me show you what I mean:
I discussed in the past couple of posts how Ps 32:1-2 points out a way to HAPPINESS, and that is to live in a perpetual state of a clean slate which is only obtained by believing at a deep heart level that God has already forgiven you. It is NOT by trying to always be good! Further, because God holds nothing against you, you need not hold anything back from Him.
Feeling guilty carries with it the fear of punishment, and we do all kinds of things to avoid that… blame-shifting, denial, aggressive attacks.
On the other hand, some people accept all forms of guilt… they feel responsible for everything that happens, take the blame for it all, and subconsicously harbor a belief they deserve punishment, and the circumstances of their lives reflect that. Read any basic Psy 101 course and this dynamic is sure to be examined.
Now venting, blaming others, and punishing others for the guilt we feel inside is not a healthy response. But neither is internalizing it so your body gets bombarded with a steady stream of harmful chemicals triggered by persistent negative thoughts.
Listen what David says in Ps 32:3:
When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long.
Keeping our negative thoughts inside and not dealing with them in a healthy manner affects our minds and bodies in severe ways.
As a former neurotically guilty person, feeling responsible for everyone and everything, here’s what I have learned to do:
Tell God all about it.
I write daily letters to Him and when I need to, I share my deepest, darkest secrets and feelings. I share my screwiest ideas, my stupidest questions, my greatest fears, and silliest offenses.
And guess what? I not only have not been zapped, but also I feel and see His smile.
He’s never forsaken me. He, instead, sticks close to me, enlightens me, clears up my confusion, and reassures me that He loves and yes, even favors me!! I need not grovel because He is the Lifter of my head!
If you don’t have that kind of intimacy with Him… ask Him for it and try it out! He will meet you, if you let Him!
To your good mental, emotional, and physiological health!
Happy is he who has forgiveness continually exercised upon him, who has a perpetual fresh start! You’re slate is wiped clean! God holds nothing against you, and so, you need not hold anything back from Him.?
Did you notice the latter part of that passage? “… so, you need not hold anything back from Him.” (The Message)
Often in my coaching, I guide my clients to check out passages in the word that offer proof of the heart and intention of God. Without understanding more fully the love of God, it’s easy to get thwarted in receiving the desires of their hearts.
I ask about the nature and quality of their relationship with Him to see if they are trying to get to their destination or goal in a boat with no paddles, sail, or motor. Crazy, but that’s most of us!
After we talk about this, invariably it is disclosed, sheepishly, that they rarely sit with the Lord for wisdom, strength, hope, or joy. Why not? They feel guilty.
Somewhere within, they feel God doesn’t really want to see them, or if He does, it’s to scold them.
They barely crack open the word, which is to strengthen their faith, infuse them with power, and settle their hearts. Again, why not? Because they perceive a big bony finger rising up out of the pages and shaking in their faces. Who’d want that?
I know exactly how they feel. Growing up with a highly critical parent, I developed the idea that being right about everything, not wrong, was the way to avoid punishment, ensure my worth as a person, and increase my superiority. To have anyone point out I was wrong about ANYTHING was like taking a hot poker and stabbing an open wound.
Of course, I had an effective way of masking that this bothered me, and so, I’d internalize the criticism, wonder about its truth, and be resentful toward them. A double whammy to my soul.
Examine today if your guilty feelings are keeping you from the True Source of all you need and desire. The answer is NOT to do everything right all the time so that you don’t ever feel guilty and no one can accuse you. You can’t anyway.
The answer is NOT to grovel and do penance each time you want to go to Him. He doesn’t need or want that.
The answer is to accept wholeheartedly the open door to His heart for you. There is nothing that stands in His way, and He doesn’t want anything to stand in yours. You can tell Him anything. Go for it.
Continuing on in my series of “Get Happy!” can we consider
Ps 32: 1 – 2?
Happy is he who has forgiveness continually exercised upon him, who has a perpetual fresh start! You’re slate is wiped clean! God holds nothing against you, and so, you need not hold anything back from him. (combination of the Amplified and Message)
Did you know that this is for you, everyday? Not just when you became a Christian! How we can mess things up in a day!
But one of the first favors God does for us is wipe the slate clean, and in His mind… it stays clean!
One thing I come across CONSISTENTLY as a coach and counselor…. Christians struggle immensely with guilt and shame. Guilt and shame confuse and cloud a mind. There is no way we can effectively move forward in the purposes of God when we are held back by a guilty conscience and a shameful image of ourselves.
I’m not talking about a person who is pathological and feels no guilt or remorse for anything. That is a person who has NO conscience.
I’m talking to the vast majority of Christians, especially women. We sometimes think guilt is the way for us to ensure proper behavior, or keep us in line, and then we pass that on to our kids! This practice opposes God… and thus, can not bring happiness.
I know this is tough… but believe God. He has let you off the hook. Do the same. And be HAPPY!
Can I be candid with you? It’s a little difficult for me to get started this week. The skies just let loose a torrent of rain, casting a dull gray veil on what would otherwise be vibrant greens, purples, and reds. Hmm.. Interesting.
You see, for a while now, I have felt like those vibrant spring colors. I’ve been in an impenetrable bubble of God’s favor. As He and His favor flows through me, around me, and before me, I am like a giddy little kid. I love to see His favor abound.
But as I talk to more and more people about God’s favor, I am confronted with the conundrum that for many favor sounds great, but their struggles are real, their hearts are heavy, and their hope has all but disappeared.
Where is favor then?Can we only experience it when things are going our way?
Well, as I write this, I want to share with you, I am having to answer that question personally.
I recently became aware that a person who matters much to me deceived me, and it hurt. Badly. And it still does. I was reminded of many conversations I’ve had with others who don’t know what to do with such pain.
Where is favor when your heart is broken, when your trust is violated, when you feel so betrayed that you can’t stop crying?
I almost did not write you. How can I encourage you with a Monday morning zing, when I feel so zapped?
Because the truth is, God is good, and He has an answer. Even as I write this, it is coming.
I see there’s only one thing to do: ASK.
“Lord, do you have a word for me? My heart is aching and I’m drawing blanks here.”
Yes, He does …. And here it is:
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so, find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.” (Prov 3:3-4)
Oh yes, refreshment to my soul and music to my ears.
There is a reservoir of mercy and truth within us. Like the colors of spring, they are there, in brilliant display, but the heavy rains can so obscure their vibrancy.
God is now showing me that during times of heaviness and pain, we need mercy for others and ourselves more than ever. We have been forgiven of all wrongs, and so, freedom lies in doing the same for others. I must tap into His mercy.
This is also not the time to forsake, or resist His truth. And what is that when we are in pain?
God loves us, we are special and important to Him, and even in this situation, He has a favorable outcome that He can and WILL work in our hearts and often, in the hearts others.
That is a powerful aspect of His favor!
Though people fail us, we can depend on Him. He is the lover of our souls. With that love He freely gives to us, we can in turn love the ones who hurt us.
As I meditate on this verse, and ask the Lord to deepen it within me, I notice my soul lifting, my hope being restored, and His love consuming me. I am rediscovering this rich deposit of His favor and freedom is flooding my heart.
I can count on a favorable outcome of His design. Oh, happy day!
Say … will you look at that. The sun has come out … the gray is gone… it is glorious. Have a fabulous week!
The richest of blessings to you!
Maryann
Where is favor when your heart is broken?
Good Morning and Happy Monday!
May I be candid with you?
It’s a little difficult for me to get started this week. The skies just let loose a torrent of rain, casting a dull grey veil on what would otherwise be vibrant greens, purples, and reds. Hmm.. Interesting.
You see, for a while now, I have felt like those vibrant spring colors. I’ve been in an impenetrable bubble of God’s favor. As He and His favor flows hrough me, around me, and before me, I am like a giddy little kid. I love to see His favor abound.
But as I talk to more and more people about God’s favor, I am confronted with the conundrum that for many favor sounds great, but their struggles are real, their hearts are heavy, and their hope has all but disappeared. Where is favor then?
Can we only experience it when things are going our way?
Well, as I write this, I want to share with you, I am having to answer that question personally.
I recently became aware that a person who matters much to me deceived me, and it hurt. Badly. And it still does. I felt my heart break into a thousand little pieces, and wondered if it would ever mend and feel whole again.
Where is favor when your heart is broken, when your trust is violated, when you feel so betrayed that you can’t stop crying?
I almost did not write you. How can I encourage you with a Monday morning zing, when I feel so zapped?
Because the truth is, God is good, and He has an answer. Even as I write this, it is coming.
I see there’s only one thing to do. And it’s not to talk about it with a bunch of friends, (though I am thankful to have an understanding husband who is always available when I need him.)
Complaining bitterly to others is no remedy for me, and it only compounds the hurt the more it’s repeated. For me, the only thing to do is seek the Lord, enter His presence, and ask Him for a word, a vision, a thought… anything. He knows what I need at every given moment, especially when I feel overcome with pain.
So, I asked, “Lord, do you have a word for me? My heart is aching and I’m drawing blanks here.” And here it is – an old familiar passage, a perfect verse for me. How faithful is He!
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so, find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.” (Prov 3:3-4)
Oh yes, refreshment to my soul and music to my ears.
I realize once again, that within us, there is a reservoir of mercy and truth. Like the colors of spring, they are there, in brillant display, but the heavy rains can so obscure their vibrancy. God is now showing me that during times of heaviness and pain, we need mercy for others and ourselves more than ever. We have been forgiven of all wrongs, and so, freedom lies in doing the same for others. I must tap into His mercy.
This is also not the time to forsake, or resist His truth. And what is that when we are in pain? God loves us, and even in this situation, He has a favorable outcome that He can and will work in our hearts and often, in the hearts others. That is a powerful aspect of His favor! Though people fail us, we can depend on Him. He is the lover of our souls. With that love He freely gives to us, we can in turn love the one who hurt us.
As I meditate on this verse, and ask the Lord to deepen it within me, I notice my soul lifting, my hope being restored, and His love consuming me. I am rediscovering this rich deposit of His favor, and freedom is flooding my heart.
I can count on a favorable outcome of His design. Oh, happy day!
Say … will you look at that. The sun has come out … the gray is gone… it is glorious. Have a fabulous week!
The richest of blessings to you!
Maryann
Maryann Ehmann
God has always been my Source. It just took me a while to know it and agree with it!
But as I’ve done so, He has transformed my life, and the life of every single family member. From lack to plenty, sickness to health, worry to peace, guilt to freedom, darkness to light…
This is His mission for you, too.
Oh, and yeah… this is a picture of me NOT in jammies!
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Have I Ever Told You….
You’re My Favorite!
The Importance of Feeling Special
God wants you to feel special, and one of the best ways He does it is by giving you His favor!
