our church is doing a sermon series on this book emotionally healthy spirituality. i haven't read it, but our pastor says it's good and he though he doesn't agree with all of the points in the book, he feels that it's really necessary in the church.
i'm totally pumped about it. no not just because i am in the mental health counseling program, but because true freedom only comes through Christ and you can't have freedom unless you know what your bondage is. i have so many bondages that i have worked through and still have so much that the Lord keeps revealing to me. i love how in psalms, david asks God to search his heart... investigate what is there and bring it to light. then and only then will we know what God wants to do with it... healing, comfort, understanding, justice, forgiveness, love...
are we brave enough to ask God to search our hearts, investigate what's in there and reveal it to us? it's painful let me tell you. some of the things that i have to work through, i just wanted to deny that it really happened... but God in His goodness showed me that those things were causing me to be stuck and not be able to move forward in life, most importantly with Him. so tonight, it's really late let me add, but A is out at a sleepover and i hit the town with a friend, just got home and wanted to put my thoughts down before i go to bed... so tonight... i want to challenge whoever reads this, if anyone does read this, to be brave and ask God to search are hearts... ask Him what's blocking you from being ever more like Him... what are those bondages... lies, abuse, manipulation, cheating, adultery, addictions, pornography, parent walking out on you, ... or the subtle ones that you wouldn't think would be a problem, it's just part of life, but is there, like people picking on you, calling you names, never asking you to be part of a team... whatever hinders you to draw closer to God, in my opinion, is a bondage... what are those things in your life? don't you want to lay those at the feet of Jesus and just say, "Jesus bring truth and healing into these lies...."
these are just some thoughts that i have tonight as i go to bed. let's find true freedom in Christ. don't think it'll be smooth sailing... sometimes that hurts!! actually most times, but it'll be good! promise!!!
