20 Types of Thoughts That Indicate a Need for Inner Healing

Are any of these thoughts showing up in your mind lately?

1. Why am I still experiencing panic attacks and anxiety? I have committed myself to God...

2. Why is it that the promises of Scripture don’t seem to apply to me?

3. Why does my life hurt, and why can’t I seem to hear God in the midst of it?

4. Why does it feel like my prayers are just hitting the ceiling?

5. Do I not have enough faith because I have a mental health diagnosis?

6. Is God is disappointed in me, even though He loves me?

7. Why don’t I feel the peace God promises when I love Him so passionately?

8. How come I still seem to have trouble in my relationships even though I have put my difficult past behind me?

9. My abuse was so severe, and I am told to “forgive and forget”.  How can I do that?  And, if the truth be told, I don’t want to do that!

10. What does it really mean, to forgive?

11. I am angry, does that mean I haven’t forgiven?

12. What does it mean to be created in God’s image?

13. If God is the source of unconditional love, why can I not read the Bible with anything but judgment and condemnation?

14. I can't get rid of these "Negative" feelings! (anger, sadness, feeling rejected, low self-worth, depression, anxiety, worry, suicidal thinking, etc.)

15.  Where are these strange intrusive thoughts coming from?

16.  God must be mad at me; no matter how much I pray or get prayed for, I still cannot _______.   (you fill in the blank)

17. Why do I have the same recurring dreams/nightmares?

18.  Prayer just doesn't work for me; I never feel like anything changes.

19.  Is my depression really just a lack of faith?

20.  If I'm not perfect, or my family isn't perfect, people (and God) will be disappointed in me.

Some people call these types of thoughts dysfunctional, some call them the lies we believe, some call them, somewhat hopelessly, 'This is just the way I am'.  No matter what you call them, know that you are NOT alone!  Everyone has had these thoughts - if you know they are causing you inner turmoil, this is the time to do some probing into where they are coming from...


These thoughts are common among God's people, whether they are still struggling within the church, or have given up seeking answers within the context of a spiritual community.  Perhaps there is trauma or abuse in their past.  Perhaps they grew up in a family that was in the throes of addiction.  Perhaps they simple had a sensitive heart, a child's perception of life, and no one noticed a heart receding and cloaking itself to avoid emotional pain.  


These thoughts reflect places in the soul that don't fully comprehend the truth of God, His all encompassing, unconditional love, His embracing of us in the midst of flaws as well as so called strengths.  There is nothing hidden before His eyes, and He desires to lead us into a complete understanding of His ways.  

These thoughts can be changed!  The foundational premise of all inner healing is that "God desires truth in the inward parts:

 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
 And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

                 Psalm 51:6

What a beautiful promise!  He will make me know His wisdom in my hidden parts - those parts/thoughts that don't know His ways yet, where these thoughts flow from!  He is already at work, but He waits for us to join Him in order that we can learn and apply the wisdom He is imparting...

And learning how to join with Him, to discern His wisdom and truth as well as the faulty beliefs driving those troubling thoughts, is what this blog is all about. 

And if you want to check out some "next steps" you can find some helpful prompts at my "Paths of Healing" tab in the navigation bar!  Or just click here...

God Will Rewrite Our Story...Plus 5-Steps to Healing Hurt HeARTs Prompt

Each one of us has a story...

Every day we are "writing" that story in the way we live our lives.

Some days we do better writing than on other days...

Unlike an author that writes with pen and ink, or even types, we cannot throw what we have written away...or what someone else has pushed in and written what they willed on our story

Over the course of time, our skills improve.  
We meet people who help us along the way.
People become a part of our story whether we invite them into it or not.
Challenges, joys, griefs, fellowship, laughter, dancing, births and deaths;
mistakes and successes; transformations and inspirations....

All are transcribed on the pages of our lives...


The good parts; the painful parts; the parts we regret eventually...


Everything is there - nothing can be thrown away or erased...


But there is another Author.  The One who has written upon all of history.  

When we submit our "manuscript" to Him, and let His careful eye read;
He doesn't erase.  He doesn't reject.  He doesn't throw away.

2 Corinthians 3:3

He rewrites.  He writes over the places that need help.  He writes over the pain and mistakes and regret and doesn't remove their fact...


By His writing, He redeems our story. 


Nothing is removed - it is reframed and written by the Author's hand to reflect what He knows is true.
And as He writes, a miracle occurs...

We begin to see as He does, and we begin to co-author our stories with His...
Just as in any good story, there is a beginning, a climax, and then the end...
Between the beginning and the end, there must be a conflict...


Healing Art/Healing Journaling Prompt
 
 (Please read through the entire entry before you begin.  This will give you a better experience as you will know what to expect as opposed to 'just winging it'!)

In my last post I shared a spontaneous journaling piece I had done that morning. As I was writing that blog entry, I remembered this technique I had tried several years ago, journaling on top of journaling to make interesting marks on art...I don't believe I ever published anything with it, as I was still practicing - I still like the look of it - and the idea of "abstract journaling" comes to mind...

The "look" is abstract; or modernistic if you prefer - but it isn't random.  In putting new writing on top of the old, we are becoming co-authors with God, rewriting our past with His promises and truth - His words coupled with the act of writing will help cement His promises in our hearts (not to mention that you will end up with something that looks very contemporary to use in your art, or just keep in your journal.)1

Supplies:

Prepared art journaling page or plain journal - even just a sheet of paper of choice
writing tool
a Bible

Step 1:

Prepare to write.  Close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly three times.  Still your mind.  Ask the Lord for His Presence and guidance for this prompt.  Pay attention to what comes up in your mind:  is it an image; words; an emotion felt even in the body?  Jot down 3 - 5 words that will help to remind you of what came up at the top of the paper or journal you have with you.

 Step 2:

Using free writing (quickly writing the stream of thoughts and ideas flowing through your mind without regard to proper grammar or punctuation), write the words that come to you concerning the topic found in Step 1.  You might want to set a timer for around 5 minutes for this portion, so you don't get bogged down in possible negative thoughts or memories.  This is just a suggestion, not a hard, fast rule!  Remember that healing art is supposed to be fun!

Once written, do you need to step away for a few minutes to ground yourself or regroup?  You can drink a cup of tea or coffee, take a short walk, move around for the duration of a favorite song or two.  These activities help to get you "out of your head" and into the present.

Consider if you want to do the next part of this exercise now or wait a while or even wait till tomorrow.  Any decision is perfect for you - and waiting may give you more time to 'hear God' for His promises and purposes and healing words for what you have written.  You may want to take time to search the Scriptures for specific verses that apply to what you have written (trusting that the Holy Spirit will "illuminate" the one's He specifically is leading you towards)

Step 3:

Return to your journal entry and begin to write over the top of your previous writing any words, promises, quotes, verses, etc.  that you believe the Lord is saying to you about the topic.  You can write in any direction!  For my piece, I turned my original journaling upside down and then wrote over the top of it.  I got some nice upstrokes and downstrokes over the course of my page using this method.  Write as much as you like.  If you run out of new words to cover your original writing, just begin to repeat until all of your original entry is covered.  Or, if you have more new words than old, you can stop when the old is covered OR begin a third layer of writing!  Fun!  And the Lord may speak something to your heart about these layers covering your original!



Step 4:

Add extra embellishments if you like.  I noticed swishes and dots (from dotting my "i's" and "js", and I had space to add embellishments and liked the way it turned out.  (Plus, it gave me some additional practice with my dip pen!)






Step 5:

You might want to do a little reflective journaling about what you learned through the process.  Consider documenting the words, scripture, quotes and promises that you used in your overwriting to keep them as a legible way to remember what God has written over your heart!


Need some ideas for God's promises?

Check these links:

Promises that speak to fear and anxiety 
Promises that speak to worrying 
Promises that speak of God's love for you 
Promises that speak to times you feel overwhelmed 
Promises that speak of God's compassion and mercy 
Promises that speak of His constant presence 
Romans 8 is a tremendous chapter of the blessings we have because we are God's children.
And finally, a list of "I am" through the promises of God verses (also known as our identity in Christ) 
 
Blessings!
Cindy

A King is Coming!

The following was sent in the monthly newsletter from Paul Wilbur ministries.

It is so good!  Encouraging!  I had to share!

"So what about the blood moon tetrad, the schmitah, the solar eclipse, the Jubilee, all happening in the month of September this year? The massive U.S. Military movements, the Iran deal, the Supreme Court decision on marriage, gay rights, abortion limits removed, Christians being slaughtered in the Middle East, policemen murdered in their cars and on the streets, wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, fire...what are we to think? Is this all a sign of coming judgement, do we build bunkers and store up food and water expecting the worse? I have a simple answer for you...

A KING IS COMING! 

"This has become my battle cry and the unseen reason for so much of the unusual events that are taking place, and will continue until the day we hear the Angel of the Lord and the shofar of Heaven sound. 

Be prayerful, 

watch and pray, 

look up, 

do what you are told (by the King), 

keep your lamp full of fresh oil, 

trim the wick, 

let your light shine, 

be salty, 

be instant in and out of season, 

stay in the Word of God, 

remain in Him...

Yeshua warned that a time would come when the love of MOST would grow cold (Matt.24). These things must all take place, and then the end will come. Remember, He chose you, you didn't choose Him.  

And He chose you for such a time as this, 

which says to me He knew you could handle it, 

and you would remain faithful to the end. 

So let's honor our Father and finish strong, finish well, be somebody's hero, and receive the reward that is laid up for you."

words by Paul Wilbur, emphasis mine

You can sign up to receive his newsletters here:  https://www.wilburministries.com/

7 Things Parents Need To Navigate the Teen Years {and 7 Promises God Makes to Meet Those Needs}

  

I look into her eyes, marveling at the nuances in color, at the glowing golden tans mixed with deeper browns that finally melt into the infinity of the pupil.  The human eye is an incredible miracle!  I am standing nose to nose with her – another astounding fact.  This child in adult skin is a phenomenon, a marvel, a sensation, a wonder, a “non-pariel”…a sweet teenager with blue bangs.  A “Warrior Woman” in the making.  And after a rough stretch with friend issues, God has provided a small, solid band of like- minded “warrior women in the making”. 

But this post isn’t about middle school friend angst or what God meant when He called her a “Warrior Woman” during my prayer time two years ago.   Neither is it a post where I share tips for parents struggling with their teens based on my own current counseling work, as it started to be. 

Why, you might ask? Because.  Last. Week.  Happened.

You’ve heard that when you are preparing to teach a lesson, God walks you through it first?  He did.  I did.  Sweet Teen lived through it too! I have a degree and some experience, but what I truly am is a fellow traveler with you, imperfectly leading a teen through the forest of adolescence and to the mountain top of adulthood.   Every one of my imperfections I continue to have  is an indication and an invitation.   They are an indication that I have a need that can lead me to His provision.  They are an invitation to the Lord to intervene according to His promises. 

I'm sharing over at The Laundry Moms today -

come on over to read the rest of this post... 

 

An invitation into newness...

A print of a series I did on the name of the Lord...

The gentle darkening of the sky signaled the beginning...

A quiet hush,
A quieting of the mind,
                   of the heart,
                   of the spirit...

An invitation to rest.

And in that rest - that relaxing from the external clamor and responsibilities tugging for attention...

His call:

I am here.

I am the here - and the now.

Be present to Me - 

receive from Me the mercy that is new every morning,

the strength that your soul needs,

the newness of a regenerated heart -

Let My love heal the wounds,

the sadness,

the loneliness, 

Let My love fill the empty places.

And where you have wholeness,

Let My love lavish over you

as a fragrance to you and where ever you walk.

And as you rise at the coming dawn,

Let Me clothe you again,

over and over - and over and over

until you think you cannot possibly contain anymore...

My righteousness.

Open your heart to My unquenchable flow of 

 all that pertains to life and godliness,

that you might become partakers of the divine nature...

faith

goodness

knowledge

self-control

perseverance

godliness

brotherly kindness

love.

And when you emerge into this new day

you will find that you are able to rise up 

as on the wings of an eagle.

Enter in to your new day!

© 2014Cindy Fort

 

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

Today marks the first day of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year...rather, it began last evening at sunset.  And as I was meditating on how (in God's mind), the new begins with entering into the evening time, the darkness which leads to rest, I was led into the above word from Him - to me at least, and you who read here were on my heart as well, so I am sharing...

May this new season, this new year in the spirit, be full of abundance for you!

God Leads Us to the Plains....

I am a collector of stories of how God speaks to His children... 

His stories - encouraging me that He speaks to me too, 

when the cacophony of voices in my life might draw me off course... 

This arrived in my inbox today, and I thought I would share it with you...

I have never heard a message about "the plain" before!

Photo Credit

How and Where God Speaks

"The hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, 'Get up and go out to the plain, 

and there I will speak to you.'" Ezekiel 3:22 

God speaks in many different ways to His children. He spoke through a bush to Moses. He spoke through a donkey to Balaam. He spoke through prophets to His kings. He speaks through other believers. He speaks directly to us through the invisible Holy Spirit. And He speaks even through circumstances. 

When God wants to speak a very important word directly to us without interruption from the noise of our busy lives, he will take us "into the plain." The plain is a place of no distractions and no other persons. It is a place of silence. It can be a place of great need as it often fails to have the normal provisions we are accustomed to. It can be a place we go to voluntarily to seek His face, or we can be moved there without choice by His supernatural ability. More often, it is the latter method that brings us into the plain. In modern times, it often means a separation from our normal activities such as jobs or families.

The plain can also be a place where we discover afresh that God's hand has been on us all the time. When we are so busy with life, we sometimes forget that God's hand is still there, gently leading our path. When our lives get so busy that we are not listening or responding to His gentle touch, He must take more aggressive measures to get our attention. Thus, the plain is one of those appointed times of one-on-one communication with our heavenly Father. No distractions, no people, no beautiful surroundings to capture our thoughts. It is a barren place designed to allow us to seek and hear clearly. When He speaks, we need to be able to listen. We hear much better in the plain. 

Do you need to hear God's voice today? Is your life such that you cannot even hear His voice? Each day God calls us to our own mini-plain in order to speak to us and for us to hear. If we neglect this time of open communication, we may be invited to His plain in order to hear without distraction. Pray that you might make time to hear.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders. 10/25/2012

A Letter to My Princess....{from God}

Photo Credit - Source unknown but found on Tumblr

“Wait on me, My princess. My timing is always perfect. I know you’re anxious about many things. I see your passion for all the plans I have put in your heart. I know you long to fly, and I see your enthusiasm. However, just as a worker amongst the vineyards nurtures the vine, and waits patiently for the right moment to harvest the grapes, so too am I working tirelessly to prepare you to bear much fruit. Don’t run ahead of Me or try to fly before My plans are complete. Your strength will fail you, and your dreams will wither away. Trust Me that My dreams for you are far greater than you can dream on your own. You will run farther and soar higher if you will wait patiently for the season of My blessing. Draw close to Me now, and I promise that the season of waiting, and remaining in Me, will bring you the sweetest of rewards. 

“But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength, they will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:31

With love; your King and Lord of perfect timings.  I wish I had written this, but I found it on Tumblr close in time to the little ballerinas, and they just went together!

By Sadee Schilling of apicturebooklife

Today's Reading from "God Calling"

Shower Love

I always hear your cry. No sound escapes Me.

Many, many in the world cry to Me, but oh! how few wait to hear Me speak to them and yet to the soul, My speaking to it matters so much.

My words are Life. Think then, to hear Me speak is to find Life, and healing and strength. Trust Me in all things. Love showered on all brings truly a quick return.

Just carry out My wishes and leave Me to carry out yours. Treat Me as Savior and King, but also with the tender intimacy of One much beloved.

Keep to the rules I have laid down for you, persistently, perseveringly, lovingly, patiently, hopefully, and in faith, and every mountain of difficulty shall be laid low, the rough places of poverty shall be made smooth, and all who know you shall know that I, your Lord, am the Lord.

Click here to read the rest of this post...