In the previous blog entry, we addressed the challenges people face in the middle of difficult times in life. We pointed out that there are times in life when you can find yourself filled with loss, injury, or pain. If you are not vigilant, these feelings can find places to lodge, even in the cells of your body, so that the stress and trauma you experienced has not only psychological consequences but also physiological consequences.
Yet there is good news! God is able to move you past painful experiences, prior failures, injuries, and areas where you just plain missed it. You may have listened to the wrong voice. You may have gone through bankruptcy, divorce, business loss, loss of home, depression, and missed opportunities.
God is able to get you back on track to run effectively the race set before you. You do not have to let any setback keep you back. You certainly do not have to suffer debilitating physical conditions as a result of stress and trauma in your life.
In the prior blog entry we provided the following five helpful suggestions from the Word of God to help you receive the delivering power of God that will heal and deliver your from traumatic and stressful feelings: (1) Acknowledge an issue exists. (2) Consider what is wrong with it. (3) Consciously choose to reject what you now know and acknowledge is negative, debilitating, stifling, and contrary to God’s Word and way. (4) Use your God-given weapons of warfare. (5) Apply the power of the blood of Jesus. You can read the entire prior blog entry to receive the full teaching.
Here we provide the remaining four suggestions.
6. Make a conscious decision to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Ask the Lord to help you think positively. Speak to yourself. Ephesians 5:19 tells us to speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and to make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Don’t let negative thoughts just wander. Don’t say, “I can’t help it!” You CAN help it! Talk to yourself out loud. Confront and control your thoughts.
6. Make a conscious decision to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Ask the Lord to help you think positively. Speak to yourself. Ephesians 5:19 tells us to speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and to make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Don’t let negative thoughts just wander. Don’t say, “I can’t help it!” You CAN help it! Talk to yourself out loud. Confront and control your thoughts.
7. Practice forgiveness. I’m not saying you let people off the hook who harmed you. No, I’m saying you consciously place those people in God’s hands. Choose to forgive those who abused you and hurt you. You don’t have to make excuses for the people. You don’t have to try to justify what they did. You don’t have to pretend they didn’t hurt you. Choose to forgive them and place their fate in God’s hands. They do not have power to control you or your future. Don’t give it to them. Choose to forgive.
8. Consciously think of the blessings in your life. Meditate on and give voice to the blessings in your life. This will enable you to experience even more of God’s love.
9. Earnestly seek the Lord for His direction. As you acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct your path (Prov. 3:6). He promised to “speak a word behind your ear saying this is the way walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).
God is able to move you past painful experiences, past failures, injuries, and areas where you missed it. You may have listened to the wrong voice. You may have gone through bankruptcy, divorce, business loss, loss of home, depression, and missed opportunities. God is able to get you back on track to run effectively the race set before you. You do not have to let any setback keep you back. God is able to lift you up, dust you off, and move you forward into a glorious future. You don’t have to die before your time. You don’t have to live with disappointment and regret.
Rev. Janice Davis Steele
