I write this post tonight with the distinct impression that I am writing particularly to someone on the other side of the world. Whoever you are, be encouraged that our Lord knows your name.
Our Lord knows the names of each of us who read this blog. Not only does He know your name, but He also knows everything about you. Does not the Bible tell us in Luke 12:7 that God even knows how many hairs are on our heads?
Ponder this truth for a moment. What kind of God would know how many hairs are on your head? Only the God Who created you and loves you and cares about every detail of your life.
Wherever you are at this moment--whether physically, mentally, or spiritually--know that Jesus Christ is with you and that He cares. Turn to Him with the burden you have been carrying and give it to Him. He will transform your life with His love. Stop struggling to survive. Just rest in Him.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Looking Beyond the Facts
For many people all over the world, Christmas is often a time of sorrow and regret. Family members may be missing at the dinner table for one reason or another. Broken relationships may trigger deep regret. Family feuds may linger because of bitterness and unforgiveness.
If this describes you in any way, let me offer a thought. Problems have a way of responding to the way we look at them. If we look at the negative situations in our lives as impossible situations, then we will despair. But if we look at the negative situations in our lives as opportunities for miracles, then we will be encouraged.
No matter what is going on in our lives, we can choose our response. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can always choose how we respond to what happens to us.
If you are suffering emotionally, turn your eyes toward Jesus. Focus on Him. He knows your sorrow. He knows what you are going through, and He wants to comfort you and to heal you. All you have to do is ask.
May Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you in a very special way this Christmas season, and may the New Year bring you a powerful revelation of His deep and infinite love for you.
If this describes you in any way, let me offer a thought. Problems have a way of responding to the way we look at them. If we look at the negative situations in our lives as impossible situations, then we will despair. But if we look at the negative situations in our lives as opportunities for miracles, then we will be encouraged.
No matter what is going on in our lives, we can choose our response. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can always choose how we respond to what happens to us.
If you are suffering emotionally, turn your eyes toward Jesus. Focus on Him. He knows your sorrow. He knows what you are going through, and He wants to comfort you and to heal you. All you have to do is ask.
May Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you in a very special way this Christmas season, and may the New Year bring you a powerful revelation of His deep and infinite love for you.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
There Is a Way Out of Your Pain
I am impressed by Holy Spirit to write to those of you reading this who have fallen into despair. You are facing a seemingly hopeless situation from which there seems to be no way out.
Let me encourage you. There is a way out, and that way is Jesus Christ.
Now before you hit delete, please hear me out.
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the Way out of every problem you will ever face, no matter how hopeless.
You may be on drugs--even hard drugs. You may be on the verge of divorce. You may have had an abortion. You may have killed someone, or stolen from your employer, or committed adultery. It doesn't matter what you have done or what has been done to you, Jesus is the way out of your pain.
Won't you turn to Him today and pour out your broken heart to Him? He is so ready to listen to you and to heal you. He will give you a new life. All you have to do is receive it by believing in Him.
Let today be the beginning of a new life for you. Let Jesus into your heart and let Him heal you.
Let me encourage you. There is a way out, and that way is Jesus Christ.
Now before you hit delete, please hear me out.
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the Way out of every problem you will ever face, no matter how hopeless.
You may be on drugs--even hard drugs. You may be on the verge of divorce. You may have had an abortion. You may have killed someone, or stolen from your employer, or committed adultery. It doesn't matter what you have done or what has been done to you, Jesus is the way out of your pain.
Won't you turn to Him today and pour out your broken heart to Him? He is so ready to listen to you and to heal you. He will give you a new life. All you have to do is receive it by believing in Him.
Let today be the beginning of a new life for you. Let Jesus into your heart and let Him heal you.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
The Gift of Grace
If you are like me, you mess up in some way nearly every day. Whether it is through a misspoken word or a thoughtless act, we succumb to our human frailty on a regular basis.
If you are also like me, you feel very bad when you sin. To sin means to miss the mark. As humans, we frequently miss the mark because of our flawed nature.
When we sin, however, we have an Advocate before the Father in Heaven. Our Advocate, or Lawyer, is Jesus Christ Himself. If we have accepted Him as our Savior, He pleads our case before the Father.
The Father is the Judge. Jesus is the Defense Attorney. If we are in Christ through being born again, then when we stand before the Father, the Father looks at us through the lens of Christ. The Father sees that we are in Christ, and the Father acquits us.
How great a gift God has given us in Jesus Christ! If you have not yet accepted the Gift of Christ, which is the Gift of Grace, I urge you to do so now. Here is a prayer you can pray:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I cannot save myself. I need You to save me. I receive You now as my Savior. Cleanse me and make me whole. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, you are now a child of God. Your next step is to begin reading the Bible. Then find a good church that teaches the Word of God in all of its fullness and without compromise.
If you have any questions about your new birth in Christ, please write to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com. I will be happy to answer your questions.
If you are also like me, you feel very bad when you sin. To sin means to miss the mark. As humans, we frequently miss the mark because of our flawed nature.
When we sin, however, we have an Advocate before the Father in Heaven. Our Advocate, or Lawyer, is Jesus Christ Himself. If we have accepted Him as our Savior, He pleads our case before the Father.
The Father is the Judge. Jesus is the Defense Attorney. If we are in Christ through being born again, then when we stand before the Father, the Father looks at us through the lens of Christ. The Father sees that we are in Christ, and the Father acquits us.
How great a gift God has given us in Jesus Christ! If you have not yet accepted the Gift of Christ, which is the Gift of Grace, I urge you to do so now. Here is a prayer you can pray:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I cannot save myself. I need You to save me. I receive You now as my Savior. Cleanse me and make me whole. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, you are now a child of God. Your next step is to begin reading the Bible. Then find a good church that teaches the Word of God in all of its fullness and without compromise.
If you have any questions about your new birth in Christ, please write to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Are You Being Deceived?
No one likes to be deceived. Synonyms for deceived are tricked and betrayed. If you have ever been tricked or betrayed, you know that deception can make you very angry. Worst than that, deception can cost you greatly, even to the point of costing you your life.
Satan is the Arch-Deceiver. His desire is to trick you into believing a lie. Then, once you believe the lie, he betrays you, leaving you to the suffering, destruction, and even death that believing the lie has caused you.
One of the biggest lies that Satan uses to deceive is the lie that he doesn't exist. If you believe he doesn't exist, you won't be on the lookout for him. You won't consider him your enemy if you believe he doesn't exist.
The truth is that Satan does exist, and he is continually trying to thwart God's destiny for your life.
What is God's destiny for you? It is that you have a wonderful relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
God wants to bless you. Why? Because He loves you.
God created you for Himself. He wants you to be His child, and He wants to be your Father.
Satan hates this truth. Satan hates God and everything associated with God. For this reason, Satan wants to get back at God by destroying God's creation; namely, YOU!
My prayer is that you will recognize Satan's deception in your life. To do this, you will need God's power that becomes yours when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Jesus Christ is the only way by which you can establish a relationship with God the Father. You see, Jesus Christ represented you on the Cross at Calvary. He took your place. By rights, you and I should have been condemned to hell because of our sins. But Jesus gave His life in our place so that we would not have to spend eternity in hell.
Once you receive Jesus Christ, you become a new creature on the inside. The new creature you become is able to see the things of the spirit and to understand them. Until you accept Christ, you will not be able to understand the things that pertain to God. You will not be able to discern truth from error.
Accept Jesus Christ today as your Savior. He is coming back to earth soon. Only those who have received Him will be saved. All others will go to hell.
So, stop being deceived. You owe it to yourself to check out what I am saying. Do your own research. Ask God to show you the truth. When I did, He did.
Satan is the Arch-Deceiver. His desire is to trick you into believing a lie. Then, once you believe the lie, he betrays you, leaving you to the suffering, destruction, and even death that believing the lie has caused you.
One of the biggest lies that Satan uses to deceive is the lie that he doesn't exist. If you believe he doesn't exist, you won't be on the lookout for him. You won't consider him your enemy if you believe he doesn't exist.
The truth is that Satan does exist, and he is continually trying to thwart God's destiny for your life.
What is God's destiny for you? It is that you have a wonderful relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
God wants to bless you. Why? Because He loves you.
God created you for Himself. He wants you to be His child, and He wants to be your Father.
Satan hates this truth. Satan hates God and everything associated with God. For this reason, Satan wants to get back at God by destroying God's creation; namely, YOU!
My prayer is that you will recognize Satan's deception in your life. To do this, you will need God's power that becomes yours when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Jesus Christ is the only way by which you can establish a relationship with God the Father. You see, Jesus Christ represented you on the Cross at Calvary. He took your place. By rights, you and I should have been condemned to hell because of our sins. But Jesus gave His life in our place so that we would not have to spend eternity in hell.
Once you receive Jesus Christ, you become a new creature on the inside. The new creature you become is able to see the things of the spirit and to understand them. Until you accept Christ, you will not be able to understand the things that pertain to God. You will not be able to discern truth from error.
Accept Jesus Christ today as your Savior. He is coming back to earth soon. Only those who have received Him will be saved. All others will go to hell.
So, stop being deceived. You owe it to yourself to check out what I am saying. Do your own research. Ask God to show you the truth. When I did, He did.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Are You the Man in the Hole?
Are you in the pit of despair with no place to turn? Are you wandering aimlessly through life, wondering why you are here and where you are going? Are you struggling to determine what is truth?
If so, take about three minutes to watch this video. It will change your life.
Blessings,
Dr. MaryAnn
If so, take about three minutes to watch this video. It will change your life.
Blessings,
Dr. MaryAnn
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Are You a Prisoner of These Lies?
Many lies are being perpetrated today in the name of tolerance. Here are a few:
1) All belief systems lead to God.
2) A good God would not allow people to go to Hell.
3) As long as I am a good person, I will go to Heaven.
Please allow me to address each of these lies since believing one or all of them will result in your eternal damnation.
1) First, the lie that all belief systems lead to God. All belief systems are not equal in the sense that all do not teach the truth. What is the truth? The truth is a Person named Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).
To believe anything that contradicts that Christ is the Truth is to believe a lie.
Jesus taught that there is only one way for man to be saved, and that way is to accept Him as the Savior. In the Gospel of John, chapter one, verse 12, the Word tells us that ". . . to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." One cannot enter God's family without accepting Jesus Christ, the Door to the family.
2) Second, the lie that a good God would not allow people to go to Hell. The truth is that God does not send anyone to hell. A person sends himself to hell. Hell is the tormenting absence of God. When one moves away from God, one moves toward Hell. The less of God one has in one's life, the more of Hell one has in one's life. There will come a point at which the decision to remain estranged from God will be a permanent one. That point is called death. Thereafter, Hell will be a permanent state for the person who has chosen not to follow Christ while on this earth.
3) Third, the lie that as long as I am a good person, I will go to Heaven. Getting to Heaven has nothing to do with what we do, but it has everything to do with what Jesus Christ has done. No matter how many good works we do, they will not get us into Heaven. Why? Because our good works mean nothing in relation to our sin. Our good works can never erase the sin nature from our hearts. Only God can do that, and He did it through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ took our place and paid the price for our sin. He became our scapegoat because of His infinite love for us. He knew we could never earn salvation on our own, so He earned it for us. All we have to do is believe and receive that salvation.
The time is short before the return of Jesus Christ to judge the earth. Please take to heart what I have written. Please research it for yourself. Most of all, please ask God to reveal His truth to you so that you may have eyes to see and ears to hear.
If you have any questions, please write to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com. My prayer is that you will know the truth that will set you free (John 8:32).
1) All belief systems lead to God.
2) A good God would not allow people to go to Hell.
3) As long as I am a good person, I will go to Heaven.
Please allow me to address each of these lies since believing one or all of them will result in your eternal damnation.
1) First, the lie that all belief systems lead to God. All belief systems are not equal in the sense that all do not teach the truth. What is the truth? The truth is a Person named Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).
To believe anything that contradicts that Christ is the Truth is to believe a lie.
Jesus taught that there is only one way for man to be saved, and that way is to accept Him as the Savior. In the Gospel of John, chapter one, verse 12, the Word tells us that ". . . to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." One cannot enter God's family without accepting Jesus Christ, the Door to the family.
2) Second, the lie that a good God would not allow people to go to Hell. The truth is that God does not send anyone to hell. A person sends himself to hell. Hell is the tormenting absence of God. When one moves away from God, one moves toward Hell. The less of God one has in one's life, the more of Hell one has in one's life. There will come a point at which the decision to remain estranged from God will be a permanent one. That point is called death. Thereafter, Hell will be a permanent state for the person who has chosen not to follow Christ while on this earth.
3) Third, the lie that as long as I am a good person, I will go to Heaven. Getting to Heaven has nothing to do with what we do, but it has everything to do with what Jesus Christ has done. No matter how many good works we do, they will not get us into Heaven. Why? Because our good works mean nothing in relation to our sin. Our good works can never erase the sin nature from our hearts. Only God can do that, and He did it through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ took our place and paid the price for our sin. He became our scapegoat because of His infinite love for us. He knew we could never earn salvation on our own, so He earned it for us. All we have to do is believe and receive that salvation.
The time is short before the return of Jesus Christ to judge the earth. Please take to heart what I have written. Please research it for yourself. Most of all, please ask God to reveal His truth to you so that you may have eyes to see and ears to hear.
If you have any questions, please write to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com. My prayer is that you will know the truth that will set you free (John 8:32).
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Overcoming Depression
Depression has reached epidemic proportions throughout the world. An alarming fact is that depression is assailing more and more young children, leaving scars on their souls that could last a lifetime.
Psychology offers many solutions, some of which are effective. But what is one to do when years of counseling yield no results?
As always, the Word of God offers solid answers that bring results. Here is a promise in God's Word that you can apply to your life to ward off depression:
Isaiah 61:3 commands us to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. What is the garment of praise? It is putting on the attitude of worship and praise in order to put off the attitude of depression. Yes, depression is an attitude that results when the mind has been meditating on lies.
How does one put on the garment of praise? Very simply. By praising the Lord.
This sounds like a crazy command, but it always works. Whenever I am tempted to be depressed, I begin to praise the Lord. Sometimes I will put on a CD of worship music and dance before the Lord, playing my tambourine and shouting praises to His Holy Name.
When depressed, I don't feel like praising the Lord, but I do it anyway in obedience to His command. And do you know what? Depression always leaves. ALWAYS!!!
Depression is bondage. Remember: There is no bondage that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot destroy. There is no situation that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot overcome. There is no sin that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot wash away.
The next time you are tempted to be depressed, start praising the Lord.
Scripture tells us that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). When God inhabits a place, the devil and his spirits of depression cannot inhabit the same place. They must flee from it.
Psychology offers many solutions, some of which are effective. But what is one to do when years of counseling yield no results?
As always, the Word of God offers solid answers that bring results. Here is a promise in God's Word that you can apply to your life to ward off depression:
Isaiah 61:3 commands us to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. What is the garment of praise? It is putting on the attitude of worship and praise in order to put off the attitude of depression. Yes, depression is an attitude that results when the mind has been meditating on lies.
How does one put on the garment of praise? Very simply. By praising the Lord.
This sounds like a crazy command, but it always works. Whenever I am tempted to be depressed, I begin to praise the Lord. Sometimes I will put on a CD of worship music and dance before the Lord, playing my tambourine and shouting praises to His Holy Name.
When depressed, I don't feel like praising the Lord, but I do it anyway in obedience to His command. And do you know what? Depression always leaves. ALWAYS!!!
Depression is bondage. Remember: There is no bondage that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot destroy. There is no situation that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot overcome. There is no sin that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot wash away.
The next time you are tempted to be depressed, start praising the Lord.
Scripture tells us that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). When God inhabits a place, the devil and his spirits of depression cannot inhabit the same place. They must flee from it.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
When Life Seems Hopeless
One of Satan's chief weapons is discouragement. If he can get us to give up hope, he has us pretty well in his evil hands.
Scripture tells us that hope is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). In other words, when we have hope, our soul (which consists of our emotions, our intellect, and our will) has an anchor. What does an anchor do? It holds a ship in place and keeps it steady. Hope holds your soul (the ship of your life) in place and keeps it steady.
Hope also keeps you from thwarting your destiny through self-pity, depression, and even suicide. Remember this: God has created you for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. Satan will do everything he can to rob you of that purpose through hopelessness.
If you feel hopeless today, look toward Jesus. He is stretching forth His hand, inviting you to take it. He will lead you out of hopelessness as you keep your eyes on Him.
Scripture tells us that hope is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). In other words, when we have hope, our soul (which consists of our emotions, our intellect, and our will) has an anchor. What does an anchor do? It holds a ship in place and keeps it steady. Hope holds your soul (the ship of your life) in place and keeps it steady.
Hope also keeps you from thwarting your destiny through self-pity, depression, and even suicide. Remember this: God has created you for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. Satan will do everything he can to rob you of that purpose through hopelessness.
If you feel hopeless today, look toward Jesus. He is stretching forth His hand, inviting you to take it. He will lead you out of hopelessness as you keep your eyes on Him.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Conquering Addiction
An addiction is a deceptive means of obtaining the love we needed but did not get in a healthful manner. Usually this love need was not met in our childhood. As a result, we learn to fill our need for love in ways that hurt us.
For example, a person addicted to food looks to food to fill his hunger for love. A person addicted to sex looks to sex to fill his hunger for love. A person addicted to drugs looks to drugs to fill his hunger for love. And on and on the list goes.
God has created us with a legitimate hunger for love. What we fail to realize is that He alone can ultimately satisfy that hunger for love so that we are no longer hungry. When we look to anything or anyone else to satisfy our love hunger more than we look to God to satisfy it, we end up feeling empty and hurting our hearts. We end up destroying our lives and our relationships.
If you are looking to a person, a practice, or a thing other than God to satisfy your need for love, stop now and turn around toward God. Ask Him to forgive you for looking elsewhere to satisfy the love hunger that only He can satisfy. Here is a simple prayer you can pray:
"Papa God, I come to You just as I am. Broken and empty inside. Despite all of my attempts to satisfy my need for hunger through (name your addiction), I now realize that I have been looking in the wrong places to fill that need. Only You can satisfy my hunger for love. I give you my broken, hurting heart. Take it and heal it with Your love. Jesus, come into my life. From now on, whenever I am tempted to look elsewhere to satisfy my love hunger, I will remember that addictions are empty promises, but You are my Well of Life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
For example, a person addicted to food looks to food to fill his hunger for love. A person addicted to sex looks to sex to fill his hunger for love. A person addicted to drugs looks to drugs to fill his hunger for love. And on and on the list goes.
God has created us with a legitimate hunger for love. What we fail to realize is that He alone can ultimately satisfy that hunger for love so that we are no longer hungry. When we look to anything or anyone else to satisfy our love hunger more than we look to God to satisfy it, we end up feeling empty and hurting our hearts. We end up destroying our lives and our relationships.
If you are looking to a person, a practice, or a thing other than God to satisfy your need for love, stop now and turn around toward God. Ask Him to forgive you for looking elsewhere to satisfy the love hunger that only He can satisfy. Here is a simple prayer you can pray:
"Papa God, I come to You just as I am. Broken and empty inside. Despite all of my attempts to satisfy my need for hunger through (name your addiction), I now realize that I have been looking in the wrong places to fill that need. Only You can satisfy my hunger for love. I give you my broken, hurting heart. Take it and heal it with Your love. Jesus, come into my life. From now on, whenever I am tempted to look elsewhere to satisfy my love hunger, I will remember that addictions are empty promises, but You are my Well of Life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
You Can Spot a Counterfeit
Have you ever considered that for every counterfeit, there has to be a real? For example, the fact that counterfeit money exists means that real money has to exist. Otherwise, there could be no counterfeit money.
The same is true in the philosophical realm. The fact that lies exist means that truth has to exist. Otherwise, there would be no lies.
The critical question for us becomes, then, how do we tell the difference between the truth and the lie? And why is knowing the difference so important?
Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32). Knowing the difference between truth and falsehood has everything to do with our freedom. If the truth makes us free, then the lie makes us slaves.
But how do we know what is true and what is false? Again, Jesus tells us how. "Your Word is Truth" (John 17:17). Jesus is saying that the Word of God, the Holy Bible, is Truth. So, if we want to learn how to recognize what is true, we can go to the Holy Bible. Everything written therein is Truth.
As we go about our daily lives, we will face situations where we need to know if what we are hearing is a lie or the truth. All we have to do is measure what we hear by the standard of the Word of God. If what we hear agrees with the Word of God, then it is true. If what we hear contradicts the Word of God, then it is false.
I like to tell a little story to illustrate this concept. When my husband hangs a picture for me, he asks me if the picture is straight. I may tell him that the picture is tilted to the right. My husband may think the picture is tilted to the left.
Since we are not sure who is right, we go get the level. The level is an instrument that measures whether something is straight or not. The level does not lie. It tells us the truth about the position of the picture.
The Bible is the level for determining whether a philosophy or a concept is true or false. The next time you are not sure whether what you are hearing or reading is true or false, get out your Bible and measure what you have heard or read by the level of the Word of God. His level will always keep you from deception and, in so doing, keep you free.
The same is true in the philosophical realm. The fact that lies exist means that truth has to exist. Otherwise, there would be no lies.
The critical question for us becomes, then, how do we tell the difference between the truth and the lie? And why is knowing the difference so important?
Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32). Knowing the difference between truth and falsehood has everything to do with our freedom. If the truth makes us free, then the lie makes us slaves.
But how do we know what is true and what is false? Again, Jesus tells us how. "Your Word is Truth" (John 17:17). Jesus is saying that the Word of God, the Holy Bible, is Truth. So, if we want to learn how to recognize what is true, we can go to the Holy Bible. Everything written therein is Truth.
As we go about our daily lives, we will face situations where we need to know if what we are hearing is a lie or the truth. All we have to do is measure what we hear by the standard of the Word of God. If what we hear agrees with the Word of God, then it is true. If what we hear contradicts the Word of God, then it is false.
I like to tell a little story to illustrate this concept. When my husband hangs a picture for me, he asks me if the picture is straight. I may tell him that the picture is tilted to the right. My husband may think the picture is tilted to the left.
Since we are not sure who is right, we go get the level. The level is an instrument that measures whether something is straight or not. The level does not lie. It tells us the truth about the position of the picture.
The Bible is the level for determining whether a philosophy or a concept is true or false. The next time you are not sure whether what you are hearing or reading is true or false, get out your Bible and measure what you have heard or read by the level of the Word of God. His level will always keep you from deception and, in so doing, keep you free.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Living in the Supernatural
There is a place where you can live in peace. That place is above your emotional pain and in the realm of the spirit where the Kingdom of God is. But the only way to get there is through Jesus Christ.
There are two realms that control life: the natural realm and the supernatural realm. The natural realm is subject to the laws of the natural world; the supernatural realm is subject to the laws of the supernatural world.
The supernatural world has both a good aspect and an evil aspect. The good aspect is the supernatural realm inhabited by God and His angels. The Bible calls this supernatural realm of God "the third heaven". The evil aspect is the supernatural realm inhabited by Satan and his demons. The Bible calls this supernatural realm of Satan "the second heaven". The supernatural realm of God is far more powerful than the supernatural realm of Satan.
Man was created and designed to live in the supernatural world of God, but sin relegated man to the confinement of the natural world. Jesus Christ came to set man free from the confinement of the natural world and to restore him to the supernatural world of the Kingdom of God.
When man enters the supernatural world without Christ, man will encounter the supernatural curses of Satan and his demons. This is the realm of the occult with all of its attendant dangers.
When man enters the supernatural world through Christ, man will encounter the supernatural blessings of God.
So how does this apply to your life and to your emotional pain?
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are still a prisoner of the natural world. In practical terms, this means that you are still in bondage to sin and its torment, including emotional torment. You may have tried to free yourself from emotional pain by entering the supernatural world of Satan and his demons. If so, you may have found a false and temporary relief, but you soon learned (or will learn) that Satan offers only trickery and bondage, never truth and freedom.
But if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are no longer a prisoner of the natural world nor the supernatural world of Satan. Instead, you are a resident of the supernatural kingdom of God and a child of God whose inheritance is healing in every aspect of your being.
You cannot free yourself from the natural world nor from Satan's supernatural world. You need a Savior to free you. Jesus Christ is that Savior. Accept Him today into your life. Ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. Ask Him to free you from the pain of emotional and psychological torment. Then expect Him to do so.
There are two realms that control life: the natural realm and the supernatural realm. The natural realm is subject to the laws of the natural world; the supernatural realm is subject to the laws of the supernatural world.
The supernatural world has both a good aspect and an evil aspect. The good aspect is the supernatural realm inhabited by God and His angels. The Bible calls this supernatural realm of God "the third heaven". The evil aspect is the supernatural realm inhabited by Satan and his demons. The Bible calls this supernatural realm of Satan "the second heaven". The supernatural realm of God is far more powerful than the supernatural realm of Satan.
Man was created and designed to live in the supernatural world of God, but sin relegated man to the confinement of the natural world. Jesus Christ came to set man free from the confinement of the natural world and to restore him to the supernatural world of the Kingdom of God.
When man enters the supernatural world without Christ, man will encounter the supernatural curses of Satan and his demons. This is the realm of the occult with all of its attendant dangers.
When man enters the supernatural world through Christ, man will encounter the supernatural blessings of God.
So how does this apply to your life and to your emotional pain?
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are still a prisoner of the natural world. In practical terms, this means that you are still in bondage to sin and its torment, including emotional torment. You may have tried to free yourself from emotional pain by entering the supernatural world of Satan and his demons. If so, you may have found a false and temporary relief, but you soon learned (or will learn) that Satan offers only trickery and bondage, never truth and freedom.
But if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are no longer a prisoner of the natural world nor the supernatural world of Satan. Instead, you are a resident of the supernatural kingdom of God and a child of God whose inheritance is healing in every aspect of your being.
You cannot free yourself from the natural world nor from Satan's supernatural world. You need a Savior to free you. Jesus Christ is that Savior. Accept Him today into your life. Ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. Ask Him to free you from the pain of emotional and psychological torment. Then expect Him to do so.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Re-Programming Your Mind for Emotional Health
Jesus tells us in John 8:32 that the truth will set us free. What is the truth? First of all, the truth is a Person: Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life" (John 14:6, emphasis mine). So, to know Jesus Christ is to know Truth personified.
Finding truth, therefore, begins with finding Christ. And finding Christ simply means to accept Him as the Son of God who alone can save us from sin and all of its consequences. One of the consequences of sin is a hurting heart. So when we accept Jesus Christ as the only One Who can save us, we are accepting the Truth that alone can set us free not only from sin but also from all of the consequences of sin. One such major consequence is a hurting heart.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He gives us a new spirit, and His Holy Spirit begins to live in our new spirit. Our spirit is the core of our being, the essence of who we really are. When we accept Christ and He gives us a new spirit (called being "born again"), our new spirit is perfect and holds all that we need to overcome in life. But our souls (mind, will, and emotions) must be renewed in order to experience the benefits that now dwell inside our spirits. This renewal process involves reprogramming our thinking to align with God's thinking. God's thinking is found in the Holy Bible, also called His Word or the Word of God.
As we renew our minds by studying and applying God's Word to our lives, we will experience greater emotional health and physical well-being.
Finding truth, therefore, begins with finding Christ. And finding Christ simply means to accept Him as the Son of God who alone can save us from sin and all of its consequences. One of the consequences of sin is a hurting heart. So when we accept Jesus Christ as the only One Who can save us, we are accepting the Truth that alone can set us free not only from sin but also from all of the consequences of sin. One such major consequence is a hurting heart.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He gives us a new spirit, and His Holy Spirit begins to live in our new spirit. Our spirit is the core of our being, the essence of who we really are. When we accept Christ and He gives us a new spirit (called being "born again"), our new spirit is perfect and holds all that we need to overcome in life. But our souls (mind, will, and emotions) must be renewed in order to experience the benefits that now dwell inside our spirits. This renewal process involves reprogramming our thinking to align with God's thinking. God's thinking is found in the Holy Bible, also called His Word or the Word of God.
As we renew our minds by studying and applying God's Word to our lives, we will experience greater emotional health and physical well-being.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Unloading Emotional Baggage
Emotional baggage is a heavy weight, a weight you were never meant to carry. I define emotional baggage as the sum total of all the negative experiences you've had that have warped the image of who you really are and were meant to be.
Why do we accumulate emotional baggage and how can we unload it?
Here is a simple explanation. When God created you, He created you with a plan for your life. That plan included only blessings. But Satan also has a plan for your life, and his plan is the exact opposite of God's plan for you. Satan's plan includes only curses.
Because our original parents, Adam and Eve, messed up God's original plan through their rebellion against Him, God had to set up Plan B. Plan B was the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, by His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the blessings of Plan A. But to benefit from this restoration of blessings, one must accept Jesus Christ as the Savior through Whom these blessings become ours. This acceptance of Christ is called justification and means becoming right with God. There is no other way to become right with God except through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, emphasis mine).
Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, He begins the process of helping you unload your emotional baggage. This process is called sanctification, or becoming whole and set apart from the effects of Satan's curse.
Two important steps are involved in unloading our emotional baggage. We will talk about these two steps in future posts, but, for now, I will simply mention them. They are:
1) Surrendering our wills completely to God's will;
2) Reprogramming our thinking to align with God's thinking as found in the Bible.
If you are carrying emotional baggage that is causing you great pain, or even just a little pain, begin unloading it now. Start by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord if you have not already done so. Once you have accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord, begin reading the Bible, also called the Word of God. As you read it and apply it to your life, you will notice that, little by little, the emotional pain will decrease and you will feel more light-hearted and free as our compassionate Lord unloads the baggage from your heart and soul.
Why do we accumulate emotional baggage and how can we unload it?
Here is a simple explanation. When God created you, He created you with a plan for your life. That plan included only blessings. But Satan also has a plan for your life, and his plan is the exact opposite of God's plan for you. Satan's plan includes only curses.
Because our original parents, Adam and Eve, messed up God's original plan through their rebellion against Him, God had to set up Plan B. Plan B was the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, by His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the blessings of Plan A. But to benefit from this restoration of blessings, one must accept Jesus Christ as the Savior through Whom these blessings become ours. This acceptance of Christ is called justification and means becoming right with God. There is no other way to become right with God except through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, emphasis mine).
Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, He begins the process of helping you unload your emotional baggage. This process is called sanctification, or becoming whole and set apart from the effects of Satan's curse.
Two important steps are involved in unloading our emotional baggage. We will talk about these two steps in future posts, but, for now, I will simply mention them. They are:
1) Surrendering our wills completely to God's will;
2) Reprogramming our thinking to align with God's thinking as found in the Bible.
If you are carrying emotional baggage that is causing you great pain, or even just a little pain, begin unloading it now. Start by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord if you have not already done so. Once you have accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord, begin reading the Bible, also called the Word of God. As you read it and apply it to your life, you will notice that, little by little, the emotional pain will decrease and you will feel more light-hearted and free as our compassionate Lord unloads the baggage from your heart and soul.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
You Can Choose to Be Free
Emotionally sick people usually feel trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of pain and more pain. Satan wants you to believe that you are doomed to suffer forever and that there is nothing you can do to free yourself from your pain. This is a lie, and if you continue to believe it, you will remain in bondage to your wounded emotions.
The truth is that you can be free of emotional pain. But in order to be free, you must first believe that you can be free and then you must want to be free. The desire to be free is key to your becoming free. You must have a burning desire to be free, and then you must do what it takes to be free.
What does it take to be free? Here are some of the most important things it takes to be free:
Here is a simple prayer you can pray to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord:
Jesus, I come to You just as I am. Broken, hurting, and deeply wounded. I know that You accept me just as I am. There is nothing I can do to earn Your love. You give it to me freely. Your love for me is not dependent on my performance but on Your goodness. So I come to You now and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Heal my broken heart, Lord. Restore my soul. Make me the person You created me to be. In Your Name I pray and receive by faith. Amen.
Once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you will be on your way to complete emotional health. But know that Satan will not like the fact that you are moving toward freedom. He will try to stop you at every turn by attempting to fill your mind again with his lies. Resist him. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you have the power and authority to resist the devil and he must flee from you.
Please let me know if you have prayed this prayer. You can write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorioministries.com.
The truth is that you can be free of emotional pain. But in order to be free, you must first believe that you can be free and then you must want to be free. The desire to be free is key to your becoming free. You must have a burning desire to be free, and then you must do what it takes to be free.
What does it take to be free? Here are some of the most important things it takes to be free:
- Being free means acknowledging that you cannot heal yourself.
- Being free means acknowledging that you need a Savior to heal you.
- Being free means accepting your Savior, Jesus Christ, and trusting Him to heal you.
- Being free means obeying His Truth that will set you free. This Truth is found in the Holy Bible.
Here is a simple prayer you can pray to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord:
Jesus, I come to You just as I am. Broken, hurting, and deeply wounded. I know that You accept me just as I am. There is nothing I can do to earn Your love. You give it to me freely. Your love for me is not dependent on my performance but on Your goodness. So I come to You now and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Heal my broken heart, Lord. Restore my soul. Make me the person You created me to be. In Your Name I pray and receive by faith. Amen.
Once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you will be on your way to complete emotional health. But know that Satan will not like the fact that you are moving toward freedom. He will try to stop you at every turn by attempting to fill your mind again with his lies. Resist him. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you have the power and authority to resist the devil and he must flee from you.
Please let me know if you have prayed this prayer. You can write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorioministries.com.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
How Free Do You Want to Be?
How free do you want to be? Interesting question, isn't it? You may even think it's a ridiculous question. Of course, you want to be as free as you can be. Who doesn't?
But did you know that the degree to which you are free from emotional pain is entirely up to you?
Now, if my statement offended you, give yourself a chance to reconsider. Our emotional freedom depends on our choices. Yes, you read that right. Our emotional freedom depends on our choices.
Choice is a function of the will. God created each of us with a free will. While we may not be able to control what happens to us, we can always control how we respond to what happens to us. And therein lies the potential for emotional freedom.
What does it mean to be emotionally free? It means to be free of the turmoil, the pain, the anguish, the conflicts, the fear, and the struggles of a troubled soul. To be emotionally free means to experience peace, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, hope, and the expectation of good things.
But how do we get to the point of emotional freedom? We get there by first recognizing that we cannot heal ourselves. We need a Healer. The good news is that we have a Healer, and His Name is Jesus Christ.
After we recognize that Jesus Christ alone is our Healer, we need to embrace Him and surrender to His will for our lives. His will for us is that we be totally healed in spirit, soul, and body. He wants you totally well. But not only does He want you totally well; He has also provided all that you need to be well in His Holy Word, the Bible.
The Bible gives clear instructions on how to be free of emotional baggage. It gives clear direction on how to be healed. The more you study the Bible and apply it to your life, the freer you will be. In fact, you will be free to the degree that you believe and act on the Word of God.
So ask yourself this question: How free do I really want to be? Then when you've asked yourself that question, ask yourself this one: Am I willing to allow Jesus Christ into my life, to follow Him, and to obey Him? If you answered yes, then you are on your way to total freedom.
But did you know that the degree to which you are free from emotional pain is entirely up to you?
Now, if my statement offended you, give yourself a chance to reconsider. Our emotional freedom depends on our choices. Yes, you read that right. Our emotional freedom depends on our choices.
Choice is a function of the will. God created each of us with a free will. While we may not be able to control what happens to us, we can always control how we respond to what happens to us. And therein lies the potential for emotional freedom.
What does it mean to be emotionally free? It means to be free of the turmoil, the pain, the anguish, the conflicts, the fear, and the struggles of a troubled soul. To be emotionally free means to experience peace, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, hope, and the expectation of good things.
But how do we get to the point of emotional freedom? We get there by first recognizing that we cannot heal ourselves. We need a Healer. The good news is that we have a Healer, and His Name is Jesus Christ.
After we recognize that Jesus Christ alone is our Healer, we need to embrace Him and surrender to His will for our lives. His will for us is that we be totally healed in spirit, soul, and body. He wants you totally well. But not only does He want you totally well; He has also provided all that you need to be well in His Holy Word, the Bible.
The Bible gives clear instructions on how to be free of emotional baggage. It gives clear direction on how to be healed. The more you study the Bible and apply it to your life, the freer you will be. In fact, you will be free to the degree that you believe and act on the Word of God.
So ask yourself this question: How free do I really want to be? Then when you've asked yourself that question, ask yourself this one: Am I willing to allow Jesus Christ into my life, to follow Him, and to obey Him? If you answered yes, then you are on your way to total freedom.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
What Is Controlling Your Life?
Your life is controlled by your thinking, not by your circumstances. Most of us have made the mistake of believing that our circumstances control us and that we are helpless victims of fate. But this is a lie. If we continue to believe this lie, we will never be free of emotional pain.
The truth is that your life is controlled by the space between your ears. In other words, your life is controlled by how you think and what you believe.
The mind is the control center of our lives. Scripture says, "As a man thinks, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7 TLB).
What are you thinking on a regular basis?
A friend of mine once told me this powerful story about her little son. When he was three years old, she found him staring out the window. She said, "Matt, what are you thinking about?" In the wisdom of children, he replied, "I'm thinking about what I'm thinking about."
Profound advice that we should all take to heart. How often do we think about what we are thinking about? How often do we analyze what we are thinking to determine if it aligns with God's Word or not? If it does not align with God's Word, then it is a lie. And if it is a lie, we must renounce it and replace it with the truth.
We will remain in bondage spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and physically to the degree that we believe a lie. By the same token, we will be free spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and physically to the degree that we know and believe the truth.
The Truth is found in the Holy Bible. The Truth is Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). He who finds and follows Jesus finds and follows Life.
If you are hurting today in any way--spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, or physically--turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him into your life. When you do, you will be accepting freedom in all of its aspects.
Jesus considered you valuable enough to die for you in order to set you free. But that freedom will never be yours unless you willingly accept His free gift of salvation. Do so now. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
If you have questions or would like more information, please write to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com.
The truth is that your life is controlled by the space between your ears. In other words, your life is controlled by how you think and what you believe.
The mind is the control center of our lives. Scripture says, "As a man thinks, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7 TLB).
What are you thinking on a regular basis?
A friend of mine once told me this powerful story about her little son. When he was three years old, she found him staring out the window. She said, "Matt, what are you thinking about?" In the wisdom of children, he replied, "I'm thinking about what I'm thinking about."
Profound advice that we should all take to heart. How often do we think about what we are thinking about? How often do we analyze what we are thinking to determine if it aligns with God's Word or not? If it does not align with God's Word, then it is a lie. And if it is a lie, we must renounce it and replace it with the truth.
We will remain in bondage spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and physically to the degree that we believe a lie. By the same token, we will be free spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and physically to the degree that we know and believe the truth.
The Truth is found in the Holy Bible. The Truth is Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). He who finds and follows Jesus finds and follows Life.
If you are hurting today in any way--spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, or physically--turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him into your life. When you do, you will be accepting freedom in all of its aspects.
Jesus considered you valuable enough to die for you in order to set you free. But that freedom will never be yours unless you willingly accept His free gift of salvation. Do so now. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
If you have questions or would like more information, please write to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Are You Thinking Straight?
Emotional problems result from believing lies. Since we were designed to function according to truth, any deviation from truth will cause us to malfunction, whether emotionally, physically, or spiritually.
So, the big question becomes What is truth? Truth is defined as "the actual state of a matter" (Dictionary.com). But herein lies the problem: Who determines what the actual state of a matter is?
For me, the actual state of a matter may be one thing; for you, it may be another.
What this means is that my truth may not be your truth, and vice versa. This way of thinking is called relativism and is a lie.
In our culture, man has taken it upon himself to determine the actual state of a matter. For example, it is common for people to say things like, "Abortion is not an option for me, but it may be an option for you". Many have determined that the actual state of the matter about abortion is that it is a viable option for terminating a pregnancy. Some have determined that the actual state of the matter about abortion is that abortion at any stage is murder.
The nature of Truth is that it applies to everyone everywhere, equally and indiscriminately. This means that Truth is absolute, just as gravity is absolute. No matter who you are, if you jump off a roof, you will go down.
Most people don't like the truth that Truth is absolute. In fact, they rebel against it. But what they don't understand is that by rebelling against absolute Truth, they are hurting themselves. That hurt may not show up right away, but it will always show up eventually.
Man was designed by God to function according to the laws of Truth. When man deviates from those laws and goes his own way, he will always suffer. There's no escaping this truth.
We need to understand that emotional problems result from rebelling against Truth and insisting upon creating our own truth. Any thinking pattern that deviates from God's thinking pattern will end up hurting us.
God's thinking pattern is found in His Word, the Holy Bible. If we want to learn how God thinks, then we must read His Word. As we change our thinking to align with God's thinking, we will be moving closer to the Truth and closer to emotional health.
So, the big question becomes What is truth? Truth is defined as "the actual state of a matter" (Dictionary.com). But herein lies the problem: Who determines what the actual state of a matter is?
For me, the actual state of a matter may be one thing; for you, it may be another.
What this means is that my truth may not be your truth, and vice versa. This way of thinking is called relativism and is a lie.
In our culture, man has taken it upon himself to determine the actual state of a matter. For example, it is common for people to say things like, "Abortion is not an option for me, but it may be an option for you". Many have determined that the actual state of the matter about abortion is that it is a viable option for terminating a pregnancy. Some have determined that the actual state of the matter about abortion is that abortion at any stage is murder.
The nature of Truth is that it applies to everyone everywhere, equally and indiscriminately. This means that Truth is absolute, just as gravity is absolute. No matter who you are, if you jump off a roof, you will go down.
Most people don't like the truth that Truth is absolute. In fact, they rebel against it. But what they don't understand is that by rebelling against absolute Truth, they are hurting themselves. That hurt may not show up right away, but it will always show up eventually.
Man was designed by God to function according to the laws of Truth. When man deviates from those laws and goes his own way, he will always suffer. There's no escaping this truth.
We need to understand that emotional problems result from rebelling against Truth and insisting upon creating our own truth. Any thinking pattern that deviates from God's thinking pattern will end up hurting us.
God's thinking pattern is found in His Word, the Holy Bible. If we want to learn how God thinks, then we must read His Word. As we change our thinking to align with God's thinking, we will be moving closer to the Truth and closer to emotional health.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Godly Intervention
There can be no healing of the heart without the intervention of Jesus Christ. Scripture reveals the following:
Think about this for a few moments. Jesus WANTS to heal you! It is His desire that you be whole, that you be free from the hurts of the past. He died on the Cross and rose from the dead for that very purpose: to set you free in sprit, soul, and body.
What Jesus Christ did for you is called Salvation. The word "salvation" comes from the Greek word sozo which means wholeness.
Salvation is a gift from God to you. But you have to accept the gift of salvation in order for it to bring healing to your life. This gift of salvation is Jesus Christ Himself.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, why not do so now? Here is a simple prayer you can pray:
Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I believe you died and rose from the dead for me so that I can have a relationship with You and be made whole. I accept You now as my Savior and Lord. Make of me what You created me to be. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the Family of God! You have just made the most important decision of your life. Please let me know, and I will send you some information to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
God bless you!
- Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds."
- Psalm 23:3 - "He restores my soul."
- Luke 4:18 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Think about this for a few moments. Jesus WANTS to heal you! It is His desire that you be whole, that you be free from the hurts of the past. He died on the Cross and rose from the dead for that very purpose: to set you free in sprit, soul, and body.
What Jesus Christ did for you is called Salvation. The word "salvation" comes from the Greek word sozo which means wholeness.
Salvation is a gift from God to you. But you have to accept the gift of salvation in order for it to bring healing to your life. This gift of salvation is Jesus Christ Himself.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, why not do so now? Here is a simple prayer you can pray:
Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I believe you died and rose from the dead for me so that I can have a relationship with You and be made whole. I accept You now as my Savior and Lord. Make of me what You created me to be. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the Family of God! You have just made the most important decision of your life. Please let me know, and I will send you some information to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
God bless you!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Do You Want to Get Well?
Do you want to get well? This may seem like a silly question, but it is the question Jesus asked the paralytic (John 5:6). Why would Jesus ask such a question? Surely, everyone wants to be well.
The truth is that not everyone wants to be well. The desire to be well precedes all healing. If you do not want to be well, then you will not get well. But if you want to get well, you will get well as you seek God's wisdom and pray for His direction. You will get well as you believe that you will get well.
How can you tell if you want to be healed? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
1) Am I using my physical sickness or my emotional illness as a means of getting attention? If so, am I willing to give up that desire for attention in exchange for wholeness?
2) Am I willing to renounce the doctrines of men and the doctrines of devils in exchange for the truth of God's Word? Much false teaching is out there regarding healing. This false teaching comes from people and from demons. You may have been the recipient of this false teaching in your church or elsewhere. False teaching will keep you from wanting to be healed. If, for example, you have been falsely taught that God makes people sick to teach them something, then you will feel conflicted about wanting to be healed because you will think that you are violating God's will. But, if it is true that God makes you sick to teach you something, then you are violating God's will by going to a doctor.
3) Am I willing to concede that, while I may not be responsible for what happens to me, I am totally responsible for how I respond to what happens to me? It is far easier emotionally and psychologically to blame others for our troubles than to assume the responsibility ourselves. But the truth is that we cause many of our own problems.
4) Am I willing to concede that while God is in control of the universe, He has given me dominion over the earth, a free will, and, therefore, dominion over my choices? It is far easier to blame our negative life situations on God's sovereignty than on our responsibility. Saying that everything happens because God is in control is a cop-out. Some things happen because of our poor choices. God never intended for them to happen.
5) Am I willing to give up all of my excuses to pursue emotional health? Am I willing to go through the pain in order to discover the freedom that is on the other side of the pain? Emotional health requires a price on our part. That price is the laying down of our own solutions to our problems and the embracing of God's solutions as found in His Word.
So, do you want to be healed? I hope you'll shout a resounding YES! :)
The truth is that not everyone wants to be well. The desire to be well precedes all healing. If you do not want to be well, then you will not get well. But if you want to get well, you will get well as you seek God's wisdom and pray for His direction. You will get well as you believe that you will get well.
How can you tell if you want to be healed? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
1) Am I using my physical sickness or my emotional illness as a means of getting attention? If so, am I willing to give up that desire for attention in exchange for wholeness?
2) Am I willing to renounce the doctrines of men and the doctrines of devils in exchange for the truth of God's Word? Much false teaching is out there regarding healing. This false teaching comes from people and from demons. You may have been the recipient of this false teaching in your church or elsewhere. False teaching will keep you from wanting to be healed. If, for example, you have been falsely taught that God makes people sick to teach them something, then you will feel conflicted about wanting to be healed because you will think that you are violating God's will. But, if it is true that God makes you sick to teach you something, then you are violating God's will by going to a doctor.
3) Am I willing to concede that, while I may not be responsible for what happens to me, I am totally responsible for how I respond to what happens to me? It is far easier emotionally and psychologically to blame others for our troubles than to assume the responsibility ourselves. But the truth is that we cause many of our own problems.
4) Am I willing to concede that while God is in control of the universe, He has given me dominion over the earth, a free will, and, therefore, dominion over my choices? It is far easier to blame our negative life situations on God's sovereignty than on our responsibility. Saying that everything happens because God is in control is a cop-out. Some things happen because of our poor choices. God never intended for them to happen.
5) Am I willing to give up all of my excuses to pursue emotional health? Am I willing to go through the pain in order to discover the freedom that is on the other side of the pain? Emotional health requires a price on our part. That price is the laying down of our own solutions to our problems and the embracing of God's solutions as found in His Word.
So, do you want to be healed? I hope you'll shout a resounding YES! :)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
How to Identify the Lies You Are Believing
In this week's post, I am assuming that you have already accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and that you are a believer. If you have not yet accepted Christ, I urge you to read last week's post entitled "Lies and How They Hinder You".
Today we're going to discuss how to identify the lies that you are believing and that are keeping you in bondage. Here is a basic rule of thumb in identifying lies: Any thought you have that contradicts what God says about you is a lie.
So how can you know what thoughts contradict what God says about you? Great question! A question to which there is an easy answer. But first let me tell you a story.
When a person trains to become a bank teller, she has to learn to recognize counterfeit money. But, amazingly, she never handles counterfeit money to learn what it feels like. She handles only real money. And she handles real money so often and so well that if a counterfeit bill should pass through her fingers, she would instantly recognize it as counterfeit. Why? Because she knows what real money feels like, and she can immediately recognize when false money is in her hands.
The same is true with us. If we handle God's Word (the Truth) often enough and well enough, we will instantly recognize the counterfeit (the Lie) that Satan sends our way.
So the first step in identifying the lies you are believing is to study the Bible. Read it. Memorize verses. Meditate on the Word. Saturate yourself with it as much as you can so that when Satan throws a lie at you, you will instantly recognize it as a counterfeit.
If you have not formed the habit of reading the Bible every day, start today. Begin with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Read slowly and apply what you read to your personal life. As you do, you will be handling the Truth and you will be getting to know it well.
Next week, we'll explore what it means to want to get well.
Today we're going to discuss how to identify the lies that you are believing and that are keeping you in bondage. Here is a basic rule of thumb in identifying lies: Any thought you have that contradicts what God says about you is a lie.
So how can you know what thoughts contradict what God says about you? Great question! A question to which there is an easy answer. But first let me tell you a story.
When a person trains to become a bank teller, she has to learn to recognize counterfeit money. But, amazingly, she never handles counterfeit money to learn what it feels like. She handles only real money. And she handles real money so often and so well that if a counterfeit bill should pass through her fingers, she would instantly recognize it as counterfeit. Why? Because she knows what real money feels like, and she can immediately recognize when false money is in her hands.
The same is true with us. If we handle God's Word (the Truth) often enough and well enough, we will instantly recognize the counterfeit (the Lie) that Satan sends our way.
So the first step in identifying the lies you are believing is to study the Bible. Read it. Memorize verses. Meditate on the Word. Saturate yourself with it as much as you can so that when Satan throws a lie at you, you will instantly recognize it as a counterfeit.
If you have not formed the habit of reading the Bible every day, start today. Begin with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Read slowly and apply what you read to your personal life. As you do, you will be handling the Truth and you will be getting to know it well.
Next week, we'll explore what it means to want to get well.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Lies and How They Hinder Us
If you're like a lot of people, you are walking around with deep emotional pain but you are keeping it to yourself. You may feel as though you're the only one going through what you're going through. Sometimes, you may even feel as though you're losing your mind. If this describes you, take heart. There is a reason for your dilemma, and there is a way out of it.
Please bear with me as I build a foundation for you. This foundation is important to your understanding of what follows and to getting free of your emotional pain.
You are a three-part being. You have a spirit, a soul, and a body. How do I know this? This information is found in the Holy Bible in the First Book of Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 23. I believe that the Bible is God's manual for man and explains who we are, how we function, and how we should live to create a successful life for ourselves.
When you were born into this world, your spirit was dead. In other words, it was separated from God by what is called original sin. Original sin is the state of separation from God that resulted when Adam and Eve sinned against God by disobeying Him. Their disobedience separated them from God and severed their relationship with Him. Because Adam and Eve could pass on to their children only what they were, we inherited their sin nature and are also born into this world separated from God.
But God the Father loved you so much that He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to give you a new spirit so that you could be reconnected to God. That is the message of the Gospel, also called the Good News!
Now before you decide that all of this is nonsense, please hear me out.
Adam and Eve sinned because they believed a lie that Satan told them, the lie that God was holding out on them by commanding them not to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden. In reality, God was protecting them. In disobeying God's command, Adam and Eve essentially called God a liar. The truth was that Satan was the liar.
And he still is. Satan is still whispering lies into people's minds, including yours. But you may not recognize them as Satan's lies. You probably think they are your own thoughts, and sometimes those thoughts drive you nuts.
If you are in bondage in any way to harassing thoughts, bad habits, or tormenting emotions, you can be sure that Satan has whispered lies into your mind and that you are believing those lies. The only way to get rid of the harassing thoughts, bad habits, or tormenting emotions is to identify the lies you are believing, renounce those lies, and replace them with the truth.
The first step in doing this is to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. If you have never done this, I urge you to do so now. None of what I will be talking about will make sense nor will it work unless you have accepted Christ. The reason is that Jesus Christ alone is the Truth. You will never be free without Jesus Christ because He is the Truth Who sets you free. He Himself said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). So pray this simple prayer with me now:
Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died on a Cross for me, and that You rose from the dead. I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Make of me what You created me to be. Set me free by Your power, by Your Spirit, and by Your Love. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, please let me know so that I can send you some follow-up information. You may reach me at drmaryann@healingthehurtingheart.com.
In future blog posts, we will talk about some of the most common lies that keep people bound. And we will talk about how to identify those lies, renounce them, and replace them with the truth of God's Word.
If this post has helped you, please let me know. And please tell others about Healing the Hurting Heart.
Please bear with me as I build a foundation for you. This foundation is important to your understanding of what follows and to getting free of your emotional pain.
You are a three-part being. You have a spirit, a soul, and a body. How do I know this? This information is found in the Holy Bible in the First Book of Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 23. I believe that the Bible is God's manual for man and explains who we are, how we function, and how we should live to create a successful life for ourselves.
When you were born into this world, your spirit was dead. In other words, it was separated from God by what is called original sin. Original sin is the state of separation from God that resulted when Adam and Eve sinned against God by disobeying Him. Their disobedience separated them from God and severed their relationship with Him. Because Adam and Eve could pass on to their children only what they were, we inherited their sin nature and are also born into this world separated from God.
But God the Father loved you so much that He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to give you a new spirit so that you could be reconnected to God. That is the message of the Gospel, also called the Good News!
Now before you decide that all of this is nonsense, please hear me out.
Adam and Eve sinned because they believed a lie that Satan told them, the lie that God was holding out on them by commanding them not to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden. In reality, God was protecting them. In disobeying God's command, Adam and Eve essentially called God a liar. The truth was that Satan was the liar.
And he still is. Satan is still whispering lies into people's minds, including yours. But you may not recognize them as Satan's lies. You probably think they are your own thoughts, and sometimes those thoughts drive you nuts.
If you are in bondage in any way to harassing thoughts, bad habits, or tormenting emotions, you can be sure that Satan has whispered lies into your mind and that you are believing those lies. The only way to get rid of the harassing thoughts, bad habits, or tormenting emotions is to identify the lies you are believing, renounce those lies, and replace them with the truth.
The first step in doing this is to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. If you have never done this, I urge you to do so now. None of what I will be talking about will make sense nor will it work unless you have accepted Christ. The reason is that Jesus Christ alone is the Truth. You will never be free without Jesus Christ because He is the Truth Who sets you free. He Himself said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). So pray this simple prayer with me now:
Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died on a Cross for me, and that You rose from the dead. I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Make of me what You created me to be. Set me free by Your power, by Your Spirit, and by Your Love. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, please let me know so that I can send you some follow-up information. You may reach me at drmaryann@healingthehurtingheart.com.
In future blog posts, we will talk about some of the most common lies that keep people bound. And we will talk about how to identify those lies, renounce them, and replace them with the truth of God's Word.
If this post has helped you, please let me know. And please tell others about Healing the Hurting Heart.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
What's Your Hang-Up?
Have you ever thought about the word "hang-up"? It is a word that usually indicates a problem in our lives.
For example, a "hang-up" is usually an emotional problem that keeps us from being free. A hang-up can be a bad habit or an addiction we can't seem to overcome.
One definition of the word "hang-up" that I found very interesting was this one: "To be attached from above with no support from below" (TheFreeDictionary.com). When we have a hang-up, we often feel that we are just "hanging" there with nothing to catch us should we fall.
Along the same lines, isn't it interesting that when people ask us how we are, we often respond, "Hanging in there"? Why do we use that expression? Because we feel that we are hanging by a thread, waiting to fall unless someone rescues us.
Well, I have great news for you today! Someone has rescued us. Someone has rescued you. And His Name is Jesus Christ!
Who is this Person called Jesus? Let me introduce Him to you.
--Jesus is Love. Yes, His very nature is Love. Everything He does is motivated by His love.
--Jesus is Compassion. He cares about your deepest hurts. He cares that you're sick or depressed or lonely. He cares that you don't have enough money to pay your rent. He cares that your husband just walked out on you.
--Jesus is Mercy. He understands your struggles with sin, and He wants to set you free from those struggles.
As you follow this blog, you'll learn that Jesus wants to set you free from all of your hang-ups. Every single one! All you have to do is believe not only in His ability to set you free, but in His intense desire to set you free.
So stay with me on this journey of faith, and watch Jesus take the ashes of your broken life and turn them into something beautiful!
For example, a "hang-up" is usually an emotional problem that keeps us from being free. A hang-up can be a bad habit or an addiction we can't seem to overcome.
One definition of the word "hang-up" that I found very interesting was this one: "To be attached from above with no support from below" (TheFreeDictionary.com). When we have a hang-up, we often feel that we are just "hanging" there with nothing to catch us should we fall.
Along the same lines, isn't it interesting that when people ask us how we are, we often respond, "Hanging in there"? Why do we use that expression? Because we feel that we are hanging by a thread, waiting to fall unless someone rescues us.
Well, I have great news for you today! Someone has rescued us. Someone has rescued you. And His Name is Jesus Christ!
Who is this Person called Jesus? Let me introduce Him to you.
--Jesus is Love. Yes, His very nature is Love. Everything He does is motivated by His love.
--Jesus is Compassion. He cares about your deepest hurts. He cares that you're sick or depressed or lonely. He cares that you don't have enough money to pay your rent. He cares that your husband just walked out on you.
--Jesus is Mercy. He understands your struggles with sin, and He wants to set you free from those struggles.
As you follow this blog, you'll learn that Jesus wants to set you free from all of your hang-ups. Every single one! All you have to do is believe not only in His ability to set you free, but in His intense desire to set you free.
So stay with me on this journey of faith, and watch Jesus take the ashes of your broken life and turn them into something beautiful!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Welcome to Healing the Hurting Heart!
Faith has been under assault, yet it is faith that is the key to receiving from God. Why we do not receive is not a mystery, as many would say. On the contrary, why we do not receive has everything to do with faith.
In this blog, we will explore faith from the perspective of Holy Scripture. We will discuss what faith is and what faith is not. We will learn how to have faith and what to do with it once we have it.
As you take this journey of faith with me, you will begin to see that God says what He means and means what He says. You will discover that you are who God says you are, that you can have what God says you can have, and that you can do what God says you can do.
I will be posting on Wednesday of each week. As you prepare to find freedom through faith, join me in this prayer:
"Father God, we come to You in the mighty and matchless Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank You that You have given to each of us the measure of faith. Teach us to exercise it so that it may grow to its fullness. We give You all the glory and praise, in Jesus' Name. Amen."
In this blog, we will explore faith from the perspective of Holy Scripture. We will discuss what faith is and what faith is not. We will learn how to have faith and what to do with it once we have it.
As you take this journey of faith with me, you will begin to see that God says what He means and means what He says. You will discover that you are who God says you are, that you can have what God says you can have, and that you can do what God says you can do.
I will be posting on Wednesday of each week. As you prepare to find freedom through faith, join me in this prayer:
"Father God, we come to You in the mighty and matchless Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank You that You have given to each of us the measure of faith. Teach us to exercise it so that it may grow to its fullness. We give You all the glory and praise, in Jesus' Name. Amen."
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