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.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
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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