THE WHOLE SOUL V “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”

THE WHOLE SOUL V

“Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”

Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He

leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of

righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of

death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You

prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup

runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in

the house of the LORD Forever

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul,

and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

I. FREEDOM TO LOVE

1. God requires it

Matthew 22:37-39

  Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all

your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38  This is the first and great commandment.

39  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself”.

2. Love is the end goal and highest maturity

1 Peter 1:22

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in

sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good

conscience, and from sincere faith

3. Pain does not stop love, but it makes loving more difficult

II. THE LIMITATION OF THE NEW BIRTH

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new.

1. The cycle many believers encounter

STAGE 1: Life-Changing Awareness of God.

STAGE 2: Discipleship. This stage is characterized by learning about God and

what it means to be a follower of Christ.

STAGE 3: The Active Life. This is described as the “doing” stage. We get involved,

actively working for God, serving him and his people. We take responsibility by

bringing our unique talents and gifts to serve Christ and others.

STAGE 4: The Wall and Journey Inward. The Wall compels us into the Journey

Inward. In some cases, the Journey Inward eventually leads us to the Wall. Most

importantly, remember it is God who brings us to the Wall.

STAGE 5: Journey Outward. Having passed through the crisis of faith and the

intense inner journey necessary to go through the Wall, we begin once again to

move outward to “do” for God. We may do some of the same active external

things we did before (e.g., give leadership, serve, and initiate acts of mercy

toward others). The difference is that now we give out of a new, grounded

center of ourselves in God. We have rediscovered God’s profound, deep,

accepting love for us. A deep, inner stillness now begins to characterize our work

for God.

STAGE 6: Transformed into Love. God continually sends events, circumstances,

people, and even books into our lives to keep us moving forward on our

journeys. He is determined to complete the work he began in us, whether we

like it or not! His goal, is that we be made perfect in love, that Christ’s love

becomes our love both toward God and others. We realize love truly is the

beginning and the end. By this stage, the perfect love of God has driven out all

fear (1 John 4:18). And the whole of our spiritual lives is finally about surrender

and obedience to God’s perfect will.

III. DEFENSE MECHANISMS

Unconsciously, we carry many defensive maneuvers into adulthood to protect

ourselves from pain. And in adulthood, they block us from growing up spiritually and

emotionally. The following are a few common defenses:

1. Denial (or selective forgetting). We refuse to acknowledge some painful aspect

of reality externally or internally.

2. Minimizing. We admit something is wrong, but in such a way that it appears less

serious than it actually is.

3. Blaming Others. We deny responsibility for our behavior and project it “out

there” upon another.

4. Blaming yourself. We inwardly take on the fault: “It’s my fault…It’s because I’m

not worth it.”

5. Rationalizing. We offer excuses, justifications, alibis to provide an inaccurate

explanation of what is going on: “It’s in my genes”.

6. Intellectualizing. We give analysis, theories, and generalities to avoid personal

awareness and difficult feelings.

7. Distracting. We change the subject or engage in humor to avoid threatening

topics.

8. Becoming hostile. We get angry or irritable when reference is made to certain

subjects.

IV. JESUS THE HEALER

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite

spirit

Jabez

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name

Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10  And Jabez called on the God of Israel

saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your

hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause

pain!” So God granted him what he requested

1. Map out your family tree - List negative patterns and assess how they have

affected you. Take those areas before God individually and consistently.

2. Look at areas of constant conflict in relationships – Ask God to show you the

root. Take that area before God.

3. Look at areas of repetitive negative behavioral patterns. Ask God to show you

the root. Take it before God.

4. Ask God to show you anything that hinders love. Bring those areas before God

constantly and consistently.

5. See a counsellor if necessary. Pray for the right one and don’t settle until you

find the right one.