Powerful keys

I pray that you will be enriched and strengthened with fresh hope, courage and wisdom to face your own personal challenges of life.

Whilst respecting the validity of use in transition through a difficult time, it is alarming to see the increase in prescription drugs for depression and anxiety being administered. Many who have used them would say that they tend to numb and desensitize rather than cure emotional and mental angst.

I pray that as I share with you some of the powerful keys I have learnt over 20 years that have taken me (and continue to undergird me) from the pit of despair to a broad place of peace, joy and contentment, they will become as powerfully meaningful to you too. They are ALL found in our “handbook for life”, the Holy Bible.

SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS CANNOT BE MEDICATED! Spiritual principles are much like the law of gravity – EVEN THOUGH I MAY BE IGNORANT OF A SPIRITUAL LAW, I AM NOT EXEMPT FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE TO IT.

In order to find answers and make progress, we must all come to that place where we face up with courage and humility to the ‘root causes’ of our life (sometimes lifelong) issues. Many are because of our own poor choices, and many are the results of circumstances over which we had no control. Whatever the cause, most of us long to be free. Fear, worry, anxiety and depression are often rooted in disappointment, bitterness and unforgiveness and need to be called for what they are – unaddressed spiritual issues. A good starting place is to face myself honestly, forget about blaming others, take responsibility, and acknowledge to God where I have sinned, (missed the mark), where I knowingly or unknowingly deviated from His principles and ask for His forgiveness. Why not ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate areas of your life right now,  that need to be brought into the healing Presence of His light, confessed as sin, then washed away in the ‘sea of forgetfulness’, (never to be remembered by Him again and no matter how unforgiveable you think you’ve been). May you tangibly experience the power of His unconditional love flood over you with healing and forgiveness!  Once we ‘get’ this principle of confessing our sin to our Heavenly Father, a fresh sense of freedom, peace and joy floods our hearts and minds – our thinking becomes clearer, the day seems brighter and the challenges not so daunting. Proverbs 14:30 states, “A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Although I know there are many issues to be faced – forced sales, bank commitments, restocking issues and health problems resulting from prolonged years of stress. TAKE ONE STEP AND ONE DAY AT A TIME – one task, one obstacle, one more thing crossed off your ‘to do’ list.

ASK GOD TO GO BEFORE YOU AND ‘MAKE CROOKED PATHS STRAIGHT’, ASK HIM FOR THE COURAGE TO FACE THINGS ‘HEAD ON’!

Make that call you have been dreading or avoiding, ring that bank manager, creditor or agent. Whatever the challenge you face, be it financial, relational, medical or personal – it may not be as bad as you think! It’s better to know the ‘bottom line’ than continually worrying about what “might” be! Have the courage to be honest and upright in your conversation. Now that’s a principle God can back because it lines up with His Word! Whatever the outcome, stand with courage, ask God to walk through it with you, giving you His divine solutions, day by day, to untangle the situation at hand.

REMEMBER TO HAVE A GRATEFUL THANKFUL HEART FOR ALL HE HAS DONE.

TRUST HIM COMPLETELY to lead you through. “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART AND MIND and do not rely upon your own insight or understanding. In ALL your ways, know, recognize and acknowledge Him, AND HE WILL DIRECT AND MAKE STRAIGHT AND PLAIN YOUR PATHS. (Proverbs 3 v. 5,6) Amplified version

Search your own Bible and study the biblical meaning of that word ‘trust’. Some of the profound meanings are: to confide in; to sets one’s hope and confidence upon; throw one’s self or one’s cares upon; be secure; fear nothing for oneself; have no cause to fear; sense the security of. To flee somewhere for refuge; to take refuge in; under the protection of; under the shadow of the wings of God. To cause to hope for something.

Finally, I leave this Scripture with you to meditate upon, (muse over), which has been a great personal blessing and source of strength to me. PERSONALLY APPLY it to your own life. Break it down into phrases, and ask questions, ie. ‘What am I anxious about Lord? I make a conscious decision to hand that matter over to You, I expectantly trust and wait for Your direction regarding this. Your word says You will never leave me or forsake me, thank you that the answers are on their way!’ (When I have truly handed it over to Him, as I lay down to sleep, a deep peace will flood my heart knowing ‘He is a God that neither sleeps nor slumbers’ and is undertaking on my behalf).
(Philippians 4 : 6 – 9)

V.6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. V.7 And God’s peace shall be yours, (that tranquil state of a soul assured of it’s salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with it’s earthly lot of whatever sort that is), THAT PEACE WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. V.8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is ANY virtue and excellence, if there is ANYTHING worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (FIX YOUR MINDS ON THEM). V.9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

I pray this is a practical blessing to you and I am so looking forward to seeing you this winter as I travel into some far flung regions.