A Healing Crisis of the Soul

Those of you who are avid health aficionados and who are familiar with the detoxing process of the body have inevitably faced a healing crisis. What is meant by the "crisis" is a temporary worsening of a persons health condition in order to bring about a cleansing effect and a healthier you. The crisis begins as the body rids itself of negative and toxic substances. These substances are released into the body which were once pent up and they begin their journey out of the body. In this process the toxins can actually manifest several symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, slight malaise, sleeplessness, flu like symptoms, nausea and so on. The symptoms are short lived however and are a welcome change to the toxic state the body had been operating under. Most recognize this temporary set back as a positive step in the right direction and deal with the discomfort for they know the condition the body is heading for and they embrace this process of healing.

So what exactly does this have to do with spiritual health?

The same theory can be applied to the state of the soul and spirit. As we take in more of the toxic environment and social context surrounding our spirit bodies we come face to face with a spiritual life in need of a resetting or a recharging. This realization is a healthy step for our spirits but it will not come without a short-lived worsening of our spiritual state. As you begin to allow God to work in your spirit to cleanse it from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9) you may be reminded of a particular lingering sin or pattern of behavior. As this sin is cleansed from your spirit and as your pattern of behavior is transformed a period of grief may come over you. You may feel convicted of your sin and this may cause you to feel defeated. What is important here is that you do not just throw in the towel and cease the healing process that has begun. You must press through this healing crisis of the soul and put your trust and process in the hands of God. If you confess your sins to God you have nothing to fear for He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and as referenced above He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9). This cleansing process is what theologians refer to as sanctification. This process is the life-long journey of the believer in which God draws you closer to Him and further away from sin and corruption. This setting apart of the Christian is completed in full at the second coming of Christ or the at the death of the believer (whichever occurs first). At this point the believer is glorified and takes part in the inheritance that was prepared for them before the foundations of this world (Matt. 25:34).

Application:
So is your soul in need of a detox? Have you been faltering in your devotion to Christlikeness? Do you feel ashamed of a pattern of behavior in your life? Are you feeling more removed from God? Is your prayer time non-existent or non-effective? Are you feeling readers block when you spend time reading God's Word?

If you answered yes it may be time for a spiritual detox.

I want to suggest a great read for you on this topic as you begin your journey to a renewed spirit. Dallas Willard has written a classic of the spiritual life entitled Renovation of the Heart and I highly recommend using this as a guide to spiritual health and renewing.

Whatever resource you choose make sure you allow yourself grace and a time of spiritual rest. Just like with a physical detox it may cause you to become fatigued or weary, but be gentle on your soul and put its health in the trust of the Savior. He knows what you need and will guide you through the healing crisis to the spiritual health you have always desired and were designed for.

Be Blessed!

A Special Request for Some Friends

Please take a look at this video. These are dear friends of mine who for all I can see are certainly willing and deserving to be parents. There struggle has been difficult and we have seen them battle on in their pursuit of a family.

Your prayers, and support (financially if you feel led) would be greatly appreciated. Andrew serves our church community as worship pastor and Natalie's infectious smile and warm heart have deeply impacted our body of believers with eternal benefits. I am not so sure life would be as joyful if it wasn't for them in it.

Check out there page at http://igg.me/at/FockelFamily

Again thanks for your support of this amazing couple in advance. May God bless you as you bless them!

Surviorman Wisdom...

I was watching an old episode of Surviorman with survival expert Les Stroud the other night. He was backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and he had to survive for seven days. The weather was holding up well for him considering it was late spring. However on the third day into the survival challenge, rain came upon him quickly. It was at this point that Stroud utilized his experience and knowledge to get him through a tough spell. Stroud had learned that in order to stay warm, naturally you would need a fire and in a place like the Sierra Nevada's the temperature can change quite dramatically at night and get below freezing. To prevent the storm from drowning out the fire you have to make a big enough flame to withstand the downpour.

Then it hit me...

What an amazing principle for us Christ-followers. Right now you may be experiencing a particularly great season of weather in your life. However, storms, trials and tribulations can come at any time and most unexpectedly. The question is, how big is your flame right now? Could it hold off the storm? Will your flame be put out by the rain?

What you do with the great weather in your life will determine if you make it through the rain. If your fire is kindled hot for God during the good times that same fire will withstand the storm when it comes, and it is sure to come. However, if you ignore your spiritual fire during the sunny times when the rain comes your flame will be easily extinguished and then you will be unable to withstand the storm.

If you are in the midst of a sunny season take this opportunity to read God's word everyday, pray and devote your heart and joy to him. Build in those great habits and practices that draw you every closer to the source of your fire and when the storm comes, which as I said before it will, then your fire will stay lit. Don't get caught with a small fire.

If you are in the midst of the storm right now (as I am) it is never too late to rekindle your fire. Find a great friend to pray with you, spend some time working on your relationship with your creator, read a great devotional book, rekindled your fire and your faith will be stoked and your hope returned. Just as the storm came, it will too come to pass, you must expect this to happen because our God promises these things for us! Have confidence in Him to deliver you from the storm and the next time a trial comes your way your flame will stay lit!

God bless you all and I will be praying for your fire!

In Weakness we are Made Strong

"For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God's power we will live with Him to serve you."

-2 Corinthians 13:4-

This message from Paul is a powerful reminder that our God is mighty. However this show of God's force is not when we are impregnable rather when we are feeble. God's perfect power, his love cannot be given the gravity it deserves under the guise of human pride and arrogance. God's power does not work in such cluttered environments as man's egotism.

This is a repeated theme throughout Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. When we are made low, humbled and fraile then God's mighty strength can be seen in its true glory. Working through the broken-hearted, the downtrodden and those with no hope, God's ultimate love can be shown for his concern and care for us when we are in our greatest need. Surely a heart that is boastful has no room to invite the sustainer of the cosmos in, and why should that person, after all, they believe they have the world in their hands, they can do no wrong. Such hubris is not the proper breeding ground for life changing work to be done.

Are you looking for God to transform your life? What areas of pride and dignity must you lay low in order to allow God to work his perfect power in you? Examine yourselves and see what is in need of a Godly adjustment and surrender that to him so he may transform you!

"'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

-2 Corinthians 12:9-10-