Jesus – Page 2 – Hope for Complete Healing

THE DOWNSIDE OF LISTENING EMPATHETICALLY

When you emphatically listen and understand the perspective of the other person, does it drain you? Are you tempted to judge the other person because they think and feel differently from you? Or do you take on their pain and burdens? These are the downsides of empathetic listening. We build trust when we make the other person feel valued and understood. But you may need to set boundaries when the person only wants to be understood and does not want to understand your perspective. Or the other person just wants to unload their emotional garbage on you. If that is the case, you will need to kindly set boundaries and help them seek the assistance of a professional counselor.

Read my last post on how to empathetically listen to develop win/win agreements. Some people want you to understand them, but do not want to have a win/win agreement with you. Being able to express your feelings gives you psychological air, but it may be overwhelming to the other person. Also, if you are the person who feels they are not understood or valued, ask God why you have that need. It could be that you need to work through painful memories of not being understood as a child or teenager. If that is the case, then read my online book to resolve those painful memories first.

If you are the person who demands to be understood, that is not healthy because you depend on another person for validation instead of turning to God for help with your problems. Meditate on the following Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8 states, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6) He is like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.’ 7) ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8) He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.‘” Only God can truly meet your need to be understood and validated. He knows every detail about your life, and He wants you to cast your cares on Him, and He will cause it to be for your good (Rom. 8:27-28).

The Purpose of Empathy.

Empathetic listening is only effective when both parties are working towards a win-win agreement and are both mentally healthy seeking mutual benefits. If you are the type of person who cares too much and then becomes burdened by empathetic listening, put the cares of the other person into your God’s got-it box, and lose it from your memory. You may become offended and judge the people who hurt your loved one or friend; forgive them and put your resentment into your God’s got it box. Be cautious not to judge others and say hurtful things. Empathy is supposed to develop compassion, not judgement. Jesus showed empathy and compassion to those around Him, and He blessed them.

Jesus told the parable about the Samaritan man who came across a man who had been robbed and beaten. The religious people judged him and passed by him, but the Samaritan had compassion and helped him (Luke 10:29-37). Sometimes the people we work with, or family members are messy and mentally beat up. They need our compassion. Matthew 9:36 states, “When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And Matthew 14:14 states, “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

Do you Bless or Curse When You Understand.

How can we be a blessing to someone or be a curse? Do our words encourage or discourage? Listening with empathy is a blessing to the person with whom you want to have a healthy relationship. Being blessed is being encouraged and made joyful. We are blessed when someone is kind to us or is patient and gives us grace when we need it. To be cursed is to be made miserable and rejected by the hurtful, judgmental words of other people who should have loved you. So, you close your heart, so it won’t be hurt again. Closing your heart is a mental health problem because you are also closing out meaningful and loving relationships. Our words are the most common way we bless or curse God and each other. Read my post called: WORDS HAVE POWER—Part I: Overcoming The Destruction of Offensive Words

Another type of curse that causes misery are word curses put on us by family members, teachers, and those who hate us. Word curses are negative directives, such as you will never succeed. Or you lack discipline and will never be able to lose weight. We also put word curses on ourselves. I became free from many curses, and I encourage you to read my short book on my website to know what word curses are and how you can become free, too. Many times, we bring curses on ourselves when we do not trust and obey God. If you struggle to trust God, you may have false beliefs that prevent you from trusting God. I encourage you to read my short book to be free from these unhealthy beliefs. Go to Hopeforcompletehealing.com

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you will like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, available on Amazon.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, found on Amazon. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles. I would love to hear what you think so please leave a review.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

GOD’S WIN/WIN AGREEMENTS

What are God’s expectations of us? Does He require that His children follow His commands? Do you require God to meet your expectations, or do you trust His wisdom and all-knowing power? Everyone has needs and desires, and so does God. We are made in His image. God is a Spirit, and we are spirits in human bodies. Ultimately, God created us to love Him and others. Jesus explains in Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

The Apostle Paul explains the principle of love in Romans 13:8-10, which states, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Please read my post called THE GREATEST PRINCIPLE TO LIVE BY.

In my last post, I shared the need for WIN/WIN agreements that help you have healthy relationships, as explained by Stephan Covey in “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” But do you know that God sets up win/win agreements all through the Bible? With every win/win agreement, there are consequences for breaking the agreement. If you haven’t read my last post, please read it to help you understand what win/win agreements are and how they are helpful for healthy relationships.

God established the following agreement with the new Israelite nation, explained in Deuteronomy 28:1-8, which states, “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. ²And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. ³Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. ⁴Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. ⁵Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ⁶Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. ⁷The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. ⁸The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

The condition for the win/win agreement on God’s side was for the Israelites to be faithful to obey His commands. Obedience shows that we love God (John 14:15). If they obeyed, they would be blessed in all they did. But if they didn’t obey, they would not be blessed, but cursed in all they did. Here is a sampling of the curses: Deuteronomy 28:45-48 “All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you. ⁴⁶They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. ⁴⁷Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.”

The consequences of not obeying seem very harsh. If you had a child who would not obey and was very obstinate, they would think your punishment or consequences were harsh, maybe even abusive. God is our Father and the King of Kings and lord of Lords; therefore, He requires that we obey because he created us to be in a loving relationship with Him and others. If you love someone, you will want them to love you back and be willing to work toward mutually agreeable benefits. If your spouse decides to have an affair, then the marriage agreement is broken. Often, affairs end a marriage, and the consequences are sometimes very harsh.

I published a book called “Unlocking God’s Promises.” In this book, I explain 18 categories of promises, which are win/win agreements. Agreements or solutions benefit everyone and leave everyone satisfied; if you don’t do your part, then God won’t keep His promise. For example, Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God agrees to give you all you need if you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The Apostle Paul explains the kingdom in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We are to seek peace with all men (Heb. 12:14; Rom. 12:17-18; James 3:18; and 2Timothy 2:22). There are many other ways to seek first his kingdom, to learn more read, How do you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

Another example is John 14:23, which states, “Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” The condition is to keep Jesus’ instructions, and when we do, then the Father will love you and He will make His home in you.

Conclusion

Win/Win means that agreements or solutions benefit everyone and leave everyone satisfied. God created humans to be in a relationship with Him, so that He could show His love and power toward them. God has many win/win promises for those who obey and love Him. To learn more, buy my book on Unlocking God’s Promises. As soon as it is officially published, I will provide a link.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Week 46: Worship is praising God’s word.

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? –Psalm 56:4

What kind of person do you not trust? If someone tells the truth and keeps their promises, would you trust them? Would you agree that God’s word is truth? The above verse has two truths. The first truth is our worship focus. When you trust God, you will praise His word. Why? When you trust God, you won’t be afraid of what others do to you.

What was happening in the Psalmist’s life when he wrote Psalm 56? David had been captured by the Philistines. He writes in Psalm 56:1-4, “Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. ³When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” At some point in your life, could you identify with David? Do you trust God to be gracious to you during adversity? The last verse of this Psalm says, “For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

I wrote the following in in post called Week 39: Worship God with your soul. “Based on the Bible’s description, our soul stores our feelings, which leads us to praise and gratitude to God. This makes sense, doesn’t it? If you fill your soul with the wonderful truths of God, then you are inspired to praise Him.” Have you noticed that when you focus on your problems, you feel depressed and despaired? David said that God delivered His soul from death and kept him from falling. This is because David positioned his mind to praise God’s word and trust Him. As a result, he could “walk with God in the light of life.” Only as we worship God can we experience God’s light and life despite our troubles.

Even though the Philistines were oppressing David, he kept his focus on God and could praise His word and trust Him. How about you? Do you need to make a mental shift? I know I have to almost every day. I pray God blesses you this week as you worship Him and trust Him.

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WEEK 46–November 12-November 18

Day 316-Nov. 12—Worship God, who is the same from the beginning to the end of time.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. –Hebrews 13:8

Day 317-Nov. 13—Worship God, who gives you wisdom when you ask.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. –James 1:5

Day 318-Nov. 14—Worship God, who will give us the crown of life.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. –James 1:12

Day 319-Nov. 15—Worship God that He does not tempt you and will help you.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. –James 1:13-14

Day 320-Nov. 16—Worship God for the gifts He gives you.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. –James 1:17

Day 321-Nov. 17— Worship God, who causes the devil to flee from you.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. –James 4:7

Day 322-Nov. 18— Worship God, who values you and draws near to you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. –James 4:8

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Verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, visit the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.

Week 44: Worship God forever.

I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. –Psalm 145:1

What do you think of when forever is mentioned? Did you ever say, “I wish this could last forever?” As believers in Jesus Christ, worship God and bless His name forever and ever. We get a glimpse of what it will be like to worship God forever and ever in Revelations 4:10-11, “The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’”

I can say that I have drawn closer to God by worshipping Him every day. The days I don’t worship Him, I brood on the things of the world and my problems. I become fearful about things that may never happen. How about you?

The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:1-2, “ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” When I worship God, my mind is on the things above where Christ Jesus is. Try it. It will change your perspective about the problems that are causing you stress.

When you begin to ruminate on something you don’t like, try worshiping God, either praise Him in prayer or sing a song of praise or give a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The act of praising God will take your mind off the thing you are unhappy about and change your perspective. For example, when I fret about the state of the United States, I become very depressed, but when I worship God, I am reminded that I am a citizen of heaven and His ambassador here on earth (Phil 3:20 and 2Cor. 5:20).

King David said in Psalm 52:8-9, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. ⁹I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.” King David had an eternal perspective. Do you? As you worship God this week, give Him your concerns and focus on his love and goodness. Be thankful for the work of God in your life and the lives of others who may be causing you problems.

As you worship God this week, I challenge you to focus on the things above where Christ is seated. I pray you will be blessed and receive honor as you worship God this week.

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WEEK 44–October 29-November 4

Day 302-Oct. 29—Worship God for His living and active Word that can discern your thoughts.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12

Day 303-Oct. 30—Worship God, who sympathizes with your weaknesses.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. –Hebrews 4:15

Day 304-Oct. 31—Worship God, who gives you mercy and helps you in your time of need.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. –Hebrews 4:16

Day 305-Nov. 1—Worship God that He is not unjust and will not overlook your good work and love.

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. –Hebrews 6:10

Day 306-Nov. 2—Worship God that His Son is interceding for you.

Consequently, he [Jesus Christ] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them. –Hebrews 7:25

Day 307-Nov. 3—Worship God for being merciful, who will not remember your sins.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” –Hebrews 8:12

Day 308-Nov. 4—Worship God, whose Son will come again to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. –Hebrews 9:27-28

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Verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, visit the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.

Week 41: Worship God with your being.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. ³⁴May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. –Psalm 104:33-34 and 146:2

Have you determined to sing praise to God as long as you live and have your being? Your being is your existence. The distractions of the world often keep me from worshiping God. Health issues, family problems, work problems, or financial problems often control our thoughts, which then prevents us from singing praises to God. Even when King David was being chased in the wilderness by King Saul, he still praised God.

King David wrote the following in Psalm 63:1-4, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ²So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ³Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.” Do you have the same passion and zeal? Why or why not?

Verse 34 states, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.” Do you desire to please God? God knows what is in your heart and what you are thinking. Does God find a rejoicing or complaining heart? Do you rejoice in the Lord despite life’s challenges? Philippians 4:4-6 states, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness [gentleness] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Are your medications pleasing to Him? Meditation can be:

Pondering, which is deep thought;
Contemplation, which is reviewing; or
Reflection, which is making an application.

When you pray, you are meditating using all three aspects. Sometimes, King David’s meditations to God were very heavy because of the trials he faced, yet in the end, David rejoiced and trusted God to work out his problems.

When you meditate on the following worship focuses, it will please the Lord. Determine in your heart that you will praise God as long as you live and have your being. May He bless you richly this week.

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WEEK 41–October 8-October 14

Day 281-Oct. 8—Worship God for calling you to a holy calling according to His purpose.

Who [Jesus] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. –2Timothy 1:9

Day 282-Oct. 9—Worship God for abolishing death and giving you immortality.

[Grace,] which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. –2Timothy 1:10

Day 28-Oct. 10—Worship God for being faithful even if you are faithless.

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. –2Timothy 2:11-13

Day 284-Oct. 11—Worship God for knowing you.

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” –2Timothy 2:19

Day 285-Oct. 12—Worship God for making you a vessel of honor and ready for every good work.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. –2Timothy 2:21

Day 286-Oct. 13—Worship God that He can use you as a servant to help others escape from the devil’s snare.

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. –2Timothy 2:24-26

Day 287-Oct. 14—Worship God for standing with you and rescuing you from troubles.

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. –2Timothy 4:17

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Verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, visit the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.

365 Days of Worship –Week 12—Sacrifice

Sacrifice is difficult. How do you give a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving when you don’t feel like it? Life may be hard, and you feel sad, and you don’t feel like being thankful. Or, you may feel you are too busy to worship God. Maybe bad things may have happened to you that make you depressed, and you can’t praise God.

What is a sacrifice?

Sacrifice is offering your best for the benefit of others. For example, if you make a promise to someone, but it becomes a sacrifice, what do you do? How about sacrificing your time and money to help someone in need? I once sacrificed six hours of my time once a week, plus gas, to drive a friend to her cancer treatment that was one and a half hours away. Worshiping God is a sacrifice because we need to make the time to focus on Him and offer Him the gift of praise and thanksgiving even when we don’t feel like it, or we are too busy.

The Bible gives three examples of sacrifices.

Sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 states, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
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Sacrifice is thankfulness. Psalm 107:21-22 states, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! ²²And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!”
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Sacrifice of our bodies. Romans 12:1 states, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice as an example for us.

Realize how much God sacrificed for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take the punishment for sins. Ephesians 5:2 says, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Hebrews 10:12 states, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” Knowing how much God loves you and the sacrifice He made should make you praise and thank Him for forgiving you of your sins and giving you eternal life. And because of His sacrifice, we can offer a sacrifice of praise and love.

As you go through this week’s worship focus, please make the sacrifice to take the time to lay down your life as a living sacrifice and press in to worship God with a heart of gratitude.

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WEEK 12 – March 19-25

Day 78-Mar 19—Worship God’s majesty and strength.

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. ²Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting [eternal]. –Psalm 93:1-2

Day 79-Mar 20—Worship God because He does not forsake us and He is just.

For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. –Psalm 94:14-15

Day 80-Mar 21—Worship God because of his marvelous works and salvation.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. ²The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. –Psalm 98:1-2

Day 81-Mar 22—Worship God for His forgiveness and holiness.

O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. ⁹Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! – Psalm 99:8-9

Day 82-Mar 23—Worship God with thankfulness for His goodness, love, and faithfulness.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! ⁵For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. –Psalm 100:4-5

Day 83-Mar 24—Worship God because of His great works on the earth.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. ²⁵Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. –Psalm 104:24-25

Day 84-Mar 25—Worship God for His provision.

From your lofty abode [dwelling] you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. ¹⁴You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart. –Psalm 104:13-15

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, go to the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.

365 Days of Worship—Week 5 – Spirit and Truth

Do you know God seeks certain people to worship Him? Are you a true worshipper? God wants us all to worship Him, but only in Spirit and truth. In John 4:23-24, Jesus says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” So, how do we worship in spirit and truth? Please take a moment and quietly ask God to reveal this truth to you. I have some insight, but God may give you another perspective. Please share below if He does.

The Bible says the Holy Spirit, which is the spirit of God, is the Spirit of truth. Jesus tells us in John 15:26, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” How do we receive the Holy Spirit? When you believe and confess Jesus is the son of God and the savior who rescues you from your sins and took the punishment for your sins, then the Holy Spirit gives our spirit life (Matt. 1:21; Heb 9:28; Rom. 10:9-10; Rom. 8:10-11). 1 John 4:13-15 says, “By this, we know that we abide [dwell] in him [God] and he in us because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” Have you believed and received Jesus into your heart (John 1:12; Eph. 3:16-17)? Is your spirit daily enduring (remaining) with the spirit of God through reading His Word, prayer, and worship?

We are to worship both in the Spirit and in truth. Truth is found in God’s word, and in Jesus, so when He dwells in our hearts, we have the truth (John 1:14; 17:17). Also, when our spirit meditates on God’s truth and then reflects His truth in worship, that is worshiping in spirit and truth. I pray as you meditate on each day’s truth, that you reflect it back as heartfelt worship to God from your spirit. Also, Philippians 3:3b states, “[We] worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”

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WEEK 5 – January 29-February 4

Day 29—Worship God for His steadfast love and salvation.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. ⁶I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. –Psalm 13:5-6

Day 30—Worship God’s Lordship.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. ²I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” –Psalm 16:1-2

Day 31—Worship God’s counsel.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. ⁸I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. –Psalm 16:7-8

Day 32-Feb. 1—Worship God’s presence and joy.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. –Psalm 16:11

For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. –Psalm 21:6

Day 33-Feb. 2—Worship God for His steadfast love to those who seek refuge.

Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. ⁸Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. –Psalm 17:7-8

Day 34-Feb. 3—Worship God as your rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, salvation, and stronghold.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. –Psalm 18:2

Day 35-Feb. 4—Worship God’s desire to rescue you and reward you.

He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. ²⁰The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. ²¹For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. –Psalm 18:19-21

All Scripture is from the English Standard Bible. Find the previous weeks in 365 Days of Worship. This information is copyright protected.

Christmas Poem by Debbie Auen

Christmas is about hope

Hope for sinners to be forgiven and free

For those who are spiritually blind – GOD’S truth to see

Christmas is about GOD’S presence, love, light coming through

To bless and transform me and you

Christmas is about GOD humbling HIMSELF to become a man

To reveal to us HIS purpose and plan

Christmas is about the power and purity of GOD’S love divine

Pouring forth HIS holy, spiritual wine

Christmas is about the greatest miracle taking place

GOD giving us HIS mercy and grace

Christmas is about GOD reaching down and out

To deliver us from fear and doubt

Christmas is about celebrating the reality of joy and peace

The fact that GOD’S love never shall cease

Christmas is about our need for salvation, sanctification, and God providing

It is proof that GOD is not distant or hiding

Christmas is HIS heart on display

That we will experience the true meaning of Christmas

In a personal way I pray

How to be Free from Sin’s Control – Post 4

Do you think you know the permanent solution to the most common problem we all have? When I ask inmates about sin and forgiveness, most do not know what sin or forgiveness is. I explain sin as anything we think, say, or do that breaks God’s heart (Good News Club definition). Some think God is disappointed with them when they sin. He is not disappointed. His heart is broken because He created us to be one with Him, but our sin separates us from Him. We sin when we disobey God’s royal law to love Him and others. Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” And Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If no one is good and we all sin, then how can we be liberated (Luke 4:18)?

Even though I was a Christian for many years, went to church, and read my Bible, I continued to be controlled by the sin of anger, worry, and a need to control. I read many self-help books, sought counseling, memorized scripture, rebuked demons, and went to the altar all the time. If you read my book on my website, you learn how God healed my painful memories, so my past no longer controlled my soul, which is my will, emotions, and thoughts that influence sinful actions. I briefly summarized how to free in your thoughts in Post 2. In the last post, I explained how to free your spirit and the role of your spirit to the Spirit of God. I realized lasting liberation from habitual sin is submitting my spirit to God’s control and keeping my mind on His truths.

How do we submit our spirits to God?

Remind yourself every day about the truth in Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Our lives are hidden with Christ in heaven, so our minds should be focused on what Jesus thinks. For example, when I become irritated with my husband, I have made it a habit of being thankful and thinking of things that are praiseworthy (Phil. 4:6-8). If I did not set my mind on this truth, then my negative thoughts would control my emotions, which would lead to unkind words and an avoidable fight. Another truth I set my mind on is serving others as Jesus did, not expecting to be served (Matt. 20:28). And, Galatians 5:13 states, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.“

I also remind myself of 2 Corinthians 5:10; “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” The Apostle Paul said that we should “make it our aim to please him [God] (2Cor 5:9b).” If we are pleasing God by doing His will, loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loving others, then sin will not control our soul (mind, will, and emotions). When we do sin, since none is good, we must confess our sins daily. In 1 John 1:9 it explains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Verse 24 of Romans 3 gives us hope, “And [we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Jesus died on the cross to take our punishment for our sins, which would be like you taking your children’s punishment for their wrongdoing. When we are justified, it means our sin is removed and God redeemed (restored, saved) us and made us new (2 Cor. 5:17).

Who helps us and gives us hope?

Because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we are forgiven and reconciled back to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Remember, sin separates us from God. Colossians 1:21-22 states, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him [God].” We need to see ourselves as holy and blameless, free from our sinful nature, and one with Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:6-7 states, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷For one who has died has been set free from sin.” As I work with inmates, they struggle with this verse, and they don’t see themselves as free so they remain in bondage to old patterns of behavior. I understand that painful memories control our thoughts and emotions, which is why I wrote the book on this website. Trauma needs to be healed but when they are healed you must look in the mirror and say, I am no longer controlled by (whatever), I live my life through Christ and His strength (Phil. 4:13).

And Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Every day, tell yourself that Christ lives in and through you and Christ is perfect. Tell your mind, will, and emotions that you are controlled by Christ’s love (2Cor. 5:14).

It is hard to crucify (put to death) our fleshly desires, but giving in to our flesh will lead to death. Setting our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace (Rom. 8:6). So, do you want death or life, misery or peace? When you submit to God and obey Him, you will experience liberation from the control of sin in your life.

What is the source of our sinful nature?

So much can be said about the source of our sinful nature. One source is recorded in James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Temptation is not a sin. When you are tempted, take the thought captive and command it to be gone, and then replace it with God’s truth (2Cor. 10:3-5).

When I am tempted to sin and say something unkind and snide, it comes out of my self-centered pride because I had unmet expectations or desires (Ps. 59:12). Another source is being directly tempted by the devil just as he tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, then Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:26; “And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” The only way to become free from the devil’s captivity is to submit to God. James 4:7 states, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Conclusion

Sin breaks God’s heart because He loves us and wants us to obey Him because we love Him. Just as a parent loves their children and wants their children to obey them because they love the parent. So, out of love, Christ reconciled us to God through His blood on the cross so that we can be friends with Him and have our sins forgiven and made holy and blameless.

When we submit our lives to Jesus Christ and desire to please God through obedience, we will be free from the penalty of death brought by sin. Submitting our lives to God is setting our minds on the things that please God. So, read your Bible every day and do what it says. If you are not excited about these truths, please ask God to examine your heart to show you why. So many people don’t see their sin because they don’t read their Bibles, or they justify their actions because of their pride.

Which sin camp are you in?

Are you excited to be free from sin’s control?
Don’t know what sin is? Read Galatians 5:16-25.
Justify your actions as righteous and don’t acknowledge your sin? Read Jeremiah 17:9-10.

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All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family; hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

What is Godliness?

I have been pondering this question for years. Webster’s dictionary (1957) defines godliness as being godly, which is 1. of or from God; divine 2. devoted to God. Dictionary.com (2021) says godliness is the quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devoutness and moral uprightness. Because of my abusive past, I did not fit the description of godliness. I was angry, controlling, impatient, and insecure. When God healed my soul wounds, I was free to focus on His way of living in love instead of living out of my past hurts. I share how God heals our inner wounds and painful memories in my online book.

What does the Bible say godliness is?

Paul writes to Timothy the following in 1Timothy 3:14-16. “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” From this passage, we learn that:

— Godliness is a mystery.

— The person of Jesus Christ represents godliness.

— Godly is the way to behave in the church of the living God.

1Timothy 4:7-8 states, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” In these verses, we learn that:

— Godliness is demonstrated by how we think.

— We train ourselves to be godly.

— Godliness benefits us in the present life and the life to come.

1Timothy 6:3-5 states, “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” We learned that:

— Godliness is the sound teaching of Jesus Christ.

— Ungodly people crave controversy, quarreling, dissension, friction, and so on with people.

— Ungodliness is depraved (corrupt) and deprived (robbed) of the truth.

— False teachers think godliness will bring financial gain.

1Timothy 6:6-11 states, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” What we have learned:

— Contentment is the evidence of godliness.

— Godliness does not desire to be rich.

— We are to pursue godliness along with righteousness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.

2Timothy 3:5 states, “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” We learn from this verse that there is power in godliness, as explained in 2Peter 1:3. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

2Peter 3:10-11 states, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.”

Conclusion

Over the next few posts, I will dissect and delve into each of these passages in more detail and provide additional scriptural explanations. I would like to know your thoughts, so please leave a comment because I am only a student of God’s Word and have not attained complete understanding. I like the fact that the Apostle Paul admits that godliness is a mystery.

All verses are from the English Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share the links with your friends and family, hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. No part of the posts or my book may be reproduced without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, and ask for a PDF of Eight Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, salvation for non-believers, 23rd Psalm, and victory. Please leave your name so I know you are a person making the request.