WEEKS 11 & 12
RENEWING MY MIND … FAITH, FORGIVENESS AND FEELINGS
RENEWING MY MIND … FAITH, FORGIVENESS AND FEELINGS
This is an important “crossing over” stage. We have become clearly aware of how losses in our human core needs have wounded our minds, hearts and bodies, and have created a set of harmful beliefs leading to poor choices and the resultant behavior that comes from these choices. We are now invited to turn from agreement with those harmful beliefs and instead invite the Holy Spirit to bring God's perspective and truth to us. This can only be accomplished by allowing the Holy Spirit to inspire us to have growing faith in Jesus. And the Holy Spirit will help us in this healthy transformation.
Remember, in Ephesians 2 we learn that our faith is really a gift from God! It is not something we have to produce but rather something we receive as a precious gift! We can then feed and water it and watch it grow!
As our faith grows, we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to see and believe in the love and forgiveness that Jesus has given us, and this sets us free to love and have the freedom to forgive others as we have been forgiven. This follows the Scriptural advice "not to lean on our own understanding", but instead we can determine if our current thoughts, beliefs and emotions line up with the mind and heart of Jesus. Having done that, we become empowered by His love.
We now begin to detox ourselves from negative thoughts and emotions and rather focus on the renewal of our minds. Scripture says we must “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice...” (Eph. 4: 31-32). We begin, wisely, to ask the important questions such as: Where is this thought coming from? Why am I feeling this? What is the source of this stress or discomfort?
We will look at faith vs feelings in Week 11, then explore faith, feelings and forgiveness in Week 12. Remember, only through the Holy Spirit’s work within us are we set free to initiate healthy actions rather than experience unhealthy reactions based on our own feelings. And, we begin to have faith in Him, rather than faith in our own faith or our own feelings.
Click HERE to read "Week 11 Outline"
Remember, in Ephesians 2 we learn that our faith is really a gift from God! It is not something we have to produce but rather something we receive as a precious gift! We can then feed and water it and watch it grow!
As our faith grows, we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to see and believe in the love and forgiveness that Jesus has given us, and this sets us free to love and have the freedom to forgive others as we have been forgiven. This follows the Scriptural advice "not to lean on our own understanding", but instead we can determine if our current thoughts, beliefs and emotions line up with the mind and heart of Jesus. Having done that, we become empowered by His love.
We now begin to detox ourselves from negative thoughts and emotions and rather focus on the renewal of our minds. Scripture says we must “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice...” (Eph. 4: 31-32). We begin, wisely, to ask the important questions such as: Where is this thought coming from? Why am I feeling this? What is the source of this stress or discomfort?
We will look at faith vs feelings in Week 11, then explore faith, feelings and forgiveness in Week 12. Remember, only through the Holy Spirit’s work within us are we set free to initiate healthy actions rather than experience unhealthy reactions based on our own feelings. And, we begin to have faith in Him, rather than faith in our own faith or our own feelings.
Click HERE to read "Week 11 Outline"