Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Mental and emotional health


God wants us to have sound minds
2 Timothy 1:7 
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Pray for God's Guidance
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

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

Instead of worrying about everything, pray about everything
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Think on God's thoughts revealed in His Word
Isaiah 55:7-8 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 8:31b-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Psalm 107:20 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Don't condemn yourself or anyone else
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Revelation 12:10-11 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
John 8:10b-11 ...He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.”  And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Confess your faults and pray for one another
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much

Accept God's forgiveness for yourself and others
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
Mark 11:25-26 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Consider how Jesus was treated
Hebrews 12:2-4 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

By His Stripes We Are Healed
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

God's word heals
Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

God heals the broken heart
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Music and Emotional Health
1 Samuel 16:23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour’s presence, we shall have health and His blessing. [Ministry of Healing, p. 254]

A Merry Heart and Wholesome Tongue (Healthy Talk)
Proverbs 17 :22
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Proverbs 15:4
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Also see Ministry of Healing, Chapter 18 "Mind Cure"

Other helpful posts
Mental Health Secrets
7 Psychological Habits To Avoid
Cognitive Distortions to Avoid

Helpful music playlists on Youtube
For The broken heart
Jesus Understands
Peace in the Storm
Be not afraid
Hymns for troubled minds
Assurance in uncertainty
Courage, Hope, and Cheer
Faith and Courage
Peace, Joy, and Comfort
Peace and Rest
Songs of faith (bluegrass)
Songs for the trials of life (bluegrass)
Songs for the storms of life (bluegrass)
Courage and Comfort (bluegrass)
Christian counsel in song (bluegrass)

Saturday, May 18, 2019

How to be drawn to Jesus



Isaiah 45:22
Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

God draws us to Jesus
John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

People are drawn to Jesus when He's lifted up
John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself

God draws us with His love
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
Hosea 11:4 I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.

God's love seen in chastening
Hebrews 12:5-6 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:  “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

Look to Jesus lest you be discouraged
Hebrews 12:1-4 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Beholding Him, we are transformed
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Why we lose sight of Jesus

Intellectual pride
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Looking at your circumstances (or yourself)
Matthew 14:28-32 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Getting too busy to spend time with Jesus
Luke 10:38-42
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Looking at other people
John 21:20-22 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Spiritual Thirst


Jeremiah 2:13
For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

Isaiah 55:1 Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalms 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Psalm 81:10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Isaiah 44:2-4 Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.’

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Psalm 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Proverbs 25:25 As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.

Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 11:25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.

Verses relating to spiritual hunger:
John 4:34
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work."
Deuteronomy 8:3b ...man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

A quote relating to spiritual hunger
In the word of God is spread before you the richest banquet. This is the Lord's table, abundantly provided, whereof you may eat and be satisfied. RH October 18, 1898

Also see Desiring God

Relevant music playlist on Youtube
Living Water