| I want to get straight to the point. If you are suffering | | | | open wound for unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, |
| from spiritual or emotional hurts, Self Help, Self | | | | depression, and anxiety to enter. The Word implies |
| Improvement and Self Esteem books, programs and | | | | that we may "give place to the devil" when we are |
| workshops are a waste of your time and money. | | | | angry longer than one day (Ephesians 4:26-31). |
| "Why?" you ask. It's simple really, because they do not | | | | Therefore, these critters may be more than just |
| work! Self Help, Self Improvement and Self Esteem | | | | harmful emotions, they may also be evil spiritual |
| books, programs and workshops all focus on one thing | | | | creatures (Matthew 18:34). |
| and one thing only; YOU! Let's be perfectly honest, if | | | | For cleansing of our spirit and emotions to occur, (1) |
| you have been spiritually or emotionally wounded YOU | | | | we must forgive those who have offended us, (2) ask |
| are the problem. There is something wrong in you that | | | | God for to forgive and cleanse us (I John 1:9) for our |
| is in need of repair. Self help, Self Esteem and Self | | | | unforgiveness, (3) yield that area unto the Lord, (4) |
| Improvement books, workshops and programs will not | | | | request that God restore our soul (Psalm 23:3) in the |
| work to bring you spiritual and emotional healing | | | | area yielded to the enemy, and (5) use the name of |
| because it is an attempt by something broken (you) | | | | Jesus to drive out the enemy. |
| trying to fix itself! A created thing or being (you) can | | | | The fourth step is to RECEIVE HEALING of the |
| only be fixed by its creator (God). | | | | spiritual or emotional hurt. God gives us two distinct |
| The first step is to ACKNOWLEDGE the need for | | | | pictures of healing in Scripture. One picture is that of |
| healing, whether spiritual or emotional. For us to receive | | | | God calling off the enemy (Deuteronomy. 7:15). This |
| the healing of spiritual and emotional wounds, we must | | | | picture relates to the cleansing of the wound. The |
| first acknowledge that we are hurting (Matthew 9:10-13, | | | | other picture is one of mending the net (Exodus 15:26). |
| Revelation 3:17). Many of us have lied to ourselves as | | | | After the physician cleanses the victim's wound, he |
| well as to others. We have said, "I'm really O.K." or "It | | | | sews it up so that it will not become contaminated |
| really doesn't matter that much." | | | | again. Forgiveness opens the door to freedom, but |
| Sometimes, the spiritual and emotional wounds are so | | | | forgiveness is not healing. Without our receiving the |
| painful that we develop a case of amnesia. We may | | | | spiritual and emotional healing, the wound again |
| not be able to recall voluntarily the event or that time in | | | | becomes contaminated. However, when God mends |
| our life. In such a case, we may need the aid of a | | | | the wound, He also heals the wound. |
| compassionate counselor to guide us gently in facing | | | | We may receive our spiritual and emotional healing by |
| our spiritual and emotional hurts. | | | | (1) understanding that Jesus suffered all kinds of |
| The second step is to LOCATE the cause of the | | | | spiritual and emotional hurts (Isaiah 53:3) and that he |
| spiritual and emotional pain. In the natural, we may have | | | | became a hurt substitute (Isaiah 53:4) for us , and (2) |
| a pain in our legs, but the cause may be a pinched | | | | believing that Jesus was sent to heal the broken |
| nerve in the spine. To operate on the legs would be | | | | hearted (Luke 4:18), and (3) asking in faith for that |
| the wrong procedure. A youth may have severe | | | | spiritual or emotional healing. When God heals the |
| problems getting along with his peers at school, when | | | | wound, we may recall the experience without being |
| the real source of the pain is from an abusive | | | | flooded by the pain. |
| stepparent at home. A wife may feel enormous pain | | | | The fifth step is to STRENGTHEN the weak area. |
| every time her husband disciplines one of the children. | | | | Again, in the natural, the area around the wound may |
| However, the pain she feels may originate from her | | | | remain weak even after the healing occurs. This is |
| own spiritual and emotional wounds as a child. | | | | also true of spiritual and emotional wounds. The enemy |
| We may unconsciously associate one spiritual and | | | | will try to get us to focus our thoughts (II Corinthians |
| emotional hurt with another. Furthermore, time itself, | | | | 10:4-5) on the event that brought the spiritual or |
| does not heal spiritual and emotional hurts. Only God | | | | emotional hurt. If this occurs, we may mentally pick at |
| does! Therefore, with each new conflict, we pick up | | | | the area until we have opened a new wound. |
| additional baggage. It is therefore important that we | | | | Therefore, it is critical that we strengthen that area by |
| locate and separate each spiritually and emotionally | | | | applying the Word of God. (1) We need to see that |
| painful experience. This is the work of the Holy Spirit | | | | God had a purpose in allowing us to be wounded |
| (Psalm 139:23-24). | | | | (Genesis. 50:20). (2) We need to see that God can |
| The third step is to CLEANSE the wound. If you | | | | work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). |
| received a deep wound in your hand and you left the | | | | (3) We need to come to rejoice in the Lord over the |
| wound open, it would sooner or later get contaminated | | | | experience (Philippians. 4:4). (4) We need to develop |
| and infected. The same is true in the spiritual and | | | | and share our testimony with others (Revelation 12:11). |
| emotional area. Spiritual and emotional hurts are an | | | | |