Effective Habits To Embrace In Parenting
To be an effective parent, you must be a leader in your childs life, guiding with a gentle hand and setting a solid example. Dr. Randy Schroeder provides the insight you need to be a leader-parent. As he explores the foundational Rsrelationship, routines, responsibilities, and rulesyoull better understand the role you play in your childs life. Youll learn great phrases to employ such as Either/Or/You Decide and When You/Then You. While there is no perfect parent, this nuts-and-bolts material will equip you to lead your child in a loving, confident manner.
Try This Prayer For Anxiety And Depression
Im guessing that if youre reading this, youve struggled or are struggling with anxiety or depression and youre looking for hope. Maybe you feel like youve tried everything and you just cant seem to beat it. Youre hoping to find a prayer for anxiety that will fix it all and make it go away. Poof! That nagging, aching, painful feeling inside is now gone and you can go back to normal. Maybe you feel lost, afraid and alone. I bet you also sometimes feel a little guilty that youre supposed to be anxious for nothing as a Christian and you cant seem to get it right. That depresses you, and now you feel like quitting and pulling away from everyone. That was me. I was there, and I was there big time.
It wasnt until I learned to do nothing that I finally found peace.
God is a giver. He has the answers, and He has our back. Some things we just cant do ourselves, but that is exactly how He designed it. All we have to do is trust Him and come to Him. He does the rest! And you know, all of those things I worried about worked out, one way or another. My self-imposed worry was causing horrible physical symptoms and depression. It wasnt until I took a breath, rested, truly came to Jesus, got quiet, let go of all the details, told God that I trusted Him completelyand then learned to do nothingthat I finally found peace. My prayers became less about my situation and more about my trust in Him.
Jesus Is Our Example Of How To Fight The Good Fight Vs More Works To Prove His Faith
When the devil approached Jesus in the wilderness, he tried to tempt Jesus by questioning His identity in relation to his pain. If you notice, the questions were related to testing Jesus identity in order to create fear, tempting Him to prove Himself and even give up His identity for earthly glories.
The devil tempted Jesus by saying,
If you are the Son of God, then .
Jesus “fought the good fight” by resting in the Truth of who He was and His secure relationship with the Father, not by testing or proving it with works.
Jesus responded with the Truth,
It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test” .
Interestingly, Jesus didn’t do anything except stand in the Truth. In other words, Jesus rested securely in the true focus of who He is, His secure relationship IN THE Father, and His focus on earth was for us . Thus, Jesus endured the wilderness with intimate security, not a formula of a distant God.
As a result, the devil departed and Jesus returned from the wilderness in great power .
Maybe you will return from the wilderness in great power, too!
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How To Thrive In Christ Even When Sad
Ecclesiastes 3:4
As every Christian knows, even though we have put our faith in God and are following Jesus, this does not mean we will now experience perfect joy on earth with zero problems. In fact, sometimes we can be in a prolonged season of painful sadness. But if God loves us and we love him, why is he allowing this sadness to continue? Why doesnt he just take the sadness away?
In this article we will discuss 3 possible reasons God is not taking your sadness away.
1. God Will Allow the Sadness to Remain If Your Time of Healthy Grieving Is Not Over
All sadness is not the same. The word sadness is kind of catch-all phrase that can mean many different things depending on who is saying it and why they are saying it. For example, a clinical depression compared to watching a movie that had a tragic ending are too very different things even though people might use the word sad to express how they feel in both situations. So some sadness is good and some sadness is unhealthy.
Its kind of like ignoring a cut on your body. If you act like that cut is not there, you will make it harder for that wound to form a scab and then heal. You will keep bagging it against things and reopening the gash if you pretend like it does not exist, thus prolonging the healing process.
2. God Will Allow the Sadness to Remain If You Are Still Clinging to Secret Sins
3. God May Be Allowing the Sadness to Remain Because It Is Needed to Fulfill Your Calling
Fight From Secure Rest Vs Fighting To Achieve More Freedom
The context of this scripture is not a position of a mental or emotional failure or because you are weak.
Instead,the apostle Paul is reminding us of our permanent security, not letting the world around us interpret who we are who were not and trying to follow those patterns – formulas.
Paul is basically saying,
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God Speaks To You In The Bible
Keep your heart open to the fact that the Bible has much to say to you when you are depressed. Here are a few suggestions of Bible passages you can read. Read one each day and let it fill your mind as you go about your life.
- Read about Jesus suffering in Isaiah 53 and Mark 14. How does it help you to know that Jesus is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief?
- Use the Psalms to help you find words to talk to God about your heart. Make Psalm 88 and Psalm 86 your personal prayers to God.
- Be alert to spiritual warfare. Depressed people are very vulnerable to Satans claim that God is not good. Jesus death on the cross proves Gods love for you. Its the only weapon powerful enough to stand against Satans lies.
- Dont think your case is unique. Read Hebrews 11 and 12. Many have walked this path before you and they will tell you that God did not fail them.
- Remember your purpose for living.
- Learn about persevering and enduring.
We Walk Through Our Challenges With A Wholeness Mindset Vs A Brokenness Focus
I love to remind people in this journey,
Were in a wholeness journey, not a brokenness one.
A brokenness mindset only begets more brokenness that leads to learned helplessness. However, a wholeness mindset will beget more wholeness that leads to learned-hopefulness.
Let’s review some scriptures that highlight who we really are in a wholeness for a wholeness mindset:
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Your breakthrough in Christ has already been fulfilled.Jesus already made a breakthrough once and for all, we are completely new and lacking in nothing, and no longer need to strive for more of God’s blessings or more spiritual breakthroughs. Yeah, you dont need to strive to a new level of faith, youre just learning to mature in faith. We are living out and growing from our new wholeness in Christ .
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The wholeness and oneness with God are fulfilled there is never any distance or separation. Jesus is at rest with us, and we are at rest with Him. He has already made us secure over-comers through faith . We are already resting in our eternal security, with no more striving to achieve more faith and freedom .
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His grace works within us for our benefit . We rest in knowing He is guiding us by grace and working in us toward His good advantage, will, and pleasure. There is no need to strain ourselves to get more grace or blessings. The Holy Spirit of Grace, grace itself is our instructor of life, not works for more grace .
Honestly, if God said He will be with us, He means it.
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The Road To Recovery Can Be Slow And Messy
Ill be honest with you: Today I still struggle with anxiety from time to time. I still have those moments of uncertainty. My faith does not remove the voice of negative self-talk.
But I do have confidence in one thing: God meets me where I am. He has been with me every step of the way. From diagnosis to recovery. And looking back, I can certainly attest that I am not the same person I was several years ago as I sat in the doctors office discussing different side effects of antidepressants. I can confidently say that the worst is behind me.
When I hear that there is no room for God in the whole mental health debate, I want to remind those people of something that I think is one of the key issues at the center of this whole conversation: God loves people in their humanity and we are to do the same of one another. Despite our perceivedweakness, despite the things that would hold us back, despite our human tendencies to fear and to feel insecureGod still uses us to inspire, to lead and to love others. He uses anxious people.
I am the most peaceful I probably have ever been on my journey, but every now and then, I still feel a little off.
But its encouraging to know that I dont have to be perfect.
I dont have to feel perfectly.
I can just be.
Praying Scripture Over Your Childs Life
Jodie Berndt loves to pray for her children. Shes been doing that for the past thirty years. Now she helps other parents to talk to God, asking for the salvation of their kids, and for wisdom, self-discipline, purpose, a future and much more. She offers fun and practical encouragement that moms and dads can put to work immediately in their daily lives as they prepare their children for a life in Christ.
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How To Pray When Youre Depressed
Why Your Kids Misbehave And What To Do About It
Tantrums. Talking back. Throwing toys or food. Meltdowns. Slamming doors. Kids know just how to push your buttons. Youve tried all sorts of methods, but nothing seems to work. In this book, Dr. Kevin Leman reveals exactly why kids misbehave and how you can turn that behavior around with practical, no-nonsense strategies that really work . . . and are a long-term win for both of you.
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Learning To Trust Him In The Dark
Many a night, l have lain awake and cried out to God in distress for healing.
When the darkness did not lift, l had to make a decision: If God wants me to endure this season, then l can either choose to love Him and trust that He will work out everything for my good , or l can turn away from Him and fend for myself. Considering that my life was a total mess before l entered into a relationship with Christ, the latter was a poor option.
During the times when l sit emotionally in the dark, l remember what God has spoken to me in the light: He will not test me beyond my endurance and He will never fail me nor forsake me . With these reminders in mind, l choose to trust, lean on, and rely on Him.
Since Ive put on eyes of faith, lm now able to see Gods grace, provision, and favor instead of my struggle. He has blessed me with kind doctors, provided financial provision, and enabled me to write productively, for which l am truly grateful.
Identifying Triggers In Your Marriage Part 1
They were both convinced they had married the wrong person. From almost the very beginning of their marriage, Amber and Guy Lia experienced various tensions and personality clashes related to house cleaning, backseat driving, workaholism, and intimacy. In this two-day Focus on the Family broadcast, Amber and Guy discuss how they bravely faced the triggers head-on, and committed to working on their own relationships with Jesus. As you listen to the Lias story, youll feel hope that you, too, can see real marriage transformation!
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How Does God Respond When His People Want To Die
Blog Post by Abby McDonald
Sometimes its easier to be a spectator. When theres an event or tragedy making headlines and getting lots of attention in the media, thats often what I am. I sit back and read other writers words. I nod and silently say, Amen.
But over the last weeks following the suicide of two well-known celebrities, I knew I needed to contribute more than hushed acknowledgement. I watched others speak up about their own experiences with depression and bravely tell their stories, and God stirred my soul.
I know what its like to be in that space where you dread waking up.
To look out the window and try to feel anything other than the slow nothingness engulfing you. After having my first child, there were days I couldnt wait to crawl into bed and slip into the abyss of sleep.
Last week I read words from a courageous one who voiced a truth most of us dont hear very often: Someone can love Jesus but still want to die. And I applaud her for it. These are the types of conversations more of us need to have.
Days after I read her story, its points still circled my mind and I found myself wondering, Why do we so often want to remain silent about our own darkness? The autopilot part of me knows the answer. People who love Jesus arent supposed to want to take their own lives, right? Theyre supposed to have faith that can heal and a spirit that finds peace in his presence, right?
And yet, they wanted to die.
He gets to the heart of the matter.
He listens.
And The Words The Lord Spoke To Me From The Biblewords Of Comfort Hope And Lovelifted Me Up And Made My Heart Glad
Again, that’s why Proverbs 12:25 says:
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad .
In November 2010, God delivered us from our horrible financial situation in one moment. But He had been working so much in me all along that, by the time He did, He had changed my heart. He had taken me from a place of anxiety and fear to a place of trust. He had made me completely dependent upon His Word, and strong enough to stand on His promises in faith, no matter what my circumstances looked like.
Through those years of prayer and falling on my face every morning, asking Him for help, He healed me. Healed me momentarily every time I prayedand healed me permanently by changing my heart over time, and making my faith stronger than the pressure of horrible circumstances.
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Love In Every Season: Understanding The Four Stages Of A Healthy Relationship
Every relationship goes through four life-changing seasons: Spring. Summer. Fall. Winter. Each season plays an important role in taking your relationship to the next level. And depending on how you navigate each season, your relationship will either flourish and grow, or it will slowly die. Whether youre single, dating, engaged or married, join licensed professional counselor and relationship expert, Debra Fileta as she takes you on an eye-opening psychological and spiritual journey through the four seasons that she has observed in every healthy relationship.
As A Christian He Feels That All Events Have Reasons Including Depression Even If The Reasons
Religion and spirituality could either support people’s wellbeing or undermine it, depending on how people thought about their spirituality. Those who felt supported and helped by their spirituality believed in a loving, forgiving, benevolent higher power. This could be a wonderful source of comfort in depression. The trouble is that just as it is hard to feel connected to other people while depressed, it is difficult to feel connected to God. A leap of trust and faith is frequently needed to be spiritual while depressed.
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