I am reading a book by Dr. Henry Cloud called the Secret things of God. Not really a secret if you are reading the Bible, however. What I love about his writing is that he acknowledges and gives examples of psychological practices that God ordained from the beginning of time. If we heeded God's word we would know how precious we are; how we are to treat our fellowman and what to do in times of distress and trouble.
He talks about the 3 Ps that lead to depression, in the negative ways that we interpret the bad things that happen to us in the world.
Personal explanations: taking a bad experience and internalizing it to mean something bad about yourself, rather than just a bad experience. For example today I was distributing flyer's to promote an ESL class I will be part of in April. Some places did not what them. Well, they just didn't want them that's all. It doesn't mean I suck at selling the idea of ESL classes or that I am a failure at things in general.
God says we should take captive these thoughts and submit them to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Replace those thoughts with these instead;
Romans 8: 31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
He loves us, He choose to die for us, He doesn't think we are worthless or losers. Amen
Rhonda Bryne's book the Secret misleads people to believe that their thought control the world. Although our thoughts about ourselves are powerful affecting our outlook and actions, they start and end with us. We cannot control the world or those around us, only God can.
Next time the second P.
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