Explore how embracing how to receive appreciation with gratitude can enhance your relationships and well-being. Learn to receive compliments with an open heart!
Read I receive appreciation easily and with gratitude
As I sit quietly, I reflect on the times when I have been appreciated and how it made me feel. I know that a generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. So I pray for those who have encouraged me to be encouraged even before they need it. I thank God for the encouragement I’ve received even before I felt I needed it.
I know that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. So I receive appreciation easily and with gratitude.
Yet, it’s not always easy. There are times I have deflected or downplayed people’s appreciation for me. Sometimes, it has felt difficult to accept compliments or recognition.
In these moments, I remember the ones who have encouraged me have obeyed the call to encourage one another and build each other up. So I do my best to not deflect or downplay their appreciation. As I receive appreciation easily and with gratitude, I show proper respect to everyone. By accepting their appreciation with grace and gratitude, I respect their kindness.
I remember times when I’ve been acknowledged for my work or for simply being me, and how these moments filled me with warmth and satisfaction. So I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. When I receive appreciation, it’s natural for me to express my gratitude to the Lord for His blessings, and my appreciation to others for their kindness.
Today, I remember all forms of appreciation are gifts from above. Each compliment, each acknowledgement, is a blessing. And so, with grace and humility, I will continue to receive appreciation easily and with gratitude.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How can I practice receiving appreciation more graciously?
In what ways can I express my gratitude, both to the Lord and to others, when I receive appreciation?
How can I respect and honour those who show me appreciation?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
I practice gratitude daily because it's God's will I give thanks always
“The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord.” - Jeremiah 33:11 (GW)
Listen to I practice gratitude daily because it's God's will I give thanks always
Read I practice gratitude daily because it's God's will I give thanks always
Every morning, as the sun peeks through my bedroom window, I take a moment to pause, to breathe, and to give thanks. It’s not just a habit, but a way of life for me. The Bible tells me to give thanks always.
Practicing gratitude daily doesn’t mean denying the difficulties I face. It means acknowledging God’s presence and His work in my life despite those difficulties. I will not give God credit for the works of the one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy. I will treat all hardship as discipline, knowing He is a good Father and will work all things together for good. I agree to cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me. I never forget that the God of all hope fills me with peace and joy as I trust in Him, so that I will overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit. So, I worry about nothing, but pray about everything and thank Him in all things, knowing that’s His will for me.
Each day brings its own set of challenges and blessings. I’ve learned to see each challenge as an opportunity for growth and every blessing as God’s love manifesting in my life. When I wake up to a new day, I thank God for the gift of life. When I sit down to have my meals, I thank Him for providing me with nourishment. Even when things don’t go as planned, I’ve learned to say a word of thanks because I know I can trust Him, knowing He will work all things together for good.
Gratitude helps me maintain a positive outlook on life. It shifts my focus from what’s wrong to what’s right. It helps me appreciate the small blessings that often go unnoticed. Practicing gratitude strengthens my relationship with God. It makes me more aware of His presence in my life and more appreciative of His love for me.
Practicing gratitude daily improves my overall well-being. It teaches me to see God’s hand in everything around me and helps make me a happier and more content person. Gratitude helps me to worship God as God, so my thinking does not become futile and my heart doesn't become darkened.
Today, as the Bible tells me, I will give thanks always.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How am I incorporating the practice of gratitude into my daily routine, and how can I improve on this?
In what specific ways have I experienced God’s goodness and enduring love in my life recently?
How has the practice of gratitude influenced my perspective during challenging times?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Learn how embracing an attitude of gratitude can transform your life and deepen your faith in God’s goodness. Join me in celebrating an attitude of gratitude!
Read I have an attitude of gratitude because God is so good
Every new dawn brings with it a fresh opportunity to reflect on the vastness of God’s love and goodness. It’s an incredible blessing that instills in me an attitude of gratitude. The mere fact that I wake up each day, breathe, and go about my life is a testament to God’s unwavering goodness. This daily miracle I sometimes overlooked, yet it’s a gift that deserves my thanks.
God’s love is clear in every aspect of my life, from the grandeur of the universe to the minutiae of the day-to-day of every day. The sun that rises each morning, the rain that waters our crops, and the air we breathe are all expressions of His divine goodness. These natural phenomena, though simple, are profound reminders of His benevolent presence in our lives. He sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous, so I know I must act as a true child of His and love the ones who don’t choose to live at peace with me, and I pray for those who persecute me.
God’s goodness is also deeply personal and unique towards me. He has given me gifts and talents, helping me to find my purpose in life. In whatever I do, I can love God and love others so they can love God and love others. He guides me through life’s winding paths, teaching me lifelong lessons that shape me more and more into the image of the Son, whom He loves.
In times of troubles, God’s goodness remains constant. Through these experiences, He fortifies my faith and resilience, strengthening me and making me wiser. He works all things together for the good of those He calls. It is in these moments that His love shines the brightest, guiding me towards growth and healing.
God’s goodness is manifested in the love and kindness I receive from others. Every act of compassion and goodwill I encounter reflects His divine love. I extend this love to those around me, becoming a vessel of His goodness. My attitude of gratitude stems from recognizing God’s abundant goodness in every aspect of life. His love is ubiquitous—in the rising sun, in the falling rain, in the air I breathe, in my unique talents, in life’s lessons, in acts of kindness I receive and give.
Today, I am grateful because God is so good.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
In what specific everyday events or aspects can I see God’s goodness, and how do they inspire gratitude within me?
How has experiencing trials or challenges strengthened my faith and deepened my understanding of God’s constant goodness?
How can I extend God’s goodness to others, and why is this important in cultivating an attitude of gratitude?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Explore the transformative power of daily gratitude for God's presence in your life. Discover how this practice can deepen your faith and enrich your spirit.
Read I give thanks daily for God’s presence in my life
Reflecting on my life, I see the omnipresent nature of God in every moment. He is always with me. Since God is for me, who can be against me? How can I lose with God? He gives me every breath I breathe and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Each day, I live with mindfulness and His peace, knowing that He will finish the good work started in me. I am incredibly grateful for this.
In times of joy and success, His presence is like a warm, radiant sunlight that fills my soul with immense gratitude. I celebrate the victories and blessings, understanding that they are not solely the result of my efforts, but also a testimony of His divine grace. The laughter, love, and harmony that I experience with my family and friends remind me of His endless benevolence.
In times of challenge and adversity, His presence becomes a beacon of hope and resilience. When I find myself lost in the storm of life’s trials, I experience His guidance subtly, gently leading me back on the right path. The strength that I find to overcome these challenges is a testament to His eternal support.
I also feel God’s presence in the quiet moments of solitude. In the tranquil mornings or the calm nights, when I engage in prayers or meditation, I feel a profound sense of connection with Him. These moments of tranquility provide me with clarity and wisdom, which are signs of His divine presence.
God’s presence is obvious in the beauty and marvels of nature around me. The majestic sunrise, the serene moonlit night, the chirping birds, or the blooming flowers - all stand as testament to His wondrous creation.
God’s presence in my life is not limited to specific moments or incidents. It is an all-encompassing, constant force that guides, nurtures, and provides strength to my spirit. Every breath I take and every step I move forward reflects His enduring love and guidance. I feel so grateful for His presence right now.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How has God’s presence helped in times of grief?
Not that it’s true, but at times has it felt that it is true that He’s abandoned me?
How has He restored to me the joy of my salvation in the past?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Discover how important it is to appreciate the gratitude other’s show. Learn how it fosters connection and strengthens relationships, enhancing overall well-being.
Creator made me for good and called it very good. He is good and I want to do good knowing people see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven. I know I am in the world to make a positive impact on others, and I appreciate when others recognize it. Because He sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous, I do good to all people.
As people go through the motions of life, saying ‘thanks’ is a gesture that is often taken for granted–with little thought being given to it. But I am still happy to hear it because I know deep down it is being expressed by someone that I somehow connected with.
I appreciate the gratitude of others.
When someone tells me how thankful they are, I don’t downplay it with “no problem” or “no worries” or “it wasn’t anything”. Instead, I appreciate the gratitude they show it with a heartfelt, “You are welcome!” When someone asks me for the reason for the hope I have, I am ready to tell it by doing it with gentleness and respect. In my heart, I have set apart Christ as Lord.
When my kids or grandkids say ‘thanks’ for a gift or for the time we spend together, I know it is something they truly appreciate. It lets me know that what I did warms their hearts and shows them I really love them.
Today, I embrace the positive feeling of being appreciated. Even when others forget to express their appreciation for my positive gestures, I know that I’ve done it as unto the Lord. I will not become weary in doing good, for at the right time, I will receive a harvest if I do not give up. So I do good to all people.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How often do I say thank-you to others?
Can I feel the gratitude of others even if they don’t thank me?
Do people see my hope when I continue to show my appreciation and gratitude?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Explore effective strategies to well healed wounds, promoting resilience and emotional well-being. Discover Biblical tips for meaningful emotional recovery.
Learn how to heal from emotional trauma with proven strategies for emotional well-being and resilience. This message covers Biblical techniques for overcoming emotional wounds, fostering mental health, and building inner strength. Whether you're dealing with past trauma or current challenges, find out how to support your journey to emotional recovery.
Study the notes on Why You Need To Have and How to Have Well Healed Wounds
Why you Need and How to Have Well Healed Wounds
Jeremiah 17:5-14 NLT “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. At midlife they will lose their riches; in the end, they will become poor old fools. But we worship at your throne— eternal, high, and glorious! O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who turn away from you will be disgraced. They will be buried in the dust of the earth, for they have abandoned the Lord, the fountain of living water. O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!”
Today we’re talking about Why we need and how to have well healed wounds.
Can I pray?
I was in a church to help launch a fast from negativity. I was going to explain the concept of “gravitas.” This description comes from M. Craig Barnes “The Pastor as Minor Poet” p. 49
It [gravitas] speaks to a soul that has developed enough spiritual mass to be attractive, like gravity. It makes the soul appear old, but gravitas has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with wounds that have healed well, failures that have been redeemed, sins that have been forgiven, and thorns that have settled into the flesh. These severe experiences with life expand the soul until it appears larger than the body that contains it. Then it is large enough to proclaim a holy joy, which makes the soul so attractive.
As I shared that, I felt I needed to expand the message. I said something like this extemporaneously,
“Some of you here take pride in your wounds. You wear your pain like a badge of honour. You think it makes you acceptable to God. But God wants you to know that your wounds hurt Him and what brings Him joy is when your wounds well healed. You need to have well healed wounds.”
After the service a lady came up to me with tears in her eyes. She told me some time ago God impressed upon her that her wounds would heal well. She said, “when you said that phrase – ‘well healed wounds’ – I knew God was saying my time of healing is complete.”
I was floored. I had just come from a long conversation with someone telling me how tough his life was and how he had a right to his bitterness. This lady had the opposite spirit. It was amazing.
Does having well healed wounds really matter?
Life often gives us opportunities to choose between becoming better or becoming bitter. God’s will is for us to become more and more like Jesus.
It’s never a good choice to be bitter against God. And the worst part is we can spiritualize it.
Imagine Eeyore is speaking: “He’s the potter, I’m the clay. I’m the work of His hand” “What is man that you’re mindful of him, the son of man that you’d care for him?” “Enjoy life with the wife you love…all your days of your life, all your miserable days”.
We’ve been there right? Keep imagining Eeyore…“Don’t pray for patience, you’d just have to wait.”
Should Biblical truth suck the faith out of you?
When we spiritualize being offended at God, we don’t even realize we can be bitter against God.
Hebrews 12:15 (NLT) Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Remember that To live loved means we love each other
We love each other as we love ourselves… Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, 1 John 4:10-11; 2 John 1:5
Because He first loved us… 1 John 4:19-20
Our love is sincere, we’re devoted to one another with brotherly love and honour one another above ourselves…Romans 12:9-10
We share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality… Romans 12:13
We forgive… Colossians 3:13-14
We are patient, kind. We don’t envy, don’t boast and are not proud… 1 Corinthians 13:4
We are not rude, we’re not self-seeking, we’re not easily angered… 1 Corinthians 13:5
We’re unoffendable - We keep no record of wrong… 1 Corinthians 13:5
We always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere. 1 Corinthians 13:7
We are united together John 17:23
And can’t be motivated by fear 1 John 4:18
love covers a multitude of sins 1 Peter 4:8
The only debt that remains outstanding is our debt to love one another… Romans 13:8
We can’t live that way if our wounds are not well-healed.
It matters that we have well healed wounds.
Imagine
What would it be like if we all had well healed wounds?
1. Restoration of Relationships
Healing allows us to restore and maintain healthy relationships with others.
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” - Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)
2. Personal Growth
Well-healed emotional wounds contribute to our personal growth and maturity.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28 (NLT)
3. Freedom from Past Hurts
Healing helps us let go of bitterness and resentment, leading to freedom and peace.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)
4. Strengthening Faith
Emotional healing strengthens our faith and reliance on God’s promises.
“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” - Psalm 147:3 (NLT)
5. Ability for us to better help each other.
Healed individuals can provide support and encouragement to others facing similar struggles.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)
6. We’d all be focussed on our divine purpose
Healing leads to peace in our lives, allowing us to focus on our divine purpose.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:7 (NLT)
7. Reflecting God’s Love
When we heal, we can better reflect God’s love and compassion to others.
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” - 1 John 4:7 (NLT)
Healing emotional wounds is crucial for personal well-being and spiritual growth. The process encourages forgiveness, restoration, and support from both God and others.
When you have well healed wounds you can trust God as you trust in the God of Hope he fills you with peace and joy so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So how can we all have well healed wounds?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
He is the one who heals our wounds
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Our role is to HEAL
H - Hasten healing: want to be healed. Jeremiah 17:14
E - Engage in Biblical Counselling. Proverbs 11:14
A - Always forgive with your whole heart. Matthew 18:35
L - Live unoffended at God. Matthew 11:2-6
H - Hasten healing: want to be healed
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIVUK) Heal me, Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for you are the one I praise.
My friend Gary and I are were doing a treasure hunt in a mall. He had a lot more experience than I did with it. But on this day, I was running into people I knew and everyone I asked wanted to get prayer for something. Garry was being turned down consistently, but the icing on the cake was a when a woman came hobbling by with a cane and Gary asked her if she’d like to be healed. She kept on walking and with more determination as she pulled her hanging jacket into her said, “I like my drugs.”
I’ve never met anyone with well healed wounds who didn’t want to get healed.
But I’ve met a lot of people who have learned to cope and have settled into coping.
And I’ve met a lot of Christians who feel it’s the burden God wants them to bear almost take pride in their wounds.
Remember the story of the Jesus healing the man by the pool of Bethesda? John 5:1-15 Jesus asked him “Do you want to be healed?”
What did he respond? “I can’t…” We can give God every excuse not to give us well healed wounds. There’s only one thing that I’ve seen break every excuse…
People who don’t want to get healed need a revelation of the love of God.
Those who need to cope need to treat all hardship as disciple knowing God is a Good Father and is working all things together for good and that He will finish the good work started in you, so seek His face always and live! Hebrews 12:7-11, 1 Chronicles 16:11; Amos 5:4
The ones who take pride in their wounds need to stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10
The question you can ask is:
Do I want to have well healed wounds?
E - Engage in Biblical Counselling
Proverbs 11:14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.
All counselling can be beneficial. Biblical counselling is a form of guidance and support that draws on the teachings of the Bible to address emotional, psychological, and spiritual issues. It focuses on biblical truth and confession and repentance.
7 Benefits in Engaging with Biblical Counselling
1. Get God's Wisdom.
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.
Biblical counselling seeks to align our understanding and actions with God's wisdom.
2. Find restoration and healing.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
Biblical counselling aims to bring individuals back to a place of emotional and spiritual health.
3. Obtain guidance in life’s challenges
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Biblical counselling helps individuals navigate life's difficulties with guidance rooted in Scripture.
4. Transform through renewing the mind.
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Biblical counselling focuses on transforming thoughts and behaviours in accordance with God's Word.
5. Address sin and encourage growth.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Without confession there is no repentance and without repentance there is no meaningful change.
Biblical counselling can help individuals identify areas of sin or struggle in their lives and encourage them toward spiritual growth.
6. Encounter hope and encouragement.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Biblical counselling can provide hope and encouragement to those feeling lost or overwhelmed.
7. Receive Accountability:
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Biblical counselling fosters accountability, helping individuals stay committed to their spiritual and personal growth.
Biblical counselling that leads to Holy Spirit being your counsellor is—in my opinion—the fastest and most effective way to have well healed wounds. I’ve done enough biblical counselling to know how far I can get people to on 6 or 8 weeks of meeting. When I learned to have them hear Holy Spirit for themselves, I saw that 6 or 8 weeks shrink to 20-30 minutes… Biblical counselling should lead people to hearing Holy Spirit for themselves.
We’re going to give you time for that today.
The question you can ask is…
Do I need to seek out Biblical counselling?
A - Always forgive with your whole heart
Matthew 18:35 That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.
Your heart is the seat of your decision, the seat of your actions and the seat of your emotions. We choose to forgive, we bless in the name of Jesus and we should feel like we’ve forgiven. It’s effortless.
Sometimes it’s easy for us to feel forgiveness. We choose to forgive and we feel like we’ve forgiven.
Other times we don’t feel like we’ve forgiven. So—in a safe way—we bless those who curse us. When we do, we feel like we’ve forgiven.
Other times we can choose to forgive and safely bless and still don’t feel like we’ve forgiven.
It has nothing to do with the atrociousnes of the offence. It has everything to do with the lie we believe.
We need to get Holy Spirit to replace the lie with the truth. So let me re-introduce to you the How to Feel Like You’ve Forgiven Tool.
How to have GRACE to feel like you’ve forgiven tool
GRACE
G - Get in touch with the emotion
R - Remember when you felt like this before
A - Accept what the feeling reveals
C - Centre in on the truth
E - Examine if the feelings have changed
Let’s expand this…
G - Get in touch with the emotion
How does it make me feel? What comes to mind when I focus on what I’m feeling? When have I felt this way before?
R - Remember when you felt like this before
Is there an earlier emotion? How does that make me feel? Why do I feel that way? Why does believing _______ make me feel _____?
A - Accept what the feeling reveals
Not that it’s true, but does it feel true that _____?
C - Centre in on the truth
What does God say about what I believe?
Lord, what do you want me to know?
E - Examine if the feelings have changed
Does it still feel true that _______?
Does it feel like I’ve forgiven the offence against me?
The question you can ask is…
Do I feel like I’ve forgiven?
L - Live unoffended at God
When Karen and I left our family, friends, finances and future on the altar and left a church I loved to move to New Zealand and my Dad was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS and very quickly died, I didn’t have a language to say how I felt.
I was mad at God, but he’s the potter, I’m the clay. If he wanted me to be a lumpy cup that sat on the shelf that was his business. I complained like Jeremiah who said “God you set me up.” But I didn’t know how to move on from the lament.
It wasn’t until I heard a message by Bill Johnson that I had a language to use and path to get healing. He talked about John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:2-6 HCSB When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”
I was teaching this in a day seminar on hope and one of the participants closed up when I got to living unoffended at God. Her arms crossed and she slouched in her chair. I asked her what was going on. “I’m not offended at God. If God wanted to TAKE my husband, he can TAKE my husband.” She spat out the word take.
Over the years, I’ve found that’s a consistent theological response to emotional wounds. So I’ve created a tool that I use to help people know if they may be offended at God.
How to recognize you may be OFFENDED at God Tool
Here's how to find if you may be OFFENDED at God
O - Overlook
If you can’t be still in His presence you may be offended at God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
Do I let His word read me?
F - Fail
If you don’t spend time in His word, you may be offended at God.
If you can’t or won’t praise God with your whole heart, you may be offended at God.
Hebrews 13:15 - "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."
Can I praise Him with all of my heart?
F - Falter
If you can’t or won’t praise God with your whole heart, you may be offended at God.
If you’re easily offended at others, you may be offended at God.
Proverbs 19:11 - "Smart people learn more from one rebuke than fools learn from a hundred lashes."
Am I more easily ticked off by people?
E - Easily Offended
If you’re easily offended at others, you may be offended at God.
Proverbs 19:11 - "Smart people learn more from one rebuke than fools learn from a hundred lashes."
Am I more easily ticked off by people?
N - Neglect
If you neglect your relationship with God, you’re likely offended at God.
James 4:8 - "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."
Do I do disciplines that bring me life?
D - Distance
If you rarely confess AND repent, there is a good chance you’re offended at God.
Isaiah 59:2 - "It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore."
When was the last time I confessed to God and repented?
E - Examine-less
If you refuse to examine your ways, you’re likely offended at God.
Lamentations 3:40 - "Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord."
Do I avoid examining my ways?
D - Doubt
If you don’t do what he tells you you to do, you’re likely offended at him
James 1:6 - "But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."
Do I doubt God will be true to His word?
What is the solution when you're offended at God?
Confession and repentance
Confession - Agreeing with God you’re offended at Him.
Example: Learn to LAMENT. Go to the Psalms or Lamentations and read until you find something that feels the same way you do. Agree with God, that is how you feel.
Repentance - Changing your mind and going in the opposite direction
Example. Almost all the psalms of laments turn to praise.
What I have learned to do to live unoffended at God is that I choose to STAND:
S - Stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. - John 10:10
T- Treat all hardship as discipline knowing He is a Good Father and is working all things together for good and that He will finish the good work He started in me; so I seek His face always and live! Hebrews 12:7-11, 1 Chronicles 16:11; Amos 5:4- Hebrews 12:7-11 v.v.
A - Agree to cast all my cares upon Him, because he cares for me and use my prayer time to exchange my problems for His peace. - 1 Peter 5:7
N- Never forget that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in Him, so that I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
D - Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything and thank him in all things, knowing that’s His will for me. - Philippians 4:6-7
The question you can ask yourself:
Am I living offended at God?
Conclusion
You can have well healed wounds. It’s God’s will for you to have well healed wounds. You can HEAL.
H - Hasten healing: Want to be healed Jeremiah 17:14 Do I want to have well healed wounds?
E - Engage in Biblical Counselling Proverbs 11:14 Do I need to seek out Biblical Counselling?
A - Always forgive with your whole heart Matthew 18:35 Do I feel like I’ve forgiven?
L - Live unoffended at God Matthew 11:2-6 Am I living offended at God?
When you HEAL, you’ll know you’re healed because people will see gravitas in you.
It [gravitas] speaks to a soul that has developed enough spiritual mass to be attractive, like gravity. It makes the soul appear old, but gravitas has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with wounds that have healed well, failures that have been redeemed, sins that have been forgiven, and thorns that have settled into the flesh. These severe experiences with life expand the soul until it appears larger than the body that contains it. Then it is large enough to proclaim a holy joy, which makes the soul so attractive.
Can I pray?
Lord, we have been through the waters and you have been with us. We’ve passed through the rivers and not been overwhelmed. We have been through the flames and not been burned up. You have been so, so good to us. Help us want to be healed and find good and godly counsel. Help us replace the lies with your truth and feel like we’ve forgiven and help us always to live unoffended at you.
Time of reflection…let Holy Spirit work.
Next Steps
Learn how to Forgive with Your Whole Heart with the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Learn more at https://revtrev.link/heart
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17 (GW)
As I lift my eyes to the skies, I sink deep into a state of gratitude. It’s the Lord who loves me, who created all things seen and unseen. He knew me in my mother’s womb and ordained all of by days before one of them came to be. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me to comprehend. I know that full well. This posture takes my mind to each blessing that is presented before me by Holy Spirit. I think about the small things I enjoy in the day-to-day of every day. Even the simplest of blessings remembered help me develop the practice of gratitude.
Before I retire to bed each night, I consciously assess how I feel - physically, mentally, and emotionally. I work through any unresolved feelings and choose to forgive any offence. I choose to not go to bed angry and give the enemy a foothold in my life. Other days, I go through that exercise without identifying a single pain. It is a good feeling to know I’m in the right place with both God and others.
When I consider the meals that I have several times each day, I recognize the blessing. In 2024, earning more than $30,000 a year puts me in the top 1% of the world’s wealthiest. While it shocks be to know there are so many who lack, I am blessed that food and other necessities are plentiful in my life. I support those who effectively provide for those who go without. Planting my seed in good soil, I do what I can to help whoever I can. I don’t forget I am blessed to be a blessing. I am generous with what God has blessed me with.
I notice and say thanks each time someone does a kind gesture for me. I know how difficult it is to look beyond one’s challenges and focus on being kind to someone else. My spirit is grateful when another person takes the time to be nice to me. Experiencing the beauty of living is exhilarating. I look to see what God loves about people and compliment them on what I see.
As I give thanks for my wonderful life, I am filled with joy and satisfaction. I am overflowing with love and warmth and am trusting my good Father, who provides all I need. I cast my cares on Him because He cares for me. Life is good because God is good and He’s in a good mood. I know I need to give thanks in all circumstances, and when I’m filled with Holy Spirit, it’s natural for me to give thanks for all circumstances.
Today, quiet time provides the occasion to meditate on the precious blessings that He has given to me. My life is golden because there is so much to be grateful for.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How easy is it for me to identify simple blessings when I feel unsettled?
How do I show appreciation for the little things I feel thankful for?
Do I worry about nothing, pray about everything and give thanks in all things?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Read I express appreciation for the thoughtfulness of others
I am blessed to be surrounded by kind and considerate people. My boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. When someone prioritizes my well-being, it truly humbles me. It is important for me to express my gratitude for the thoughtfulness of others. I need to show my heart-felt appreciation to them.
By letting my loved ones know I appreciate them, I strengthen our bond. I show my appreciation by reciprocating their support. More than that, I remember to consider others before I think of myself. I know Jesus did when He went to the cross. Because He did that for me, I can do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility I must consider others better than myself. I can’t look out only for my own interests, I need to take an interest in others, too.
This sense of community serves as a constant reminder for me to always be grateful. Expressing thanks helps me avoid taking my blessings for granted. In a fast-paced world, it is easy to overlook the small gestures. But life springs out when I show appreciation for them. Little simple gestures change lives daily.
Taking the time to acknowledge my gratitude allows me to be fully present in the moment. It prompts me to look around and appreciate all the goodness that surrounds me. I have an abundance of people to be thankful for in my life. I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Today, I am surrounded by wonderful examples of kindness. The thoughtfulness I receive from others motivates me to give back. I change the atmosphere of selfish situations by choosing to put others ahead of me. My life is enriched by the presence of amazing individuals who promote positivity.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How do I show others my appreciation for their kindness?
What are some blessings I am thankful for today?
Lord, show me what you appreciate about people I connect with today. Can I have the boldness and wisdom to share it with them?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Thankfulness comes naturally to me. I know I am blessed and I decide to live blessed in the day-to-day of every day. Remembering gratitude brings me joy, and I actively choose to cultivate gratitude daily! This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!
I appreciate the amazing individuals who surround me. They provide me with companionship, support, intellectual stimulation, and spiritual guidance, which helps me grow. In return, I offer the same to them and find happiness in doing so. I seek their company and frequently express my appreciation for their presence in my life.
My material possessions are helpful and plentiful. I am blessed. They serve me; I don’t serve them. I live in a world of abundance and I am grateful for the numerous opportunities that exist, but I will not put any job or possession in the place of God. No one can serve two masters. All my needs are met, and many of my wants as well. So every day, I consciously choose to appreciate the material abundance that God has blessed me with.
If I ever wish things to differ from the way they are, I know He will give me the desires of my heart. I seek the Lord. I try to figure out what pleases Him. He prunes away the good to bring out the better and prunes the better to bring out the best. I trust Him to lead me and so I obey what He tells me to lay down and obey what He tells me to pick up. He is Lord of my life. I worry about nothing, pray about everything and give thanks in all things.
Because of my overwhelming gratitude and my trust in God, I consistently feel relaxed and joyful. After all, the boundary lines for me have fallen in pleasant places, I know that full well.
Today, I allow my natural gratitude to flourish. I perceive every experience as an opportunity for more thankfulness and greater joy. I make a point of finding the positive aspects in every situation and look to see what God is doing.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
What are three things for which I can FEEL thankful today?
How can I show appreciation today?
Who can I bless today?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
“I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.” Ephesians 1:16-17 (GW)
Listen to I experience feelings of happiness each day
It pleases me that each day of my life, I experience feelings of happiness. I know that happiness is a by-product, not the goal. I have one priority and that’s seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, knowing all the things I could worry about will be given to me as I seek Him. Happiness comes as I see His will done on earth as it is in heaven.
I focus on finding joy throughout the day. I so enjoy a good heart-felt laugh. My life is full when I surprise myself with my laughter. My everyday world is wonderful because I experience so many things that I know make God happy, so I am happy.
In the morning, I wake up with feelings of refreshment, wonder, and curiosity. I think about what my day might bring. I look to see what God might say. Perhaps I can see an old friend today or meet a new one? I am still and know that He is God. I am so thankful that He is good.
As the sun rises, my joy is just beginning. While there are fleeting things that bring me happiness, I am aware of the many reasons I have joy. The God of hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in Him, so I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit.
I know godliness with contentment is great gain. All of us came into this world with nothing, and nothing is going with us on the way out! So as long as I am clothed and fed, I know I can be happy. It’s my ambition to live a quiet life, to mind my own business and to work with my hands, so people who are not believers will respect the way I live, and I will not need to depend on others. I depend only on God.
By cherishing the present moment, knowing God is present with me, I maintain a positive outlook. I smile to myself, expressing gratitude for my life and the opportunities this day presents. I know even a forced smile changes my mood. The joy I feel serves as a reminder of the abundant love I have in my life and confidence in the hope of what’s coming. The best is yet to come for all who believe!
Today, I steward the grace He has poured onto me. His grace is not without effect. It leads to happiness as a by-product. Each day offers a new opportunity to embrace joy and remind myself of the love and contentment that fills my life. For this, I am deeply grateful.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
Is it my ambition to live a quiet life?
Can I be present and enjoy this moment?
When was the last time I really laughed?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
