What is the Problem? We all know there is a problem, but it’s not what you might think… The problem is: Not you Not God Not others Not the world Not your flesh Not the devil Not your sin Not your past Not your circumstances Not your weaknesses Not your ‘personality’ Not your addiction Since we are being “saved by grace through faith” by the most outrageously grace-giving Being in the Universe…
Have you ever fallen into the trap of the Scarlett O’Hara syndrome? I have observed many people adopting it as a coping strategy. It seems highly favored by us. It certainly feels evident and right at the moment of pain or pressure. For me it was a pattern that began early in childhood. Here is an excerpt that describes it from the book I wrote a few years back. See if you can relate: There were shadowy sides to me that I preferred…
Is this you? (It was me.) I meet many Christians who believe that God forgives them, but who really can’t forgive themselves. We padlock our own hearts with unrelieved blame and regret. It doesn’t have to be this way! In my experience we find it hardest to forgive ourselves over two kinds of sins: a) if we have deeply hurt someone we truly loved, or b) if we have wrecked our own life path with no visible means of remedy.…
“I will never get over this!” Really? That’s just what I used to think about all kinds of awful, evil stuff that had wrecked my life. But the Spirit of the Lord wouldn’t leave me alone. He kept reminding me about the promise of Romans 8:28. You know, the one which says that we know that God is working all things together for our good. Well, I didn’t know it. I couldn’t see how my past could possibly be made to work for my good. I…