The Forty-Day Journey of Promise

Day Twenty-Three: Praising the Lord

Note: Welcome to The Journey, our forty-day blog series from MLK Day through the end of Black History Month. We’re learning life lessons from the legacy of African American Christianity. The series is based upon material from my book Beyond the Suffering. To learn more about Beyond the Suffering, including downloading a free chapter, click here.

Praising the Lord

What was worship like in the Invisible Institution (the hidden, secret church services during slavery)? When sharing the Word, African American believers heard from the Lord through one another. In praising the Lord, they spoke to the Lord with one another.

Praying and singing were not items on their “to do” list, nor were they lines on an “Order of Worship” in a church bulletin. They were opportunities to encounter God together. As with sharing the Word, praising the Lord provided the occasion for everyone to participate in the life of the congregation at a significant level of personal and communal involvement.

It Takes a Community

Ex-slave Alice Sewell seamlessly intertwines praying, singing, communal ministry, and sustaining empathy in her depiction of the Invisible Institution.

“We used to slip off in the woods in the old slave days on Sunday evening way down in the swamps to sing and pray to our own liking. We prayed for this day of freedom. We came from four and five miles to pray together to God that if we don’t live to see it, to please let our children live to see a better day and be free, so that they can give honest and fair service to the Lord and all mankind everywhere.”

Sewell’s vignette contains precise theology—prayer requests were for God’s glory (“give honest and fair service to de Lord”) and for the good of others (“and all mankind everywhere”). It also speaks of personal commitment—walking five miles for prayer meeting!

Songs of Worship and Fellowship

Singing was both a worship and a fellowship experience—a communal enterprise. Jonas Bost of Newtown, North Carolina, reminisces about one such song. “I remember one old song we used to sing when we met down in the woods back of the barn. . . .

Oh, Mother lets go down, lets go down, lets go down, lets go down.

Oh, Mother lets go down, down in the valley to pray.

As I went down in the valley to pray,

Studying about that good ole way,

Who shall wear that starry crown?

Good Lord, show me the way.”

Most significant is his concluding memory.

“Then the other part was just like that except it said ‘Father’ instead of ‘Mother,’ and then ‘Sister’ and then ‘Brother.’”

They mutually cared for one another as an extended family with concern for every member, whether father, mother, sister, or brother.

The Drama of Redemption

The slaves often transformed their sung narrative into a dramatic acted narrative. The community became participants in historic deliverance events such as the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea or Joshua’s army marching around the walls of Jericho.

Their bodies chained in enslavement, their spirits soared like eagles through the Holy Spirit and through the communal spirit of joint worship.

Join the Conversation (Post a Comment for a Chance to Receive a Copy of Beyond the Suffering)

1. Regarding praising the Lord, within your worship context and cultural setting, what might further enhance your corporate glorification of God?

2. What could you learn about worship from the African American legacy?

Tags: Beyond the Suffering, Black History Month, The Journey

Conversations on the Future of Biblical Counseling

Part I: What About Brad? What About Bob?

Some History

In my role as Director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN), I was asked to share my vision of the future of biblical counseling. The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) published my vision in Christian Counseling Today. You can download that article for free here. 

Not long after the publication of The Future of Biblical Counseling: Dreaming a Dozen Dreams, Brad Hambrick of the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) asked if we could engaged in a series of conversations unpacking my twelve dreams.

What you’re about to read is my updated, edited version of my original article and of my extended conversation with Brad. I share it with the desire to continue the conversation by inviting you to dialogue about what makes biblical counseling truly biblical.

What About Brad?: Brad Hambrick’s Introduction

When was the last time you had a long conversation about your hopes and dreams for biblical counseling? When was the last time you sat down with someone who has spent over two decades studying, living, pastoring, and analyzing biblical counseling to glean from their experience and journey? When was the last time you allowed yourself to be challenged and asked challenging questions about your theory and practice of counseling?

I hope your answer to these questions is recently, but not many of us have the blessing of time or an experienced partner for such edifying talks. This was my (Brad Hambrick) privilege in a series of five conversations with Dr. Robert Kellemen.

The outline for these extended conversations comes from Dr. Kellemen’s article The Future of Biblical Counseling: Dreaming a Dozen Dreams. After reading the article, I asked Dr. Kellemen if he would be willing to engage in a series of conversations that would seek to “unpack” his dreams for The Journal of Counseling & Discipleship. We intentionally wrote conversationally in order to allow the articles to have a personal rather than academic feel.

Our goal was not simply to trace the history of biblical counseling from Dr. Kellemen’s experience in order to dream about its future, but to model mutually-respectful, thought-provoking conversation about the history, theory, practice, and future of biblical counseling. We do not always share the same conclusions (doubtless many readers may disagree with both of us in the pages that follow), although I greatly respect his core convictions and heart for biblical counseling.

What About Bob?: Getting to Know Dr. Robert W. Kellemen

BCH: Dr. Kellemen would you please take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers. As we get ready to discuss your dreams for the future of biblical counseling, I think it would help our readers to know a bit of your background, testimony, counseling heritage, and ministry settings.

 RWK: Brad, thanks for the opportunity to engage you and your readers on the vital issue of the future of biblical counseling. And thank you for allowing me to start at a personal level.

Early Roots and Counseling Heritage

In 1974, I was saved as a teenager at Grace Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana under the ministry of Pastor Bill Goode, who many of your readers knew well as a pioneer in biblical counseling. I was discipled by Pastor Ron Allchin, another leader in the biblical counseling movement. I also grew up with and remain great friends with Pastor Steve Viars, yet another biblical counseling leader.

As for my counseling heritage, as your readers can tell, I was weaned on biblical counseling. I also studied under Drs. Larry Crabb and Dan Allender at Grace Theological Seminary. My own approach to counseling, to be honest, was developed during some “counseling wars” at Grace Seminary in the early 80s. I kept thinking, “Surely the Church has always been about the business of helping hurting and hardened people.” So, I started devouring Church history. I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation on Martin Luther’s pastoral counseling.

I would say that people like Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards have shaped my understanding of the Bible’s teaching on Biblical Counseling as much as or more than modern writers. Of course, like all biblical counselors, I would like to think that the Scriptures themselves shape my thinking on biblical counseling.

Education and Experience

I graduated from Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania with my BS in Bible and Pastoral Ministry, from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana with my Th.M. in Theology and Biblical Counseling, and from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with my Ph.D. in Counselor Education.

I have pastored three churches, one as a Sr. Pastor, and in all three churches a major emphasis of my ministry has been training lay Biblical Counselors. For a dozen years, I served as chairman of the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship (MACCD) Department at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, Maryland. I also was the founding Director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN), a division within the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).

Resources on Biblical Counseling

I have authored five books on Biblical Counseling. Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction (BMH Books, 2007), Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction (BMH Books, 2007), Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction (Baker Books, 2007), Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith (BMH Books, 2009), and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When Your Hurting (BMH Books, 2010). I’m passionate about historic, Evangelical spiritual care—the pastor as soul physician, and God’s people as spiritual friends to one another.

RPM Ministries

I am the Founder of RPM Ministries (www.rpmministries.org). Through RPM Ministries I speak around the country on Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed Biblical Counseling. I also provide consultation ministry for churches looking to start lay Biblical Counseling ministries.

Family

My wife, Shirley, is an elementary kindergarten teacher and the most gracious encourager I have ever known. She and I have been married for twenty-nine years and live in Crown Point, Indiana. Our son, Josh, is a second-year law student and is married to his college sweetheart, Andi. Our daughter, Marie, is a college senior at Purdue majoring in chemistry. For over two decades, I have loved coaching high school wrestling (in all my spare time).

Extending the Conversation

1. You know some of my story, what’s your story of involvement with and training in Christian biblical counseling?

2. How often have you seen, heard, or engaged in mutually-respectful, thought-provoking conversations about Christian living and ministry? Why does it often seem difficult to do so?

3. How would you define biblical counseling?

The Rest of the Story

I invite you to return tomorrow as I outline the twelve dreams for the future of biblical counseling.  

Brad Hambrick

Tags: Biblical Counseling, Future of Biblical Counseling, Kellemen, Spiritual Formation

It Is Well with My Soul

In 1873, the steamship Ville du Havre was struck by an iron sailing vessel while crossing the Atlantic. 246 people died, including the four daughters of Chicago lawyer Horatio Spafford.

His wife Anna survived. Just two years earlier their four-year-old son died of scarlet fever, and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 financially ruined him.

While sailing the Atlantic to reunite with his wife after the death of their girls, he penned the beloved hymn, It Is Well with My Soul.

Mars Hill Church created the following video tribute (click on title centered below).

It Is Well with My Soul

Meditate on the words of It Is Well with My Soul:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

The Anatomy of Anxiety, Part 18: Bob Newhart Counseling? 

Bob Newhart's "Stop It!"

 

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1: http://bit.ly/aHstk, 2: http://bit.ly/20R01P, 3: http://bit.ly/HAoxI, 4: http://bit.ly/1I6XmF, 5: http://bit.ly/19Jdqt, 6: http://bit.ly/19vCXx, 7: http://bit.ly/21wPLg, 8: http://bit.ly/m50On, 9: http://bit.ly/4vhNIt, 10: http://bit.ly/1ClPr4, 11: http://bit.ly/2Sb2Ec, 12: http://bit.ly/2xv4BV, 13: http://bit.ly/baNuS, 14: http://bit.ly/UFIy1, 15: http://bit.ly/31fQYo, 16: http://bit.ly/3mmTm4, 17: http://bit.ly/7kmOo2

Purpose: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Here’s How Not to Do It: Bob Newhart Counseling!

Conquering enslavement to fear is a discipleship process, not an exhortation event.

Here’s what I mean.

Some so-called “biblical counselors” would quote, “Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and supplication let your requests be made know unto God.” Then they would exhort godly behavior. “So, quit sinning. Start trusting.”

That’s not biblical counseling. That’s lazy counseling. That’s Pharisaical counseling.

That’s Bob Newhart counseling. In the classic Mad TV skit a counselee sees him because she has a phobia about being buried alive in a box. His two-word counsel. “Stop it!”

To see how not to counsel phobias, go here.

The Rest of the Story: The Ten Dynamic Elements of Victory Over Anxiety

Often I learn best from what not to do. So…don’t do what Bob Newhart does. If you are, then…“Stop it!”

What do we do instead to overcome anxiety and to help others to have victory over anxiety?

Biblical counseling for anxiety is a Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed relational process of changing lives with Christ’s changeless truth so we move from stuck anxiety to courageous trusting and bold love.

Over the rest of this blog series, we’ll see that it involves ten dynamic elements:

1. Spiritual Guiding: Dancing to the Heartbeat of Redemption

2. Social Guiding: Enjoying Healing Conversations and Connections

3. Self-Aware Guiding: Soothing My Soul in My Savior

4. Mental Guiding: Replacing Condemning Lies with Grace Truths

5. Motivational Guiding: Choosing to Live and Love with Courage

6. Emotional Guiding: Managing Moods by Becoming Emotionally AWARE

7. Physical Guiding: Living as Jars of Clay

8. Life Situational Guiding: Getting Off the Merry-Go-Round

9. Life Style Guiding: Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines

10. Commencement: Experiencing Ongoing Victory Over Anxiety

Tags: Anxiety, Biblical Counseling, Bob Newhart, Stop It

The Anatomy of Anxiety, Part 17: How to Put Off Anxiety

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1: http://bit.ly/aHstk, 2: http://bit.ly/20R01P, 3: http://bit.ly/HAoxI, 4: http://bit.ly/1I6XmF, 5: http://bit.ly/19Jdqt, 6: http://bit.ly/19vCXx, 7: http://bit.ly/21wPLg, 8: http://bit.ly/m50On, 9: http://bit.ly/4vhNIt, 10: http://bit.ly/1ClPr4, 11: http://bit.ly/2Sb2Ec, 12: http://bit.ly/2xv4BV, 13: http://bit.ly/baNuS, 14: http://bit.ly/UFIy1, 15: http://bit.ly/31fQYo, 16: http://bit.ly/3mmTm4

Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. And, we need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Putting Off and Putting On

In our last post (http://bit.ly/3mmTm4), I discussed the “touchy” issue of exposing and dealing with sin issues involved in anxiety.

The Bible never talks about putting off sin without also instructing us how to put on holy, loving living.

Putting off heart sins of self-trust associated with anxiety, we need to put on trusting Christ as our Sentry.

Putting off relational sins of self-protection associated with anxiety, we need to put on tending and befriending—protecting others.

Motivations to Trust and Love

To be motivated to put off, we need to see the horrors of our sin—even in anxiety issues. Consider the three areas of our relationship to God (spiritual), others (social), and self (self-aware).

Self-protective anxiety is horrible spiritually because it reveals that we fear something more than we fear God. It means that we entrust ourselves to something more than we entrust ourselves to God.

Self-protective anxiety is horrible socially because it reveals that we tend and befriend ourselves rather than or more than we tend and befriend others. Even seemingly altruistic endeavors like public speaking may be fraught with selfishness if we speak as fearful people pleasers trying to impress others or fearful of what others think of us.

Self-protective anxiety is horrible in terms of our self-awareness because we believe lies about ourselves. We live the lie that we are slaves to fear and that we are babies, rather than living the truth that we are slaves to righteousness and that we are adult sons and daughters of God in Christ. We focus on self-esteem when we should be focused on Christ-esteem: Who Christ is and who we are in Christ.

“But It Can’t Be Sin!”

In the midst of anxiety, we may argue:

“But it can’t be sin! I would not have these feelings if I could get rid of them. They’re uninvited. Unwanted. Alien. Intruders. Invaders. I have no choice but to feel these fears!”

At one level, this may be somewhat true. We can’t totally control what feelings we experience. Plus, it is true that mentally and physically we can begin to habituate ourselves to these feelings.

However, at another, deeper level, it (anxiety) can be sin; can be a choice. We can control our spiritual, social, mental, volitional, and behavioral response to our feelings of anxiety.

So why would we choose to stay stuck in anxious patterns?

“Secondary Gain”

To understand that, we need to understand “secondary gain.”

What do I get out of staying fearful? What responsibilities and callings do I avoid? What pampering do I receive?

I may or may not be able to control the physical reaction or the immediate emotional response when anxiety strikes. But I can control my relational, mental, motivational, and behavioral responses. When I don’t, I need to ask myself:

“What am I getting out of staying stuck in my pattern of anxiety? What does it buy me? What does it protect me from?”

The Rest of the Story

So just how do we put off the sins of self-trust, self-protection, and self-esteem? How do we put on trusting Christ as our Sentry, tending and befriending others, and living out our new identity in Christ?

In the rest of our blog series, we’ll explore specific biblical guiding principles that answer these vital questions. We’ll use the following categories to find victory over anxiety:

1. Relational: Spiritual, Social, Self-Aware—How to Love Sacrificially

2. Rational: Beliefs and Images—How to Think Biblically

3. Volitional: Motivation and Behavior—How to Choose Courageously

4. Emotional: Reactions and Responses—How to Manage Our Moods

Stay tuned and continue to join the journey.

Tags: Anxiety, Biblical Counseling, Christ-Esteem, Christian Counseling, Sin, Trust

A Compelling Ride: A Review of Sacred Friendships

Reviewer: Aaron D. Taylor

Sacred Friendships is truly a unique book. On the one hand, the book serves as a celebration of little-known women heroes throughout church history. On the other hand, the book reads like an instruction manual for pastors, lay people, and Christian counselors.

The intersection of the two themes makes for an interesting read, although as an individual outside of the Christian counseling world, I found myself more interested in the lives of the women themselves than the lessons that they provide for counseling. Having said that . . . I think that the themes of soul care (which is comforting the suffering) and spiritual direction (which is confronting sin and leading people to a relationship with Christ) is applicable to all Christians—and the women profiled in this book are certainly instructive in this manner.

The authors did an excellent job of combating the notion that women should be silent and bury their talent. Amazingly, they did it without delving into the theological controversy surrounding the role of women in the Church. Rather, they chose to let the women’s stories speak for themselves.

Some of the women profiled in the book were wives of famous men (like Katherine Von Bora Luther, Idelette Calvin, Sarah Edwards, and Susannah Spurgeon) and fulfilled their ministries by being a strong support to their husbands. Other women were known for courageously speaking out against social evils (like Octavia Rogers and Laura Haviland). Still others had very strong evangelism and discipleship ministries in their own right—including teaching men. The examples of Susannah Wesley, Perpetua, and Argula Von Grumbrach come to mind.

This wasn’t a conscious theme of the book, but one of the things that struck me while reading the stories of the women profiled in Sacred Friendships was something that many of them had in common. Many of the women profiled were from prominent families and willfully renounced a lifestyle of privilege in order to identify with and serve the poor. I think that anyone reading Sacred Friendships should take some time to reflect on what these women might teach us today about living a Kingdom lifestyle.

Another positive aspect of Sacred Friendships is that the authors took great care not to just make it about celebrating the legacy of white Christian women. I was very pleased to see African American women, Hispanic women, and a Native American woman profiled. As a missionary, I was also delighted to see a profile on Ann Judson (a famous pioneer missionary to Burma).

The . . . book made for a compelling ride. I highly recommend this book to anybody and everybody.

To read a sample chapter please click here.

Tags: Book Review, Sacred Friendships, Women, Women's Studies

A Christmas Gift for Women

What do you buy for the woman who has everything?

Buy your wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend, or co-worker the gift of 52 incredible stories about 52 remarkable women of faith.

Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith encourages women to recognize that they are precious in God’s sight.

It empowers them to see how God has designed them for unique and special ministry.

To read a sample chapter, to view what others are saying, and to order your Christmas gift of Sacred Friendships (at 40% off), please visit here.

Sacred Friendships

RPM Ministries’ First-Ever Webinar!

One of life’s 7 ultimate questions is, “How can I help? Do I have a purpose and how do I fulfill it?” I want to help you to answer these questions…for free.

I’m excited to announce that I’m able to offer you something very valuable for the low price of…$0.00!

You’ve heard me talk about my How to Care Like Christ seminars.

Now, for the first time, I’m presenting part of that seminar as a webinar. From the comfort of your home and the privacy of your computer screen, you’ll be able to hear my presentation while viewing the entire PowerPoint presentation.

But That’s Not All!

But that’s not all. I’m working in partnership with three other nationally-known biblical counselors. Their three webinar sessions also cost…$0.00!

Over the course of two weeks, we’ll offer four interactive sessions that each last an hour. Topics include:

 1. How to Identify the Ruling Idols of Your Heart (Rick Thomas, December 1, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

2. How to Help People to Overcome Addiction to Pornography (Luke Gilkerson, December 3, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

3. How to Care Like Christ (Bob Kellemen, December 8, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

4. How to Revise Conflict and Revive Romance in Marriage (Brad Hambrick, December 10, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

All sessions will include practical advice, examples, and a Q/A time.

What You’ll Learn to Do in My Webinar

Everyone wants to do biblical counseling and to be a spiritual friend, but what does it actually look like in practice? In my webinar you’’ll be equipped to:

1. Use God’s Word to bring Christ’s hope to people’s suffering.

2. Offer sustaining care for discouraged people by weeping with those who weep—learn how to empathize with people’s hurts.

3. Bring healing comfort for suffering people by exploring Christ’s hope in the midst of people’s grief—learn how to encourage people with Christ’s truth.

The Details

The date/time for my webinar is December 8, 2009, 7-8 PM EST.

For more details and to register for any or all of the four webinar sessions,  click here.

This invitation is being sent to over 200,000 (not exaggerating) people, and we only have room for the first 1,000 people for each webinar. So registering quickly is a good idea.

Be equipped to care like Christ.

Tags: Biblical Counseling, Christian Counseling, Equipping, How to Care Like Christ, Webinar

The Anatomy of Anxiety, Part 16: God Is Faithful Even When I Am Unfaithful

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1: http://bit.ly/aHstk, 2: http://bit.ly/20R01P, 3: http://bit.ly/HAoxI, 4: http://bit.ly/1I6XmF, 5: http://bit.ly/19Jdqt, 6: http://bit.ly/19vCXx, 7: http://bit.ly/21wPLg, 8: http://bit.ly/m50On, 9: http://bit.ly/4vhNIt, 10: http://bit.ly/1ClPr4, 11: http://bit.ly/2Sb2Ec, 12: http://bit.ly/2xv4BV, 13: http://bit.ly/baNuS, 14: http://bit.ly/UFIy1, 15: http://bit.ly/31fQYo.

Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. And, we need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

He Is Faithful to Forgive Us Our Sins

Discussing “sin” and “anxiety,” with a person struggling with anxiety can produce…more anxiety. However, we would be naïve to try to be victorious over anxiety without addressing personal responsibility.

The core heart sin with anxiety as we’ve defined it in this blog series is failure to trust God. We decide to trust our puny resources rather than to entrust ourselves to Christ’s infinite resources.

We can trace the tracks of mistrust to our sinful suppression of the truth that God is strong and caring, holy and loving, in control and comforting.

Based upon our failure to hold God in awe, we self-protect through flight and fight behavior.

You think, “Well, that sure helps a lot, Bob! Now I’m anxious about my relationship with God!”

And I say, “Good…as long as you deal with those concerns biblically.”

We need to confess our sin of self-trust and self-protection and of mistrusting God and believing lies about God. We need to repent of our sin of turning God’s good gift of “vigilance” into the haunting sin of “stuck vigil.”

And, we need to accept His forgiveness; we need to accept our acceptance in Christ.

God is faithful even when we are unfaithful.

God still forgives, loves, cares, and controls even when I doubt His faithfulness, even when I choose to self-protect, to turn to my own idols to make my life work. Even when I refuse to fear God and I choose to fear others, I never need to fear that God will refuse to forgive me.

Freedom from Final Fear

Interestingly, we can ultimately trace all anxiety to what I call “spiritual separation anxiety.” Luther used to call it by the German term “anfectungen”—the primal fear that God will reject us.

So, what can conquer our ultimate fear more than knowing that even when we fear man instead of fearing God, we never need to fear God’s ultimate rejection?

If the God of the universe forgives me for failing to trust Him, if He is faithful to me in Christ even when I am unfaithful to Him, then do I really have anything to fear in life? Since Christ has conquered my ultimate fear, I can face all of life’s daily fears.

So, while some may balk at my insistence that we address the sin aspects of anxiety, I would insist that addressing the sin lying within anxiety is the only cure for anxiety! By dispensing Christ’s grace for our disgrace of self-trust, we finally grasp that there is nothing to fear in life because Christ has faced and conquered our greatest dread—separation from God.

In confessing the sin of anxiety and receiving Christ’s forgiveness, we learn life’s ultimate lesson—nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ. Fearless spiritually because there is no condemnation in Christ, we become fearless personally and relationally.

The Rest of the Story

Having confessed and received forgiveness for sinful anxiety, we still need to put off the old habits and put on the new fearless person we are in Christ. In our next post we learn how.

Tags: Anxiety, Faithful, Forgiveness, Heart Sin, Idols, Sin, Trust

The Anatomy of Anxiety, Part 15: Five Battle Plans in Your Victory Over Anxiety

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1: http://bit.ly/aHstk, 2: http://bit.ly/20R01P, 3: http://bit.ly/HAoxI, 4: http://bit.ly/1I6XmF, 5: http://bit.ly/19Jdqt, 6: http://bit.ly/19vCXx, 7: http://bit.ly/21wPLg, 8: http://bit.ly/m50On, 9: http://bit.ly/4vhNIt, 10: http://bit.ly/1ClPr4, 11: http://bit.ly/2Sb2Ec, 12: http://bit.ly/2xv4BV, 13: http://bit.ly/baNuS, 14: http://bit.ly/UFIy1

Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. And, we need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Biblical Battle Plans

There are no “secret steps” to “quick cures” of anxiety. However, there are practical biblical principles. There are “battle plans” such as:

Battle Plan # 1: Scout Out the “Flip Side” of Anxiety

Feelings of fear ought to be a warning sign to trust God and to take action to protect others. Rather than being terrified of fear, rather than turning to a flight or fight response, in the midst of fearful circumstances turn to a bold choice to trust and protect.

Battle Plan # 2: Recognize Your Strengths that Are Masked by Stuck Anxiety

If you’re struggling with anxiety, it’s not uncommon that you may also be a sensitive person, intuitive, intelligent, analytical, imaginative, creative, a pursuer of excellence. Yes, when these traits get “stuck” in the extreme position, they are … well … maddening. However, when corralled by Christ and for others, they become powerful weapons in kingdom warfare. For example, use your sensitivity to sense danger and then move into tend and befriend behavior, rather then settling in a flinch and fear mood state.

Battle Plan # 3: Learn to Soothe Your Soul in Your Savior

I’m convinced that one of the reasons God designed us with emotions is so that we can be driven to recognize our desperate desire and continuously need for God. Like the Psalmists, learn to lament, to cry out, to beg, to confess…not just sin, but neediness…desperate need for God’s rescue.

Battle Plan # 4: See Christ as Your Sentry

Explore, apply, memorize, meditate upon, paraphrase, and personalize passages about trust, about Christ as your Sentry/Rock/Guard/Protector, such as Psalm 34, Psalm 77, Philippians 4, and 1 Peter 5. Renew your image of Who Christ is.

Battle Plan # 5: See Yourself As Christ’s Sentry

Victory over anxiety requires that we renew our image of Who Christ is and that we renew our image of who we are in Christ. In Christ, we are sentries, guards, and protectors. We are warriors not worriers. Guard the garden. Have dominion over the earth—including over your own emotions. Defend others. Courageously sacrifice even when you are scared to death. You are Christ’s sentry because Christ is your Sentry.

The Rest of the Story

What possible role does sin have in issues of anxiety? I know, it’s an uncomfortable place to go, especially after today’s stirring, encouraging biblical principles. However, we’d dishonor God, dismiss His Word, and diminish our victory over anxiety if we ignored those times and those areas when and where sin becomes entangled with anxiety. In coming posts, we gently speak the truth in love about anxiety. Join us.

Tags: Anxiety, Biblical Counseling, Christ, Christian Counseling, Healing, Peace, Soul Care