SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION SERIES

Lost in deep weeds would describe many of us who struggle. We struggle to make sense of our spiritual life when troubles, heartaches, and even, for some, past abuse, muddy the waters of our spiritual lives. However, there is a way out of this madness, which comes through hours spent sitting at the table with God as He listens to our pain and helps us find our way.

God is next to us: loving us, guiding us, comforting us, encouraging us and the list goes on. You need Him as He lovingly guides you to health and happiness and a new life that is enriched by Him. Trust God to do this for you. He is able. Your job is to show up and not give up. It has a lot to do with your ability to trust God through the hard work of getting well, and you may need the help of a skilled counselor.

It will take time, but you will get better.

THE NEED:

Part 1:  THE NEED FOR A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION

Part 2:  THE NEED FOR A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION

THE IMPORTANCE

Part 3:  THE NEED FOR AN INTERVENTION OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE

THE INTRODUCTION:

Part 4:  GOD, US, AND LIFE CHANGING CHOICES (Intro)

SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION SERIES:

POST 1:  IS IT IGNORANCE OR DENIAL?

POST 2:  A GOD DIRECTED ACTIVITY

POST 3:  THE OLD APPROACH ISN’T WORKING

POST 4:  WE MAY HAVE MISSED THE BOAT

POST 5:  IT STARTS WITH RELATIONSHIP

POST 6:  INTERNAL HEALING IS NECESSARY

POST 7:  WHEN WE HURT

POST 8:  PAIN’S SILENT PRISON

POST 9:  THE PROBLEM WITH PAINFUL EMOTIONS

POST 10:  OUR BURIED EMOTIONS

POST 11:  IT HELPS TO TAKE INVENTORY

POST 12:  THE SOLUTION IS IN GOD

POST 13:  JUST COME AS YOU ARE

POST 14:  THE NEVER ENDING BATTLE

POST 15:  THE PAINFUL TRUTH

POST 16:  WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS REST

POST 17:   GOD’S “A” TEAM AND YOU ARE ON IT

POST 18:   GROW IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

POST 19:   A RADICAL SPIRITUAL MAKEOVER

POST 20:   GOD HELPS US WITH OUR STUFF

POST 21:   GOD HELPS US HEAL IN OUR EMOTIONS

POST 22:  GOD AND ME IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIP

POST 23:   SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION

POST 24:   GOD’S LOVE IS TRANSFORMATIONAL

POST 25:   APPLYING GOD’S WORD

       Post 26:   WHY A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION MATTERS

Thank you for reading this series. How was this helpful? Please leave a comment. I’d enjoy hearing from you.

Begin here: The need for a spiritual intervention, part 1

I am adding a final post to my “Going Deeper” intervention series. Rereading ‘Mere Christianity’ over the weekend caused me to realize that I’d not adequately concluded this series. I have missed telling the most important point — the ‘end result’ of a holy Intervention. The end result of a spiritual, living intervention — through a work of God in your life — is that you are actively becoming a new creature in Christ. Old things in your life have passed away; new, living, and lively, spiritual things have come. You are becoming a new creation through the ministry of Christ in you; changing, transforming, healing, and making you whole.

A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION

In your spiritual being you are essentially becoming like Christ, a little Christ, which sets you apart from the ordinary, the expected, and ‘normal’ spiritual person, who has a limited vision that’s set on things of the earth and of the world (but they don’t know it). Through your choices and God’s intervention, you are being transformed into the image of His, God’s, dear Son. You are God’s and He is yours. You travel this earth-journey together.

Those who find God to be central in their reality have found the best thing. Their life is being resurrected into something different, into a life that reflects the glory of God and the light of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.

No matter their natural hindrances or troubled beginnings, once the interventions have cleansed, healed, and transformed them, once they have surrendered their human stuff to God and put Him on the throne of their lives, their lives are now free to shine as they reflect the joy of their salvation and visage of their Lord. Across the church divide you can find these human ‘lights’ for they are not tied to just one church tradition. They are those whom are traveling the spiritual journey with Christ as their fullness and joy and as their strength and enough.

Truly, Christ is the answer to all that ails us. Christ is the answer to our heart’s longing for belonging. Christ is the answer to our spiritual need for being, believing, meaning, and significance. God, in His divine mercy and love, directs us to the people who can help us; to the Scriptures that enlighten and inform our understanding; to the true Christian sages, mystics, truth-tellers, pastors, and Christ followers who love God and His Word; and to the ‘whomevers’ and ‘whatevers’ He uses to guide us into accessing His Life, where all is peace and love, despite any of our outward circumstances and worries. Yes. It’s that radical.

How can this be? Go back to Post 1 or the Home Page for the Spiritual Interventions Series and work through these lessons about God’s Pain Pill for human distress and need. I think you will find the answer in what I’ve written. If not, after you’ve read all 30 intervention posts, leave me a comment or send me an email. I will try my best to consider and answer your questions. . . . nlbrumbaugh@gmail.com. Write ‘God’s Pain Pill’ in the address bar.

No two journeys are the same: No two people have identical life experiences: No two people’s life passages are the same. Nor do they process their personal and spiritual experiences in the same way while they are forming their individual conclusions and take-aways. Your spiritual journey is a solo endeavor influenced by an a sundry of circumstances, people, and books.

Yet, God calls to us to Himself. He seeks to shine His light in our lives. He is bringing many sons and daughters to Glory where we partake of His bounty. God is showing us how to delight in His truth. His glory reaches down to us people of the earth. God is approachable. When God is on the throne of our lives, His glory manifests itself by radiating out from our lives. This is blessedness.

In essence,

• Christ is the answer to it all. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
• The Holy Spirit helps, enables, and energizes.
• The Father begets, provides, and loves. He is a good Father.

Return to HOME PAGE: GOD”S PAIN PILL: A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION

Return to POST 1:  SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION SERIES: IS IT IGNORANCE OR IS IT DENIAL?

Time for a final application activity, also known as homework. Are you still with me? Things worth doing usually involve some hard work and lots of processing. This is no exception. Let me know if you have any breakthroughs in your spiritual life. We can celebrate together.

APPLICATION ACTIVITY

Get alone with God. Let God know you are aware of His presence. Be still with God and listen for Him.

1. Welcome God as you give Him these minutes of quietness. Rest in God’s presence. Allow His sweetness to envelop you and your spirit. Ask God for a fuller awareness of His presence. Confess, repent, and surrender. Thank God for His forgiveness and grace. Write down thoughts you wish to remember or praises you are expressing to God.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV

2. Meditate on Galatians 2:20. What does each phrase in this verse say to you? Why is it important to crucify self to Christ? If you have not had a complete yielding of yourself to Christ, then you have not participated in being crucified with Christ. Becoming real as a Christian is part of this spiritual transaction of placing yourself in God and experiencing a death to self and any self-interest.

3. Identify the areas in you where you are fearful or vulnerable. Picture God taking you through a door as you leave the fears and uncertainties behind, you walk into the presence of God’s divine radiance, no longer shackled by their hindering presence.

4. Praise God for the work He is doing in you. Let go of any bondage you know exists in you that inhibits your relationship with God and with others. Give this to God. Ask for a release of God’s intervening work within you, to set you free.

5. Ask a praying friend to walk though this with you if you are feeling weak and unable. Satan is powerful. He will engage to dissuade or defeat you to stop you from taking this step of surrender. He will try to block your healing. There are times when we need praying friends to join in the spiritual battle. Do not hesitate to ask for prayer support.

6. Share what you are learning and experiencing in your relationship with Christ with a friend or a relative. Begin walking in freedom. If there is no release, healing, or sense of closeness with God, review and repeat earlier lessons. This might be a positive thing to do regardless.

7. Allow your emotions to surface for their presence is part of the healing process. If you are rigid or harsh there is need for a deeper awareness and spiritual awakening. The character of Christ is kind, loving, firm/strong, and unhurried and much, much more. Record areas you see within you that are being transformed or transformed into Christ-likeness.

Feedback: As you complete this series what has been helpful or informative? Please leave a comment. I welcome your input.