In the Prologue of his book Healing Your Church Hurt, author and former pastor Stephen Mansfield poignantly describes what happens when a seemingly idyllic Christian church relationship suddenly turns sour: “Then it happened and you’ve been running the facts over and over again in your mind. There was the turning. Perhaps you should have seen […]
In Chapter 10 (“All the Way to Victory! Looking Beyond Ourselves”), the concluding chapter of Emotions, Charles Stanley discusses three lessons the Lord teaches us during times of adversity. 1. God is training you to trust Him for all your needs. Our inward focus and self-reliant attitude is a terrible form of bondage. That’s exactly […]
Charles Stanley ends Chapter 9 of Emotions with six ways to maintain our trust in God when we’re faced with difficulties and distresses. 1. Allow signs of despair to lead you to prayer. Dr. Stanley emphasizes that the negative emotions we’re experiencing reveal our need to turn to God and reestablish/strengthen our relationship with Him. […]
As Charles Stanley concludes Chapter 9 of Emotions, he compares God’s graciousness and tenderness to us in our adversity with God’s care for the prophet Elijah as he fled from Queen Jezebel. 1. The Father cared for Elijah’s physical needs. Being rundown from weariness, loneliness, and frustration negatively affects our emotions. Even though Elijah lost […]
In today’s post, Charles Stanley concludes his discussion of the four consequences of despair. 2. Poor testimony. Dr. Stanley states that Satan’s goal is to “damage your testimony and squelch your effectiveness for the kingdom of God”, to stop us from revisioning our calling. When despair is our primary response, there’s nothing in our witness […]
Charles Stanley begins Chapter 9 (“Despair: Finding the Light of Hope in the Darkest Hour”) of Emotions by noting that despair is a constant battle we all must choose to fight. As Dr. Stanley often says: “Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice.” The devastating times in our lives stretch everything we know and believe. […]
In today’s post, Charles Stanley concludes his discussion of four ways we can overcome unforgiveness. 3. Ask God to help you forgive the offender. We are able to give up our right to retaliate against our offender(s) when the Holy Spirit helps us to see that our real enemy is our own sin, bitterness, and […]
Charles Stanley concludes Chapter 7 of Emotions with a discussion of four ways we can overcome unforgiveness through the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth of the matter, Dr. Stanley emphasizes, is that the Lord not only has given us a mandate to forgive (Ephesians 4: 32), but He has empowered us with the […]
As Charles Stanley continues his discussion of bitterness in Chapter 7 of Emotions, he gives three reasons why people choose not to forgive others. 1. Unforgiveness creates a sense of control in a specific situation. In an effort to ensure our offender’s punishment, we hold onto our resentment and bitterness in the mistaken belief that our unforgiveness […]
In Chapter 7 of Emotions, Charles Stanley assures us that if resentment resides within us, it will become apparent. Nothing is more difficult to hide. Dr. Stanley then examines four ways resentment affects us spiritually. 1. Bitterness hinders our prayer life. The author states that every time we pray and the Lord sees a bitter […]
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” -Hebrews 12: 15 Charles Stanley begins Chapter 7 (“Bitterness: Freedom from Misery”) of Emotions by discussing two truths about bitterness that we must recognize from the […]
Today Charles Stanley discusses his third and final Scriptural principle for escaping the bonds of rejection. 3. Competence through the Holy Spirit. Dr. Stanley points out that Satan uses rejection to fiercely attack us, trying to make it seem that our trials are insurmountable and our abilities insignificant. As children of God who have the […]