why don’t I feel God?
feelings, the unreliable barometer
the spirit, soul, and body connection
the mind and heart connection
the battleground of the mind
it builds character
lies are not harmless
truth sets us free
tearing down strongholds
establishing a stronghold of truth
training our hearts in truth
practical considerations
rabbit trail one: God’s word applies to me
rabbit trail two: God’s word is unfailing
thirty minutes a day can change your life
thirty minutes a day, day two
thirty minutes a day, days three and four
Our hypothetical person is establishing the stronghold of truth that “God loves me”, and is studying Joh 15:9 for thirty minutes a day for one week to help himself understand exactly what the Scripture says and how it applies to him, personally.
On day one of the study, he looked up “loves” in the dictionary, and wrote the definition down, so he could be sure he knew just what “God loves me” means. He also wrote down John 15:9, from his Bible and also from the KJV.
On day two of the study, he selected key words from the verse and began looking each one up in Webster’s and a Hebrew or Greek dictionary reference, and writing their definitions down.
On day three of the study, he continued the investigation into key words and their definitions begun the previous day.
On day four of the study, he personalized the Scripture, using insight gained from the clarifying key word definitions of days two and three.
Day Five
- Answer this question honestly in your notes today: If this verse of Scripture were true (also think of your personalization), how would this make me feel?
- Take time and really think about this answer. For example, if you knew that Jesus Christ really loved and cherished you in the same way as the almighty and righteous Father cherished His own dear sinless Son, and loved you with sincere affection in His feelings, yes, but also with the deliberate assent of His will (knowing that it was by that same will that the universe was brought into existence); then how would that make you feel? Loved unconditionally, no matter what your past had been? Humbled, perhaps, by the awe-inspiring goodness of our gracious Father?
- Explore the answer to today’s question and write a paragraph describing your thoughts.
Take the Scripture card to work; memorize it; meditate on how the truth of this Scripture makes you feel; and rejoice and praise the Lord for the weapons of our warfare that are mighty through God for the tearing down of strongholds!
The second week, begin the study again with a new Scripture affirming the same truth that you are establishing, and use your new Scripture in the truth trainer throughout the week; and so on for 2 to 3 weeks, or even better, 6 to 10 weeks, until the stronghold of truth has been thoroughly established. Then, if there are other strongholds that must be torn down, and other truths that must be established, use the same process to renew your mind, establishing yourself on the solid Rock, Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
2018 Update: I can tell you that when I began this process to rid myself of consistent and debilitating depression as a young mother, within two weeks of truth training God Will Help Me, and studying the accompanying Scriptures, I was full of joy – the felt emotion of joy, mind you – and completely cured of depression. From that day to this, the spirit of depression rarely shows its ugly face, and if it does – perhaps once per year – I know exactly how to take authority over it and send it packing. Today, three decades later, people who know me in real life describe me as joyful as a defining characteristic.
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