Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing
by Aliene
True Confidence and Humility are closely related, not miles apart. In our audio message this week, learn how Confidence and Humility walk hand in hand, discover how to rest easy in the treasure you are, find out how to let go of the leash of needing to prove yourself, and learn to love others out of the deep well of God’s love for you!
Today’s podcast is from the Treasured Devotion Series called True Confidence. To discover more, click here!
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by Aliene
The Bible says that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Treasured One, do you believe these words today?
There is an enemy of your soul who wants you to doubt these faithful words of God. But today, his lies are going to be exposed and you are going to walk away with the understanding that power of God heals a broken heart.
There are many reasons why our hearts become broken. Behind every reason are words. Words matter. They carry a tremendous amount of power. While we’d like to think “words can never hurt me,” or don’t carry any weight, yet this often is not the case. In fact, hurtful words roll off the tongue of someone and hit the drumbeat of our souls.
That drumbeat starts a pattern of negative thoughts. When we’ve experienced wounds from words, they can continue to haunt us, causing us to feel…
When left untreated, the unseen scars repeat the hurtful words over in your mind like a broken record. The “You ares” you’ve heard spoken over you become the “I ams” for which your soul beats.
But there is good news, Treasured One. God’s words are more powerful than your past, or the whispering lies of the enemy in the present. Connecting to God’s Word is what begins to heal our broken hearts.
To start healing from a broken heart, fill your mind with God’s Word. Understand this is a process—a process of identifying the lies, agreeing with God’s Word, and renewing your mind on His truth every day—moment by moment.
Because God heals a broken heart through His words, here are 7 promises from God for you to meditate on today…
The more time you start spending in God’s Word, you will see glimpses of his glory inside this broken world. As you read passages—such as Ephesians 1:5 that says you are predestined for adoption through Christ, or Romans 6:6 that says the old self was crucified and is no longer a slave to sin—stop and identify the lies you’ve been told that say otherwise.
The thoughts that go against God’s Word are begging for your attention. This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 says to destroy proud obstacles that keep you from knowing God. These negative thought patterns keep your heart broken and from seeing glimpses of God’s glory.
But when we surrender our thought to God, healing begins to take place in our souls.
Our identity in Christ is the key to your offensive weapon inside the battle of your heart. Your identity speaks words into every thought you have. This is why you must renew your mind and affirm your identity every day.
As you may know, this is a key element of the Nourish Bible Study Method. We write down and affirm who God says we are, and we declare who He is. This shifts our thoughts to “forget about the past,” as the Lord said to Isaiah (Isaiah 43:18), because it is nothing compared to what he is about to do in your life.
Aligning your identity with Jesus is like an eternal thread that connects you to heaven. The Holy Spirit’s voice will become louder in your life, leading you into healing and purpose.
As God affirms our identities, the enemy will attempt an attack. At that moment we have a choice. Will we agree with…
Whichever words you agree with will be the ones that rules in your thought life.
Treasured One, it is time to take hold of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and speak truth over your life.
This is important to understand: The enemy seeks to attack what has been healed. When you are tempted to fall back into negative thought patterns or to declare self-deprecating words, go back to God’s Word!
There is a battle for your heart. As much as there is a God who loves you, there is also an enemy who plays a tune, knowing the drumbeat of words in your past, waiting for you to start walking in tempo with it.
But when you acknowledge the pain, identify the lies, and surrender it all to Jesus, God’s words will begin to restore and heal your broken heart.
Know that this journey of faith isn’t easy, but it is blessed. Healing always starts with surrendering. Do you want to connect to the One who is faithful to heal?
Then start by surrounding yourself with his life-giving Word. Get the Nourishing Your Heart E-book today. It is a free resource from Treasured Ministries that walks you through each step of the Nourish Bible Study Method and shows you how to rely on the Holy Spirit for healing.
by Aliene
In our podcast this week, I’ll share my story of how control robbed me of confidence and increased insecurity. Discover practical biblical steps to rest confidently in God’s care instead of trying to control everyone and everything around you. Find freedom and confidence to become the woman God created you to be.
Today’s podcast is from the Treasured Devotion Series called True Confidence. To discover more, click here!
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by Aliene
Biblical meditation is God’s prescription to help us “put on Christ” so we can live and give to others the way God intended.
In the Bible, God told Joshua to meditate on truth, and that same tool is just as effective for us today. I am not a warrior like Joshua, trying to conquer enemies in the Promised Land, but I am a busy wife, mother, friend, and ministry leader with a desire to live in the direction of my God-given purpose. Just like you, I have distractions and disappointments that have the potential to derail me. In my busy world where my mind is prone to wander, biblical meditation continues to be the tool that gives me the ability to take my thoughts captive so that I can stand firm in my faith.
In today’s podcast, learn more about biblical meditation and how this discipline can make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
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by Aliene
We read in the Bible that prayer is powerful. It has the power to break chains of anxiety, shame, and doubt. But what about healing hurts? Can prayer begin to heal your soul from past hurts? When those prayers are given to God, he will dispel the darkness of your past hurts by the healing hand of Christ.
Past pain causes us to suppress our feelings. Satan’s goal is to cast feelings of shame and guilt about the hurt you’ve experienced. Ultimately, he wants you to hide it away, never giving it to God, which keeps you from experiencing the healing that comes from Christ.
The Bible says that Christ makes all things new…
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”—2 Corinthians 5:17
Shame and guilt are the ways the enemy traps us into remaining voiceless. His whispers motivate us to hide. This can cause us to isolate ourselves even more, preventing the freedom we desperately need. Jesus is the only one who can heal past hurts and provide hope.
In order to begin healing, we must bring our past hurts into the light of the Lord so he can begin the healing process.
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”—Psalm 103:12
… because the enemy wants you to hide.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.’”—Luke 5:31-32
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”—1 John 1:9
“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”—Proverbs 28:13
… because confession disarms the enemy.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”—Philippians 4:13
“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”—Colossians 2:14-15
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”—James 4:7, 10
“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.”—Jeremiah 10:23
… because it is there that you will find freedom.
The beauty of the Gospel is that God will take all things and use them for your good and his glory. But we must rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), choosing his way of surrender.
This may be an hourly or daily choice for some, but over time, God’s Word will prosper in your life. Each moment of praise, prayer, and verse you declare to the Lord is a seed that will produce a great harvest.
Allow the Spirit to water your soul and watch as God turns your pain into promises—for his glory.
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”’”—John 7:37:39
“’You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.’”—Genesis 50:20
Are you looking for a way to use God’s truth every day to counteract the lies of the enemy? Then download My Heart for His Glory for FREE!
It’s a PDF designed for you to use anytime you feel hurtful words of your past try to open wounds that have been healed by Jesus.
Get your FREE download HERE!
by Aliene
Sabbath is God’s gift to every woman to retreat, regroup, and rebuild. Making the Sabbath a holy habit is the key to enjoying this blessing from God. By carving out times for input, we will have what we need for output.
Want more? Today’s podcast is an audio message taken from Brave Heart. This nine-week study on Joshua and his journey into the Promised Land was written by Aliene Thompson and is a part of the Nourish Bible Study Series.
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by Aliene
We’ve all been in relationships in which we look back at situations and see where a boundary could’ve been set. We can walk away feeling hurt. The problem is that the enemy tells us lies about how to set boundaries. He pulls us into a place of exhaustion, shame, guilt, and even avoidance.
This is not where God wants us to be. He has a purpose and plan for each of us. And to discover that plan, we need to know how to set boundaries with love.
Setting boundaries isn’t easy. Ephesians 6:12 tells us why setting boundaries is hard…
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Satan’s lies keep us in the dark. He places condemning words on us to keep us from connecting to God’s Word. He knows that God’s Word is our guide that gives us wisdom and confidence about how to set boundaries—healthy ones that lead us into our purposes.
Satan magnifies rejection from our pasts so that all we remember is the pain instead of the future of our God-given purposes. However, when we take our pain to God, he will use it for good!
The voice of our Almighty God bids us near so that we can step out of the darkness and into his all-encompassing light. He wants to reveal his ways of setting boundaries with love.
When we set boundaries using God’s Word, it intercepts the condemning words of our pasts and frees us to love and live the way in which we were created.
1. You must be nice.
As little girls, we are often told to “be nice.” These words can plant seeds within our hearts that Satan begins to manipulate. Those seeds don’t produce a harvest of joy but of fear and shame—two of the enemy’s greatest tactics against our souls. In a previous blog, What Does the Bible Say about Setting Personal Boundaries, we discovered that God’s will is not that that we are nice, but instead that we make a difference and stand in his strength and share the truth.
2. If you say no, you are being selfish.
Have you ever thought that if something is asked of you, then you must do it? I know I have. Many women are people pleasers. We are nurturers by nature, and the enemy loves to exploit that God-given trait. So, he tells us we must say yes whenever we are asked to do something. As a result, we can run ragged and feel guilty. Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:30). He doesn’t want us to be burdened and burned out. Instead, his voice gives us renewed minds and nourished souls.
So, how did Jesus do it? Thinking about the life of Jesus, I realized he set boundaries… with love. He had limitations. He needed nourishment—both spiritual and physical. He rested, and he was aware that some people could not be trusted.
But he still loved.
1. Jesus established prayer as a priority. He understood the importance of having quiet time with the Father. He withdrew from crowds to pray, even when he was in the active ministry of teaching and healing.
“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”—Luke 5:16
2. Jesus taught to be confident in your “yeses” and “nos.” In Matthew 5, Jesus explained that when we sway in our yeses and nos, our characters can be questioned. Because our identity is in him, when we seek him for guidance, we can be confident in our yeses and nos.
“’Just say a simple, “Yes, I will,” or “No, I won’t.” Anything beyond this is from the evil one.’”—Matthew 5:37
3. Jesus expected others to state their needs. In Matthew 20, Jesus’s question to the blind men was relational. He wanted to be invited into their journey. Because of his perfect love, he doesn’t force us to choose him.
We can take this principle and apply it to our relationships. Others can ask for help and we don’t need to feel guilty for “not reading their minds.” Likewise, we can feel free to invite others into our lives and ask for support when we need it.
“Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’… When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’”—Matthew 20:30, 32
There are a number of other ways Jesus set boundaries, from confronting wrong behavior (Matthew 16:23, Matthew 21:23-27) to knowing the need for rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).
There are times in our lives when boundaries need to be set. If we have been hurt, we can often say things such as, “I will never open myself up again.” Although this is a boundary, we need to ask ourselves if this is a boundary that has been set due to fear or one that comes from the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future” (John 16:13).
When we seek the Spirit’s guidance, he will reveal how to set boundaries and which ones should be set.
1. Prayerfully ask God to guide you in this boundary-setting journey. God’s Word reminds us that we are to examine our ways (Lamentations 3:40). Come to the feet of Jesus and honestly share what is on your heart. If you are struggling with exhaustion, or feel as though you are walking on eggshells in a relationship, you can “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7).
2. State your core identity in Christ. As you begin to set boundaries, the enemy’s words will press in, causing you to question your core identity in Christ. As the Spirit begins revealing areas for which to set boundaries, it’s equally important to record and recite your core identity in Christ. Write down scriptures that remind you that he gives you strength when you are weak.
3. Keep connecting to the Word and record your boundaries. God is faithful. As we seek him through this journey, he will start revealing needed boundaries. But distractions often pop up, causing us to retract from our time in his Word. This is a time we must retreat into God’s presence. Write down how God is leading you to set boundaries. As you read more scripture, you’ll notice something—God will continue to connect his Word to your personal situations.
If you want to hear more of my teaching about how to set boundaries, click HERE for my podcast Setting Boundaries: Letting Go of Being Nice to Learn How to Say No.
Discover how nourishing your heart with God’s Word will transform the way you live HERE.
by Aliene
Has the Lord ignited a passion in you and called you to serve a particular group of people? Do you question the calling he’s placed on your heart or doubt your capacity?
Well, let today’s podcast guest inspire you and spur you on to run a mission for God. Tina Beauchamp is the Founder and Executive Director of an anti-human trafficking organization called “Trees of Righteousness.”
“TOR” as it is called, is a new non-profit dedicated to establishing a long-term aftercare program for adult, female survivors of human trafficking, 18 years of age and older. She considers her most valued treasure in life, besides God, to have worked with human trafficking survivors for the past 9+ years and counting. TOR has a capital campaign going on right now to purchase a house to make into a safe house for female trafficking victims. They need to raise 2+ million dollars to make this possible. If you feel compelled to get involved with TOR or make a donation to the campaign, you can visit their website at www.TORorg.com.
You can contact Tina directly by e-mailing her at tina@TORorg.com.
Follow Trees of Righteousness on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/127379394482872/posts/317927258761417/ https://www.facebook.com/127379394482872/posts/305408953346581/
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