Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing
by Aliene
God’s power is sufficient for every battle we face in our broken world.
Want more? Today’s podcast is an audio message taken from Brave Heart. This nine-week study on the book of Joshua written by Aliene Thompson is a part of the Nourish Bible Study Series.
Learn more about the Nourish Bible Study Series by clicking HERE.
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by Aliene
When we experience hurt, a wounded heart is established and false beliefs about God, others, and ourselves creep into our souls. We can start leaning on lies rather than standing on God’s promises.
The fact is we live in a broken world with imperfect people. When this world—or those within it—hurt us, truth starts to bend and our beliefs become lies we unknowingly adopt.
When beliefs are rooted in lies, it creates fear. When we don’t believe God’s promises, by default we are trusting ourselves or others to establish truth in our lives—we end up basing our beliefs on how we feel.
And what is the truth about feelings? They lie…
“Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.”—Proverbs 28:26
We can become self-focused rather than other-focused, which drives our desires into demands. Our hearts become captive to people or things, burdens become heavy, and weariness takes hold of our souls.
But God’s promises are greater than our feelings!
“Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”—1 John 3:20
We can shift our thinking by confessing to God how our hearts have been held captive by feelings—and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Feelings can be a gauge to help us identify the beliefs that are not aligned with God’s, but the Spirit is our guide that will help us get back on track.
It leads us away from God’s promises and robs us of the joy that is ours in Jesus.
Fear leads to…
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”—Deuteronomy 31:8
“’What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”—Mark 9:23:24
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”—Proverbs 13:20
“Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”—James 1:8
Are these lies the enemy whispers in your ear? Because fear comes from hurts and manifests as disappointment, discouragements, and disbelief, just to name a few, we can trace our steps backward to discover the places where false beliefs began to take root and release those to God.
You see, when we try to control an outcome based on how we feel, we can choke out the righteousness of God to deal with the situation.
Romans 12:19 says this…
“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord.”
We can be confident that God has our best interests at heart, and he is in control. When we shift to a mind-set of believing God’s promises, our souls will be refreshed, renewed, and restored.
1. Identify the false belief about God, others, and yourself that has held you captive. For example, some of us don’t believe God’s promises because of the trials we’ve been through. Or we believe that others have more power than God, and therefore our lives are shaped by them.
2. Determine how these lies have come out in your life and in your relationships with others. One way many of us fall into the trap of living out the lie is by believing we need acceptance from others to establish our worth. We’ve unknowingly allowed others to write our stories rather than God. As a result, it can be difficult for us to be vulnerable and receive constructive feedback from others with a brave heart.
3. Choose to rest under God’s promises of care, cover, and control. After you’ve been able to pinpoint the lies, they become much easier to break free from! Then you can move into a place of refuge and rest with God. Pray and declare the truth that Jesus has covered all of your sin. Meditate on the truth that you are loved and accepted by him, and can live with disapproval from others because you’ve been justified by God and have his approval.
God’s perfect love is unconditional and beyond measure. He cares about your every need and desire. He wants your whole heart so that he can nourish it completely from within. Meditate on these verses today, and may your soul be nourished…
“The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!”—Deuteronomy 30:6
“’For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”—Isaiah 54:10
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”—Matthew 7:7-11
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”—James 1:17
Are you struggling to align your heart with God’s promises?
Do you feel that the wounds of your past still direct your path?
Then download our My Heart for His Glory easy-access PDF. It will help you identify lies and break free from the strongholds the enemy has set up against you by shifting your perspective so you may believe God’s promises.
Click HERE to get My Heart for His Glory
by Aliene
Do you ever feel the need to say no, but end up backing down because you feel guilty? We’ve all been there.
In today’s Podcast, gain skills to set boundaries so that your time and energy can flow in the right direction.
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by Aliene
Brave hearts believe God, experience the Promised Land, and lead others to do the same. Becoming a brave heart is not the absence of fear—it is the presence of faith.
Today’s podcast is an audio message taken from Brave Heart. This nine-week study on the book of Joshua written by Aliene Thompson is a part of the Nourish Bible Study Series.
To discover more about the Nourish Bible Study Series, download the FREE chapters, watch corresponding videos or find out about resources available for small group leaders, click HERE.
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by Aliene
The best way to study the Bible for yourself is to follow these 3 steps:
1. Select a passage of Scripture to study.
2. Open up your quiet time with an invitational prayer.
3. Apply a Bible study method that helps you see more of God’s character and his plan for your life.
Studying the Bible can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. God never intended for his Word to be something we steer clear of. On the contrary, it is intended to be inviting, transforming, and powerful.
He tells us his Word is alive and active. It can discern the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible also tells us that when we take delight in him and his Word—when we truly allow his words to wash over our souls and change us—then he gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 27:4).
Now, don’t get me wrong… This is not to say that God grants wishes. He is far from a genie. But what he does say is that he heals our hearts and begins to mold them in such a way that they actually reflect more of his character and desires.
We start to want the same things God wants for us!
As a result, we begin to experience lives of freedom. We start to see the world differently. Our circumstances no longer control our emotions and behaviors. When we study the Bible, and immerse ourselves in its healing words, it actually changes our perspective to be more like God’s, which allows us to start to see our purpose.
Who doesn’t want more contentment, freedom, and purpose in their life?
The key to discovering these blessings within the words of our loving Savior, Father, and Counselor lies in our willingness to…
Many of us spend so much time wondering what passage of Scripture the Lord wants us to study that we end up not studying anything at all. Isn’t that what the enemy of our souls desires—to keep us out of the freeing words of Christ so that he can continue to cause chaos?
Not anymore.
Instead, ask yourself these questions…
Has there been a passage that God has been bringing to my mind repeatedly?
Is there a hurt I am really struggling with?
Is there a Bible story or character that I have wanted to study and simply haven’t yet?
These questions can guide you into a passage of Scripture to study. The Lord can begin to unpack and reveal anchors of truth to you through his Word.
You might be thinking, “I’m new to studying the Bible, so how do I even find what I’m looking for?” The internet is a great resource for locating passages of Scripture to study.
For example, have you ever wondered how the study of Joseph and his coat of many colors applies to your life? There are great resources out there that help you dive deep into God’s timeless truth and apply it to whatever season you are in today.
And if you still can’t come up with a passage of Scripture to study, go ahead and open one of the Gospels, such as Mark, and ask God to reveal the power of the cross as you read the words of your Savior.
There is no denying that prayer is important. God wants to hear from you! He also wants to speak to you. Quieting your mind and asking God to fill it with his perfect love invites him into the process when you study the Bible for yourself.
The Creator of the universe wants to connect with you. Sure, he wants you to know his Word, but for the purpose of being able to recognize his voice (John 10:27), not to simply gain knowledge for knowledge’s sake.
Try opening up your quiet time with a prayer of invitation, such as the following:
“Lord, your Word sustains me. It gives me life and breath. It breaks away past hurts and heals my broken heart. I choose to receive your healing hand today. Lord, create in me a heart that seeks you above all else. I invite you into this quiet time right now. Reveal to me an anchor of truth I can rest upon today. Let me hold fast to it. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
This is when the time with the Lord really becomes alive and active in your life!
Let me ask you this… Have you ever read a passage of Scripture numerous times, and then one day you read it and it seems to leap off the page at you? It’s as if you are experiencing its impact for the first time!
Friend, that is God speaking to you! He wants to make that IMPACT on your life. But don’t get ahead of him, and don’t assume you know what it is. Instead, unpack the impact.
What do I mean by that?
Break down the passage of Scripture using the Nourish Bible Study Method and start to look for…
As you can see, the IMPACT God wants to make on your life is intended to move you from where you are into what you are created for.
Applying a method, such as the Nourish Bible Study Method, to a single passage of Scripture is like opening a treasure chest of precious gems that was hidden under a layer of dust.
Are you ready to start exploring all that God has for you? Are you ready to start nourishing your soul with truth as you study the Bible for yourself? Then get a Bible study method to help you do just that.
Download our FREE Nourishing Your Heart e-book today!
Get a complete guide that will help you study the Bible for yourself using the Nourish Bible Study Method.
You might think there’s a hidden treasure for you in God’s Word. No doubt there is. But never forget that God’s pleasure is to dust you off so that you can be his light to the world (Matthew 5:15)—because you are his treasured one.
by Aliene
Emotions are part of what makes us human, but when they become so strong that they blind us from making wise decisions, it can cause emotion commotion.
Discover five steps to handle emotional strongholds in today’s podcast so that you can remain steadfast in your purpose.
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by Aliene
Forgiveness does not mean you automatically trust the person. Forgiveness is releasing your offender to God.
Want more? Today’s podcast is an audio message taken from Dream Builder. This six-week study on Joseph and the Patriarchs, written by Aliene Thompson, is a part of the Nourish Bible Study Series.
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by Aliene
On this week’s podcast, we talk about what it is to avoid negative self-fulfilling prophecies and how to put God’s truth into practice rather than anxiety. It’s hard to not speak our anxieties aloud. It’s even harder to cast out anxiety altogether, but when we constantly imagine and talk about the worst-case scenarios, we’re inviting fear into places it has no right to be present in.
Dr. Michelle Bengtson watched this very thing happen in her own life, what she feared most kept happening until she recognized the cycle and the pattern. If you want to see more of Dr. Bengtson’s work, you can visit her website and find information about her newest book, Breaking Anxiety’s Grip. We invite you to settle in and start taking back your mind and giving it to God. If you want to get in touch with Michelle herself, you can find her Facebook page to join her community by clicking here.
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