Stepping Stones: Don’t Think You Need A Counselor?

Transformational Thought

The other day I got into an argument with my wife. As usual, it was a pretty trivial spark that started a much bigger fire. If someone had run that same situation by me in the morning, I would have easily described the ideal solution to manage the situation. My theoretical solution would have been beneficial to my wife and me, and honored God. But in the moment, I was governed by my insecurities, and blew it.

We all have so many unanswered questions about ourselves. Am I really a good person? Am I truly lovable? Why do I do the things I do? Why do I feel the way I feel? Why do I make the same mistakes as I used to? While we struggle to answer these questions for and by ourselves, it’s difficult to get to the core answers without a true counselor.

The combination of our arrogance and pride—I don’t need any therapy, thank you very much—and the fact that it’s become a profession with a stigma attached—mental illness, Freud, Prozac and all that—has kept most of us from realizing that we do need counseling. All of us. As Christians, thankfully, we have the best counselor living right inside us.

The Bible tells us Jesus sends us his Spirit as Counselor…that ought to make it clear. And apparently, we need quite a lot of counsel—the Spirit isn’t just stopping in to give us a tune-up; not even an annual checkup. He has come to stay and give us a complete makeover…from the inside out. Now we just need to figure out how to “hear” His counsel and quit sabotaging His efforts in our lives.

Today, confess your sins, then talk to God about a struggle in your life. Open His word…read the Christmas and Easter story…then listen for His counsel. If you have trouble following the counsel, or continue to sabotage His efforts, consider getting someone to help show you how to listen and follow His counsel. WITHIN REACH is a great resource we developed for this specific purpose: to help you hear God and follow His direction; to be a Godly decision-maker in all you do. Your decision, choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I thank You for sending to me the ultimate Counselor, Your Holy Spirit. Help me recognize the daily need for guiding advice and for the Spirit of truth…help me listen and heed Your advice. Help me gain wisdom and courage to follow Your guidance, and humility to set aside my agenda. Thy kingdom, not my kingdom come. I pray in the name of the one who asked You to send another Counselor, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!

The Truth
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth”
John 14:16–17

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:12-14

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."
Proverbs 1:29-33