No sense in explaining yourself when there is no trust.
Especially when there is no trust. We may want to clear things up and explain our actions. But if there is no trust, all our explaining will go to deaf ears and our efforts will be wasted.
Give it time.
Build trust.
Explain.
Then, just leave it to God.
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It’s a challenge to attract great leaders for your organization or church. They become a valuable asset as you move forward. You will have a broader perspective from such quality people. And their perspective is of much value.
It’s a greater challenge to raise up leaders from within. It takes more energy, patience, and lots of time investment. But the value is immense. You can be sure they carry your DNA. They won’t need to develop or “grow into” your values. That’s simply who they are.
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Culture develops from years of response to practical needs. But later, when needs change, the culture seems out of touch. It requires revision.
We can’t revise culture. But maybe we can. But it will take so much effort. The resistance may be overwhelming. Most just give up. But some persist and push forward.
There is a huge price to be paid for even attempting to revise culture. You’ll be ostracized and condemned as an outlaw and as one who intends to destroy the peace.
So, is it worth the cost? If it is, go ahead and put your neck on the line.
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It’s amazing how many of those annoying people God put in your life. Their habits, words, and behavior seem to be aimed at making your life miserable.
God has a special purpose for strategically placing them there in your life. This is an opportunity for you to give grace to others – the same grace God gave you. Actually he not only gave it to you at salvation but he continues to give it. Daily.
Grace received – to be given.
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It’s not common, but it does happen. Friendship turns long-term. It goes beyond usefulness and conveniences. Something deeper gets transferred between the two in a healthy manner.
No apparent need is fulfilled except for that deep inner sense of connection. It’s a God connection that’s hard to explain but a sure reality. Yet it needs to be cultivated and nurtured just like any other relationship.
Proverbs has words of a similar tone:

“Better a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.” (Proverbs 27:10c)

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We may overcome some limitations during childhood by making adjustments. Those adjustments continue even after the limitations have been overcome. Eventually, those adjustments become further limitations that hinder our performance even after the initial limitations are gone. 
Why do you do what you do? Why do you do it that way? Often, we simply don’t know. We need to challenge ourselves with new thinking about the same things we have been doing for many years. Don’t allow old habits caused by old limitations to become new limitations for the present.
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You wouldn’t even think of it. Just the thought is ludicrous. The man’s job is done as soon as he delivers the package. “Drop it here and go!”
When God was about to “dwell” in the midst of his people, he asked for a contribution only from those whose hearts moved them to contribute (Exodus 25:2b). The contribution would be used to construct a dwelling place for God to “move in” and dwell with the people. This was not a tax that was demanded from all the people. It was to be received only “from every man whose heart moved him.”
For many, God was just like a “delivery man” who brings a package. The people get what they needed and they let the person go since he is no longer needed. But God wanted to dwell with his people. That’s why the contribution was asked only if those whose hearts were moved.
When Jesus came he wanted a deeper relationship. He said “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him” (John 6:56). For many, Jesus was like a delivery man who delivers things you order. But Jesus wants a deeper relationship.
Do you want him? Or, do you just want the package? Your choice.

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    Retaliation is the first thought in our minds when we think of this phrase. We think of getting back at others for what they’ve done to us. Our society has inserted its own meaning into it as well. But the original meaning and purpose were far from it.
    The people of Israel were coming out of 400 years of slavery. They were treated brutally without any human value. After several generations of this, imagine their condition. Consider how they would have treated each other. 
In such violent conditions and generations of brutal oppression, their behavior towards each other would not be pleasant. They would become angry, revengeful, and violent towards each other as well.
    This law was intended to limit punishment to a value equal to the crime. For example, someone who steals bread should not lose his hand as punishment. The punishment should be equivalent to a loaf of bread rather than something extreme. 

“But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:23-25)

 

Inner healing is an important and major task in our lives. But it is important to build up some important things in our lives for our ongoing health. Healing is a one time event as well as a process.
Here are some instructions to follow:
The Lordship of Jesus must be central in our lives.

• Jesus must have the rightful place in every area of our lives.
• If we think, say or do things that cannot be shared with Jesus, you are on dangerous ground, giving Satan a foothold.

Continuously be filled with the Holy Spirit.

• We receive the Holy Spirit when we are saved, but we need a constant filling and anointing (Ephesians 5:18).

Read the word of God daily and allow it to minister to you.

• The Bible contains everything we need for godly living.
• Spend Time Alone With God daily.

Wear the armor of God at all times.

• This armor is for our defense and protection.
• During the day, if there are moments of failure, immediately confess, ask for forgiveness, and receive his forgiveness.
• Repair the armor. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Be on guard against counter attacks.

• If we have taken ground from the enemy through healing and deliverance, be sure Satan will try to gain back that ground he has lost.

Be in good fellowship with others.

• You will benefit from the ministry of others.
• God will use you to minister to others.
• Take part in a caring small group every week.

Allow the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life. (Galatians 5:22)

• Fruit takes time to grow, so be patient with yourself.
• Make sure to “work” the soil to allow for better growth of fruit.

Walk continuously in forgiveness.

• Look for opportunities to forgive people – not opportunities to be offended.
• Develop a mindset of forgiveness.

Praise God in all circumstances.

• Praise is vital for Christian living.
• Whatever happens in your life, continue praising God.

Keep the right company.

• Find people living a godly life.
• Keep relationship with such people.
• Until you are strong enough, cut relationships with those who are going in the wrong direction.

This post is a part of a series of posts regarding Inner Healing. Click here to access the Introduction to Inner Healing and the entire list of topics in the Inner Healing series. 

An ungodly belief system is any system of belief that bypasses and worships anything or anyone other than the creator God. Such worship is in essence denying the one who created us and may be one of the greatest offenses against God. Satan takes advantage of this and devices ways to get people hooked on to such belief systems and into demonic bondage.
One main channel through which demons gain access to humanity is the occult. Man by nature has a longing to make contact with the spiritual world. It was God who placed this longing within us, but Satan has devised ways to divert the seekers into deceptive, evil systems that bring them into bondage to himself. These deceptive systems can take countless forms (ranging from reading a weekly horoscope in magazines to seeking help from a witch doctor); but the generic form for them all is the occult.
The word  occult is derived from a Latin word that means “concealed” or “covered over.” The power operating through occult practices or systems derives from Satan and is evil. Many people caught up in them do not know this. They have been enticed of labels or claims that make them appear highly desirable.
Two main branches of the Occult
The two main branches of the occult are identified in the scripture as divination and sorcery.
Divination
Divination provides knowledge through supernatural means about people, events and situations. Frequently it predicts future events. Examples are fortune-telling  and extrasensory perception (ESP).
A clear example is offered by the slave girl in Acts 16:16-18, who was said to be “possessed with a spirit of divination” (NKJV). She was the first person in Philippi to discern the identity of Paul and Silas.  “These men are the servants of the Most High God”, she cried, “who proclaim to us the way of salvation” (v. 17).  Everything she said was true, yet her knowledge came from a demon. When the demon was expelled, she lost the ability to tell fortunes.

• This is what makes fortune-telling so deceptive and dangerous. The measure of truth is the bait on Satan’s hook by which he seeks to capture and enslave his victims. Fortune-telling (divination) is truly hidden (occult). It conceals the satanic source of power. Among those who seek to know the future are highly placed political leaders – even professing Christians. Yet that contact inevitably exposes them to demons.
• Another snare which poses as a game, is the Ouija (VJ) Board. The use of Ouija Board and other occult practices like “Coin call”, Yoga has now permeated many branches of our school systems. Another way many people are exposed to divination is through horoscopes. It may be noted that even casual scanning through “your” horoscope in the newspaper with an unguarded mind can expose you to the demonic influence. Here again many Christians are deceived. They consider such activities harmless, not recognizing the snare.
• Another potential door-opener for demons is involvement in martial arts like karate, judo, etc. We need to bear in mind that the martial arts originated in cultures permeated with idolatry and demonic activity.

Sorcery and Witchcraft

• The other channel through which the occult operates is sorcery. Sorcery uses various means to make an impact on physical senses. Some of its tool are drugs, potions, charms, amulets, spells, incantations and various forms of music. Often addiction to drugs opens door to these evils. Some contemporary forms of music such as acid rock falls into the same category and are used as channels of supernatural satanic power.

In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 the Lord declares his attitude towards various forms of occult involvement. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or is a medium or a spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…..”. All such people are said to be detestable to the Lord. The word translated “detestable” is the strongest word in the Hebrew language for what the Lord hates and rejects. Note, too, that God places such people in the same category as those who sacrifice their children to a pagan deity.

• The other main category mentioned above, in addition to divination  and sorcery is witchcraft. There are many different forms of witchcraft ranging from open worship of Satan, evil forms of rock music to new age cults, religions and practices.
• Closely related to occult is false religion. Examples are idol worship, Freemasonry, Mormonism, Jehovah’s witness, false mediators (saints), etc.

Wrong Beliefs

• Any wrong beliefs (about God, about self, about others), heretical beliefs, wrong attitude towards scriptures, etc is a potential target for demonic deception. So is any religious practice that becomes more important than God himself and the relationship one has with God.

The Way Out

• Anyone who has been involved in occult or false religion needs to repent of it, confess it as sin and seek Christ for forgiveness, cleansing and release. In addition, any books or other objects connected with the occult or false religion should be destroyed.

This post is a part of a series of posts regarding Inner Healing. Click here to access the Introduction to Inner Healing and the entire list of topics in the Inner Healing series.