girltalk Blog
2006 at 3:05 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
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Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
All the girltalkers awoke this morning feeling extra tired and a little achy (Nicole especially!) from having walked many miles over the past two days for our annual shopping trip. We say it every year, but it’s true once again: This trip was our best one yet! We had a blast together and were able to finish almost all our Christmas shopping to boot!
How grateful I am for the friendship I enjoy with my three daughters. I’m even more thankful that they passionately love the Savior, ardently adore their husbands and children and delight in their homemaking careers, and faithfully serve in their local churches. I am a rich woman indeed!
However, I am freshly aware that this relational richness is not of my own making, but a gift from God. As my all time favorite preacher reminded us in his sermon on Sunday from 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive?” Of course, the only right and appropriate answer to this question that Paul asks is: Absolutely nothing!
This reality should have a humbling effect on our souls and should produce expressions of gratefulness as we identify countless gifts throughout our day. Instead of arrogantly imagining we had something to do with all the blessings we enjoy, let’s recognize they come to us straight from Calvary.
For further (and more profound) thoughts on this topic, take some time to listen to my husband’s sermon. And may God receive the glory for all the good gifts He bestows—most of all, the gift of His Son.
2006 at 4:20 pm | by Kristin Chesemore
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
During his sermon on Sunday (the link is up, by the way!), Dad shared a well-known story from Charles Spurgeon, describing the origins of his understanding of the doctrines of grace:
One week-night, when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher’s sermon, for I did not believe it. The thought struck me, “How did you come to be a Christian” I sought the Lord. “But how did you come to seek the Lord?” The truth flashed across my mind in a moment—I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, How came I to pray? I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. How came I to read the Scriptures? I did read them, but what led me to do so? Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, “I ascribe my change wholly to God.”
When I consider, as Spurgeon did, the question, “How did I become a Christian?” my first thought is: because of my parents. I was taught the truths about Christ and His work on the cross from a little child. The Christian faith is all I ever knew. But why was I attracted to my parent’s faith? Why did I personally repent from my sins and put my trust in Christ? Why have I persevered in my Christian walk? When I pursue the answers, as Spurgeon did, I come—as I must—to the same conclusion: “God was at the bottom of it all…He was the Author of my faith.” It was He who placed me in a Christian family. It was He who made my parent’s faith attractive to me. It was Christ who drew me to Himself. And ultimately, it is His grace that sustains me to the end.
What a comfort and a joy the doctrines of grace are. I am not a Christian because of the family I was born into or because of my own efforts. For then what confidence would I have to persevere? Rather, I am a Christian because, in the mystery of His mercy, Christ chose me.
Likewise, this doctrine inspires faith to pray for my own children. I cannot create little Christians. I cannot, by all my own efforts bring them into the kingdom. Although it is my privilege and responsibility to share the gospel with my children, only Christ can draw their hearts to His truth. Lord, may you reveal yourself to my boys. May they one day say with Mr. Spurgeon: “I ascribe my change wholly to God!”
2006 at 4:41 pm | by Kristin Chesemore
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Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
Yesterday was a typical and not so typical Sunday.
First of all, nobody had a runny nose and I was able to attend church! Not typical.
I dressed my boys in their cute new fall clothes. They all looked quite handsome, I do have to say. We made it all the way to church without any spills, rips, or buttons popping off. Again, not typical.
After dropping each of the boys off at their Sunday school classes, I went into the service for worship. I arrived during the second song. Typical, I’m afraid. But I’m working hard to be on time!
Yesterday’s service is one I would have been especially disappointed to miss because my favorite preacher—my dad—was speaking. This occurrence is not so typical, since he no longer leads Covenant Life Church. I know I’m biased, but I have to brag on him a little because he did an incredible job! Listen for yourself and see if you don’t agree.
What a powerful and holy time it is to hear God’s Word preached. Typical? Yes. But on the other hand, never typical!
2006 at 4:42 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth Motherhood Teenagers
We’ve already spoken about Chad’s birthday several times this week. Before we leave this event to the family history books, we want to share one of Chad’s letters with you. As Mom explained on Monday, she and Dad wanted Chad to hear the “voices” of godly men he respects on this special occasion. To read Chad’s book of letters is to realize what a precious gift he has received in the lives and the words of these men.
One of the men who kindly wrote Chad a letter was Dad’s friend, David Powlison. While each letter was uniquely moving, Dr. Powlison’s words were not only applicable to a thirteen year old boy progressing toward manhood, but have been an encouragement to us all. So much so, that Dad even used this letter in a recent counseling situation, and we couldn’t refrain from asking permission to share it with all of you.
Please don’t skim this letter or read it too quickly. It is priceless biblical guidance from a wise man for all of us—young and old. I’m willing to bet you won’t get through it without being moved to tears as you contemplate the mercy of God in your life. So, please read it as if it was written to you. Then share it with a friend.
2006 at 11:09 am | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
Do you do this too? Each year I make my New Year’s resolutions, but without planning to, I set New Year’s hopes too. I picture myself at the following new year, happily contented, having received my heart’s greatest desires.
When I was single, it was the desire for a husband. Maybe this year, he will come. I couldn’t see “him” anywhere and yet I would imagine myself married by the following new-year, or at least with a potential young man in sight by then. Maybe “This Year” was holding him in the wings.
But marriage didn’t cure this hope-setting habit. This year I desire to have another child. So, predictably, I picture myself excitedly telling my husband we’re pregnant, or pushing a stroller into church. Maybe this year.
In a meditation by this title from her book, Keep A Quiet Heart
, Elisabeth Elliot encourages a radically different New Year’s hope:
“Will the young woman find a mate? Will the couple have a child? Maybe this year will be the year of desire fulfilled. Perhaps, on the other hand, it will be the year of desire radically transformed, the year of finding, as we have perhaps not yet truly found, Christ to be the All-Sufficient One, Christ the ‘deep sweet well of Love’” (page 49, emphasis mine).
This year I’m setting a new hope along with my resolutions, that 2006 might be a year of desires radically transformed. “Lord, this year, would you please dissolve all my desires into a single one: to know You. Please tear down all the idols of my heart that I set up in a row at the new year. Please give me an all-consuming passion to know you, a consistent joy in the forgiveness of my sins, and a constant delight in the glory of Christ. May this be a year of finding you to be the All-Sufficient One.”
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8a).
2005 at 5:42 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
Well, once again we are going to defer Q&A for another Wednesday. For all of you who have sent in questions—we have not forgotten about you! We’ve saved all the questions in our folder and will continue to try to answer them. You may have sent a question in June and figured it was lost in cyberspace somewhere. But keep checking back. One day you might be pleasantly surprised to find we’ve attempted to answer your question!
On a different matter, we have received several requests for a downloadable pdf version of Dr. Powlison’s Personal Reflection, and he has graciously agreed to allow us to make it available to you. We hope everyone who reads this blog will download this material, re-read it, and apply it often. We don’t say this lightly: many questions can be answered as we simply learn to bring Scripture into the details of our lives.
(Personal Reflection, copyright Dr. David Powlison, editor of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, published by the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation.)
2005 at 5:32 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
When we were little, my dad would sometimes tease us by saying: “I’ve got bad news and I’ve got good news…which do you want to hear first?” In this case, the “bad” news is that this is the final post of the Personal Reflection by David Powlison. However, the good news is that this concluding portion contains recommendations from Dr. Powlison of Scriptures, articles, and books for further study in the areas of anger, anxiety, and escapism.
And the very good news is that God has blessed Dr. Powlison with an abundance of biblical wisdom which is available in many other articles and books. We hope, that like us, you too have become big David Powlison fans (if you weren’t already). And we want to vigorously encourage you to take advantage of the resources available by him, and the other godly folks at the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation.
We want to mention just a few before offering the conclusion to the Personal Reflection.
1. The Journal of Biblical Counseling, edited by David Powlison—we’ve mentioned it before on this blog, but if you haven’t yet subscribed to THE Journal (that’s what we call it around our house), do it now! Better yet, consider it as a truly life-changing Christmas gift for friends and family.
2. Seeing with New Eyes—this excellent book by David Powlison includes many of his best articles from the Journal, including several recommended below.
3. Speaking Truth in Love: Counsel in Community—Dr. Powlison’s new book, due out this month!
Personal Reflection, cont.
by David Powlison
For Further Study
Anxiety:
• 1 Peter 5:7 offers a particularly condensed version of themes we have been discussing: “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” A specific promise from God meets us in the variety of our cares. As you really hear this promise and call, anxiety must yield to faith. The parable of the sower has a pointed challenge to the corrosive power of anxiety (Matt. 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14).
• “Peace, be Still: Learning Psalm 131 by Heart” (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 18:2 and in Seeing with New Eyes, P&R, 2003). This psalm is the finest example of how restless souls learn peacefulness!
• “Don’t Worry” (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 21:2 and in Seeing with New Eyes, P&R, 2003)
Anger:
• Galatians 5:6, 5:13-6:10. Notice how the sins related to anger comprise 8 of the 15 works of the flesh that Paul samples in 5:19-21, as well as his introductory and concluding examples (5:15 and 5:25). Notice how it addresses both motives (lusts/cravings of the flesh as voices that contend with the voice and desires of the Holy Spirit) and lifestyle (works of the flesh, the behaviors and emotions that contend with the fruit of the Spirit). Notice how repeatedly, specifically, and variously God reveals himself in order to produce faith working through love.
• 3 articles on anger by David Powlison (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 14:1, 14:2, 16:1)
Escapism/addiction:
• Consider the dozens of psalms of refuge. Each calls us to the opposite of sinful escapism in the midst of the pressures of life. Psalm 55 is particularly vivid on the impulse to escape troubles, rightly directed.
• Galatians 5:13-6:10 (see above). Notice that the first three and last two works of the flesh are escapist sins. See also Romans 13:12-14. Here the first of four examples are in the escapist family of sins (and the last two are anger-family sins). Notice how horizontal sins are addressed in relation to heart issues (when desires of the flesh rule—deeds of the darkness; when faith puts on the Lord Jesus Christ—daylight lifestyle)
• Ed Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave (P&R, 2001)
Trials:
• “Suffering and Psalm 119” (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 22:4, Speaking Truth in Love, 2005) God has much bigger goals than just solving our personal problems. He wants us to KNOW Him—and along the way that changes us, too. Psalm 119 is an example of the interpersonal/conversational nature of living, talking faith.
2005 at 1:18 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
This week we have received biblical and intensely relevant counsel for overcoming the sins of anger, anxiety, and escapism. As common as these sins are, we face many other temptations as well: selfishness, arrogance, lust, greed, vanity…and I’m just getting started.
Mindful of this reality, Dr. Powlison has provided us with eight questions that will help us recognize what sinful desire is ruling our heart, identify what the Bible says to us in our specific situation, and take actives steps to repent and change.
In my own efforts to apply God’s Word to my life, nothing has helped me more than these eight questions. I’ve used them countless times, and I have no doubt you will too.
Personal Reflection, cont.
by Dr. David Powlison
Questions
1. What is your situation? What are you facing?
2. How do you react? How are you typically tempted to react?
3. What rules you, capturing your heart? What do you want? Fear? Believe?
4. What does God in Christ say and do that enters, addresses, and changes everything?
5. Respond to God from the heart. Listen. Turn. Trust. Come. Seek. Ask. Talk. Transact.
6. Respond constructively into your situation. Speak. Act. Don’t do.
2005 at 10:25 am | by Kristin Chesemore
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
I spend most of my days joyfully chasing three small boys. However, there are some days when I’m the one who wants to run away and hide in the bathroom. For those of us mothers with young children, the desire to “escape” and find comfort, relief, and pleasure in something other than God is a pronounced temptation. But all of us can succumb to this ungodly way of dealing with trials, both big and small. In this portion of his Personal Reflection, Dr. Powlison will offer us a guide to how, “Faith works out into a right longing to escape trouble and to help others in their troubles.” (Click here to read the previous posts in this series.)
Personal Reflection, cont.
by Dr. David Powlison
Escapism
1. Ponder the following passages from Psalm 31.
“In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge…Into your hand I commit my spirit…You have seen my affliction; you have known the troubles of my soul…Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress. My eye is wasted away from grief…Make your face to shine upon your servant; save me in your lovingkindness. How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you have wrought for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of your presence from the conspiracies of man; you keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues…Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.”
Read it over 3-4 times. Take it slowly. Emphasize different sentences, phrases, words. Notice the troubles he faces, and how open he is about his experience. Jesus quoted this psalm as he was dying. Notice also how persistently he calls on the character and promises of God. What most strikes you about this passage as you think about it in comparison to the “false refuges” where you tend to turn when the heat is on?
2. Now work through our six questions.
Situtation: What difficult circumstances trigger your avoidance and escapism?
________________________________________________________________________
Reaction: How do you tend to express pleasure-, safety-, and comfort-seeking (thoughts and fantasies, ‘addictions, ‘vices’, emotions, behavioral choices to avoid or procrastinate)?
________________________________________________________________________
Motive: What “false refuges” do you flee to? What things, activities, and feelings do you turn into your god, your strong tower of safety, your comforter from trouble?
________________________________________________________________________
Message: What specific things does God reveal about Himself (right in this passage), that bid to do battle with your escapism? ______________________________. Fan out into the surrounding sentences, backwards and forwards into the psalm.
Turn: Bring the real you, in your real world, to this real Savior and Father. Have a real conversation about what matters. Talk to God about all these things. Look how honest David (and Jesus) are in this psalm. They honestly experience the difficult circumstances, and come to God about these experiences, interacting with specific things about God.
Respond: What are you now called to do (and to not do)? What specific action will express how faith-working-through-love replaces false-refuge-working-through escapism? What are innocent pleasures? What can and should you do right now? Or when you get back home later today? Or tomorrow when you face your typical difficulties?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Worship is the opposite of being an escaper and false refugee.
What “consolations to delight your soul” do the hymns, ("Jesus what a friend for sinners" & "How firm a foundation" ) offer, give, proclaim, embrace, hope in, delight in?
2005 at 9:49 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
The girls and I planned who would post this week by determining which topic was most applicable to each of us, so that we could provide a personal introduction. I had a difficult time choosing, because I struggle—equally I think—with all three of these sins. (By the way, if you are checking out the blog for the first time this week, you will need to read Monday and Tuesday’s entries to understand what I’m talking about.) Needless to say, I am benefiting greatly from Dr.Powlison’s invaluable biblical counsel. In fact, so much so, I have taken a brief detour from my normal study during my morning devotions and I’m studying this material instead.
Speaking of detours, we will not be doing our normal Q & A post today. We think that the wisdom Dr. Powlison is providing will serve to answer many of the questions we receive far better than we could. We hope you agree and we pray that you are benefiting from this rich counsel as much as we are!
Personal Reflection, cont.
by David Powlison
Anger
1. Ponder the following passage from Ephesians.
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 4:29-5:2).
Read it over 3-4 times. Take it slowly. Emphasize different sentences, phrases, words. Where do you tend to misfire in this area? Notice how God boxes us in: you can’t “keep to yourself” (bitterness), or “go to the other person” (wrath and anger), or “go to other people” (clamor and slander)! We are driven to deal with our attitudes before God, and then deal constructively and mercifully with others. Notice how persistently Paul puts specifics about the Lord into the picture. He knows we need strong and sweet-tasting medicine in order to deal with anger. What most strikes you about this passage?
2. Now work through our six questions.
Situation: What circumstances trigger your anger or complaining? What pushes your buttons?
________________________________________________________________________
Reaction: How do you express anger (thoughts, emotions, actions)?
________________________________________________________________________
Motive: What are your “buttons”?
I want _____________________.
I must have____________________.
At all costs, I don’t want _______________ and must avoid it.
Message: What specific things does God reveal about Himself (right in this passage), that bid to do battle with your angry reactions?
________________________________________________________________________
You might also start to fan out into the surrounding sentences in Ephesians.
Turn: Bring the real you in your real world to this Savior and Father. Have a conversation about what matters. Talk to God about these things. It is a huge step to verbalize out loud that our “buttons” (idols, cravings) are core sins, and to verbalize that we need the very mercies that are held out as our example. Christ is not a “model” that we watch from afar and then seek to emulate. Rather, he actually treats us with mercy, so we experience his mercy. By doing mercy to us, he teaches us up close and personal to show mercy to others.
Respond: What are you now called to do (and to not do)? What specific actions express how faith-working-through-love replaces craving-working-through-anger? What can and must you do right now that is merciful? Or when you get back home later today?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Worship is the opposite of anger & grumbling.
What “consolations to delight your soul” do the hymns, (“Jesus, what a friend for sinners” & “How firm a foundation”) offer, give, proclaim, embrace, hope in, delight in?
2005 at 4:29 pm | by Janelle Bradshaw
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
This Personal Reflection on anxiety is excellent application of the little paragraph that we read this morning. I call this a “sit down and stay a while” kind of post. I would encourage each of you to set aside some time to work through this material. Don’t read it and quickly move on. There isn’t one of us who can claim innocence when it comes to the sin of anxiety. Dr. Powlison is both direct and gentle in his words as he leads us through a Scriptural perspective and a plan of action for change. I am so grateful for this material as I daily fight my own battle against anxiety.
So have a seat, (at this point, I would also recommend getting your favorite snack), and ask the Lord to speak to you as you read.
Personal Reflection, cont.
by David Powlison
Anxiety
1. Ponder the following passage from Psalm 94.
“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19).
Read it over 3-4 times. Take it slowly. Emphasize different words and phrases. Where do you tend to misfire regarding worry, fear, uncertainty, obsession? What most strikes you now as you think about how this voice of faith talks about his experience of both anxiety and the Lord?
2. Now work through our six questions.
Situation: What circumstances tend to arouse your specific worries and preoccupations?
________________________________________________________________________
Reaction: How does anxiety typically show up in you? (thought patterns, feelings, behaviors, inner obsession)
________________________________________________________________________
Motive: What erases God from your universe, hijacking the controls of your heart? Get as specific as possible. Our lusts and lies are evasive and deceitful, but to identify them is like publishing a picture of your enemy.
I want __________________________________________.
I fear (don’t want) _______________________________.
I believe ________________________________________.
If only ________________________, then everything would be fine.
Message: What specific “consolations” bid to delight you and reclaim you? Start to branch out from Psalm 94:19, working backwards and forwards into the surrounding sentences. What brought this worried man delight? You might also consider Psalm 103, Numbers 6:24-26, or Exodus 34:5-10 to prime your pump.
________________________________________________________________________
Turn: Bring the real you, in your real world, to your real Savior. Weave together situation, reaction, motive, and message. Pick one specific “consolation” to focus on. Have an honest conversation with your Father about what matters—out loud, not just spinning words within the anxious chambers of your mind! Honor Him. Give Him thanks. Need Him. Ask. Plead. Confess. Delight. Notice. Remember.
Respond: What are you now called to do (and to not do)? What specific actions will express how faith-working-through-love replaces idolatry-working-through-worry? What exactly can and should you do right now? Later today? Tomorrow?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Worship is the opposite of anxiety.
What “consolations to delight your soul” do the hymns, ("Jesus, what a friend of sinners" & "How firm a foundation") offer, give, proclaim, embrace, hope in, delight in?
2005 at 3:52 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
This first portion of Dr. Powlison’s Personal Reflection is an introduction, and includes some general comments on biblical change in the areas of anxiety, anger, and escapism. As with all of Dr. Powlison’s writings, these words are infused with grace and the hope for change that comes from the gospel.
At the conclusion, Dr. Powlison encourages an unusual and yet extremely helpful reading (and singing along with!) several well-known hymns. You can click on the link to view the hymns and then follow Dr. Powlison’s suggestions. These hymns provide a wonderful picture, a model of a heart transformed by God’s truth. If your experience is anything like mine, you’ll never read hymns or psalms the same way again!
Personal Reflection
by Dr. David Powlison
Anxiety, anger, and escapism are common life problems, in both senses of ‘common’: everyday, every person. They are sins endemic to the human condition and to our struggle. And they are doorways through which the grace and mercies of Jesus Christ daily invade lives.
This life, therefore, is not righteousness but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise.
We are not yet what we shall be but we are growing toward it.
The process is not yet finished but it is going on.
This is not the end but it is the road.
All does not yet gleam in glory but all is being purified.
—Martin Luther
In each case, we see three things:
1. It feels like we have good reasons to react with sinful anxiety, hostility, and escapism. The pressures, heat, difficulties, threats, frustrations, wrongs, beguilements of life come at us—and reveal what rules our hearts.
2. God gives better reasons, truer reasons, deeper reasons, imperishable reasons—Himself, reclaiming our hearts—that we learn to respond with faith working through love.
3. The inworking and outworking of faith and love produces the holy anxiety of caring concern (wrapped within deep trust). Faith works through love to produce just anger (wedded to generous mercies). Faith works out into a right longing to escape trouble and to help others in their troubles (alongside hearty enjoyment of innocent pleasures).
We’ve laid out a model, a picture, a map of the terrain of battle. A map is useful for orienting you, but it does not get you there. Our goal is to relate to our God honestly, intelligently, believingly, in ways that change us in real time, real place, real problem.
1. Take one of these three common sins to face and tackle this day. Your Father is the vinedresser, putting his pruning shears into your life:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me; and lead me in the everlasting way” (Ps. 139:23f).
2. Whichever of the common deviancies you’re choosing, first read and ponder these hymns (and, if you’re so moved, sing with heart and voice!). Notice how we’ve parsed the hymns,
—The pressures of life are described in italics, those things (‘good reasons’) that provoke us to anxiety, anger, escapism. These are the circumstances within which our battle plays out.
—The Lord’s promises and self-disclosures come in bold, these invitations (‘better reasons’) to live differently. These are ways the Redeemer enters human life. Notice how these things that God says compete with the voices and pressures that woo and provoke us towards anger/grumbling, fear/anxiety, escapism/addiction.
—Our responses of faith are underlined. This is the heart of change.
Read all the italics. Then read all the bolds. Then read all the underlinings. Then worship.
2005 at 12:04 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth
It is an exciting week here at the Girl Talk Blog; and I predict, life-changing for some. We have received permission to make available to you what we consider to be “blogging gold.” Every day this week, we will post a portion of a Personal Reflection from one of our favorite authors and biblical counselors: Dr. David Powlison.
If you ever wrestle with anxious thoughts, if you struggle to control outbursts of anger, if you consistently retreat in the face of conflict or trial (can anyone identify yet?) then you are about to receive your own personal counseling session from one of the most wise and gentle counselors of our day. And the good news is: it’s free!
Much more importantly, however, it is thoroughly biblical counsel. Sadly, much of what is considered “Christian Counseling” today—while a sincere attempt to help others—more closely resembles modern psychology than Scripture rightly interpreted.
By contrast, Dr. Powlison will provide for us a Scriptural model for overcoming sin. He will then focus on these three areas of anxiety, anger, and escapism in particular. I would encourage you not to skim over these posts or read them on the fly; but carve out some time to really meditate and study these words. Use them in your quiet time if you’re so inclined.
None of us will overcome anger or anxiety simply by reading these words. No blog can change your life. However, if through the power of the Holy Spirit, we apply these truths from God’s Word, we will experience God’s grace to change.
So, may we encourage you to read carefully and apply diligently this week? God, in His kindness, has provided this wisdom. And He is eager to help us obey.
“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you." Proverbs 22:17-19.
We’ll post the first installment later today.
