Broken, Bruised but not Defeated

A few years ago, our local Nazarene Church was offering a Biblical Counseling Seminar that interested me and so I signed up.  My Pastor and a few other members from my church also attended.

A six month follow-up Work shop was offered for those who wanted experience working with this type of Biblical counseling. Again I was excited to enroll. The sessions began by prayer asking Jesus to reveal his answers. The counselor was to only offer a small amount of guidance, thus allowing the participant freedom to permit Jesus to respond to the need.

We paired off into small groups, and each person in turn would be the volunteer to share what was bothering them at this present time. It was amazing as our small groups became intimate and willing to be open and share with each other. Testimonies of grace came back each week as we met again.

During our sessions, one person was selected to be the counselor, and if any of the co-workers had anything to say, we were to write it on slips of paper and give it to the person in charge. Otherwise we were supposed to be silent; to observe, and to pray.

I remember one lady confided that she was frightened to go on a cruise that her husband had planned for their anniversary. It so happened that they were to have an inside cabin, and she was terrified of small enclosed rooms.

Her session went well, and we finished in prayer, but I was impressed to ask her a question. Here goes, and I blurted out, “Molly, (not her real name) when you were growing up, did your parents ever punish you by locking you up in a closet?”

She answered, “Why Yes they did.” At that moment a light turned on in her spirit and a smile came across her face.

Three weeks later we met again, and this lady reported how much she enjoyed her cruise, and that the small cabin did not bother her at all.

Amazing don’t you think? Go figure!

The Holy Spirit was at work, and the Bible calls Him our Counselor and our helper.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound - - -

Please return for the continuation of this post!! Next is, “Loss of Dignity and Restoration!“ It will be entered in the One Word Carnival, and The One Word is Broken.