TOPICAL POSTS by SERIES | Norma L. Brumbaugh

The purpose of this series of writings is to wake us up to the problem of the presence of pain, distance, and separation that may be hidden inside the Christian person’s life. A deadness and lack of liveliness in a person’s spiritual life is indicative of this state of status quo and spiritual dullness.

A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION

Believers in God must realize that there is a need within their life before they can take action to solve or remedy it. This writing will bring to our attention some of the troubles found in the spiritual home front. These are quite real and should not to be discarded as a problem caused only by willful rebellion, although for some that may be true, it is more prevalent and universally seen by the lack of life and lack of genuine outworking of faith in people’s lives. Often times, it is not for want of trying, but for want of direction.

People will experience a feeling of something not seeming quite right but they’re not sure what it is or what it means.

It is my hope to create an awareness of this true need that has gone unnoticed by individuals in the church. I hope to offer a solution in answer to the problem by presenting some ideas to direct us to find and access God in a personal hands-on way as the Helper and the Healer—the Remedy and Solution to pain and spiritual depletion, deadness and disillusionment.

I have discovered most of this through personal searching and commitment borne out of a heart that longs for God. It started when I asked God to heal me and to change me. He did both. Throughout this unusual quest, through a form of spiritual awakening, I found God to be real and caring. He became a close friend in all seasons. It is what I wish for all people.

I will begin to state my case by starting at the back-end, from the viewpoint and perspective of a believer who thinks they’re doing just fine, that they’ve dealt with their problems and are an obedient spiritual person; the person who is a self-satisfied Christian who can give you an answer to most any question you might ask. They’ve got it all figured out because they are serious about their faith and will defend it.

But, unfortunately, at times for these same people there may be an area of blindness that is constricting and detracting from their effectiveness.

This writing’s argument begins by exposing a limited Christian belief with its view point that says, I am good and right where I should be because I am obedient, faithful and have forgiven those whom have hurt me. That’s the good that’s good enough but not the best. That is a reality which may be limited by a shield that hides from sight the presence of not-so-evident issues in the interior self which cause some form of soul-insufficiency that is restricting the fullness of internal spiritual freedom.

There is a battle that rages because we’ve been hurt or misunderstood, but it is ignored, capped, and pushed deep within. We pretend that we’re okay. Never looking back can be detrimental. Never dealing with it can be ever so binding. Resentments and hurts are crippling to the Christian’s emotions even if denied or neglected and that’s not even mentioning the pain or hurt we may have inflicted because of our stubborn pride and bent toward self-protecting. Being spiritual does not mean we are emotionally healthy and well as Christian people.

The truth is, the presence of pain is hiding inside of spiritual people.

Spiritual healing is necessary. Here's why.

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The next post in this series will be about the presence of pain.

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>Next post: When we hurt: A Spiritual Intervention (7)

<Previous post: It starts with relationship: A Spiritual Intervention (5)

|<<First post: A Spiritual Intervention

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©N. L. Brumbaugh

Christianity is about a life changing relationship.

A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION

What is lacking, the missing area, is an emphasis on personal relationship with God. It becomes a life that is totally integrated with God. It is about relationship with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It is about embracing the arms of Christ and staying there until He begins to change you. It is adding love to love to love to love.

Relationship is relationship.When God becomes real to an individual, then life as a Christ-follower is established on a foundation that will not crumble when life gets hard or disappointing. When you love someone and they love you, you will want to please them. We will draw upon this friend during the hard times. They will be honest with us, speak the truth in love with us. We can depend on this type of friend when we are not at our best.

It can be this way with God. A relationship with God is one of strength and enjoyment, hope and help, love and goodness. It is a reciprocal friendship. The believer goes from duty-bound to love-bound as the relationship becomes closer and more intimate. The areas of obedience and service spring forth out of love for God and also as an outworking of His love in us which grows out of a desire to please Him.

The more we love God, the more we become willing and free to share His love. As the focus changes, the life of faith becomes less to lived by rules, regulations, and scripted spirituality. Healing of our emotions and self’s painful experiences dovetail with the life of relationship held fast in God. This is to know and experience a deepening awareness, an awakening that stirs the soul to radiant life.

Pain is often hidden from view because we put our best foot forward. We often project wholeness and capability. We may believe we have to act like we have it together spiritually. People form certain masks that are sort of a charade or a pretending. We all want to be accepted and respected. It becomes damaging to live this way when we fail to recognize the internal state of affairs within our interior self.

There can be a lot of garbage that needs taking out!

Those who pursue a deepening relationship with God will seek change. And change will come. God uses friends, family, circumstances, and a host of ways to bring us to a place of open talk with Him. This is always good. A soul-changing intervention begins when we get alone with God, take spiritual inventory of everything in our past and present, and ask God what to do about it.

Some of inward issues need to be exposed to the light of God

Now we begin to come clean and honest with God. It is at that place, in the moment of truthfulness with God, that the seeds of soul-changing intervention begin to unlock this inner cell where we unwittingly and unknowingly have hidden our real selves. We begin to surrender to God and begin living our lives His way. God refreshes, heals, and restores. Thus, we establish a transparent identity with God.

We become Father with child and child with Father. This brings us so much, a close, intimate, loving, relationship, one that will bring much joy and inner peace.

It is the best way to live a spiritual life.

Authentic Christianity starts with a spiritual relationship.

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More spiritual insights in the next post.

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LINKS:

>Next post: Internal healing is necessary: A Spiritual Intervention (6)

<Previous post: We may have missed the boat: A Spiritual Intervention (4)

|<<First post: A Spiritual Intervention

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