I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:1-2 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Emily Lewandowski on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
For too many women, their past has dealt a cruel blow. I know women who have been betrayed, rejected, abused, and/or traumatized in terrible ways. One doesn’t just get over it and move on easily. The abuse may have affected her whole personality. Abuse can do that.
Step Up for Mental Health states, “Women who endure physical or emotional abuse tend to suffer from … post-traumatic stress (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.”
Some of the effects of trauma include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts.
But let me move on to the good news. The Good Shepherd restores my soul. That’s what Psalm 23:3 tells me.
“He restoreth my soul”
The Hebrew word for restore is sub. It means to recover, to bring back, to restore.
To restore means to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition; to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor;
Have you ever had a piece of antique furniture restored? When you pick it up, it’s been restored to its original condition. No more scratches, no dull finish. It’s been restored to its original beauty!
The Hebrew word for soul is nepes. It refers to the life, the soul, the seat of emotion and desire.
We are not warped for life because of what may have been done to us in the past. God says He restores our soul. He will restore our soul to what it should be. He will heal our soul from the effects of past hurts, abuse, wrongs, trauma, and pain.
If you have endured abuse of any kind, you have likely read about how it can affect you. You may have read about depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. You may even think of yourself as damaged goods. So now what?
Now it’s time to let your Father God restore your soul. Trust Him to do it. He loves you.
Not only will He restore your soul. He will use those past hurts to help others. You will have a compassionate heart that understands.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God will use those past hurts for good.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
My prayer is that you will allow God to heal your hurts and pain, and restore your soul. If you have never memorized the 23rd Psalm, consider doing it now. It will be a healing balm to your soul.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
All Scripture references are from the NIV unless otherwise noted.
RealChristianWomen.blog
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 NIV Read full chapter
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34b NIV Read full chapter
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
He drew a circle that shut me out—
Edwin Markham
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!”
My father taught me this poem when I was a child. I have had many opportunities to apply it in my life.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Khadeeja Yasser on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:25-26 NIV Read full chapter
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Romans 4:8 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Federico Tasin on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” Philippians 4:8 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Amy Baugess on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
Imagine Jesus going with you out the door every morning. Wherever you’re off to, it’s a place God wants to spread His Love. We never know what opportunity may come our way or who God might put in our path.
Where are you sharing God’s love? In a church? A school? An office? Among the poor? The homeless? A foreign country? A prison? A nursing home? Wherever you go, you have the opportunity to show God’s love.
Jesus told his disciples,
“But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7 NASB
That is a remarkable statement Jesus made! How could it be better if he went away?
It’s better because when Jesus walked this Earth, He was only available when he was physically present. But now, the Holy Spirit is always with the believer and ready to help us. Today, the believer can truly walk with Jesus every day. He is always with us through the Holy Spirit.
Diligently studying God’s Word every day will do more to strengthen you and prepare you for God’s service than anything else. Not only will the Holy Spirit give you understanding about what you are reading, but He will also bring it to your remembrance when you need it later.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26 NASB
What a privilege! Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us each day!
This message is simple, but also essential to the Christian walk.
“In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26 AMP
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NASB
Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”
Corrie Ten Boom
If you haven’t read Corrie ten Boom’s, book, The Hiding Place, you are missing out on one of the most inspiring books of all time. She made her life count and so can we.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
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RealChristianWomen.blog
“How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of mankind!
You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind;
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.” Psalm 31:19-20 NASB
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Šárka Krňávková on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
Real Christian Women 