Copyright https://www.christianity.com 2023, Christianity.com Thu, 08 Jun 2023 22:53:56 -0400 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/10-ways-to-evangelize-in-your-local-and-online-communities.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/10-ways-to-evangelize-in-your-local-and-online-communities.html Courtnaye Richard There is a fresh move of God happening in our world today. Can you feel it? Now is the time to do our part in evangelizing our cities, homes, churches, and social media platforms with the gospel. Thu, 08 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/how-should-we-pray-for-revival.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/how-should-we-pray-for-revival.html Rev. Kyle Norman How might the church today echo such a prayer? Can we cry out to the Lord to sustain and restore the life of his people? If we wish to join in this biblical call for revival, here are three things to consider. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-is-the-hope-in-christ.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-is-the-hope-in-christ.html Robert Hampshire The great news is that since the world cannot give us this hope, they cannot take it away, no matter how bleak and dark things begin to look. Christian — we have hope! Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/church/what-the-church-should-know-about-mental-illness.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/church/what-the-church-should-know-about-mental-illness.html Jessica Brodie People with mental illness — just like people with physical illness — are beloved creations of the Lord, each created in the image of God. We have an obligation to love each other and care for each other. Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/ways-to-get-back-into-reading-your-bible.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/ways-to-get-back-into-reading-your-bible.html Chris Swanson We can only learn what God wants from His Word, and unless we regularly read and reflect on it, His Word will not have an impact on our lives. Knowing what God’s Word says is important, but following it is even more important. Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/prayers-of-praise-for-the-promise-of-new-life.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/prayers-of-praise-for-the-promise-of-new-life.html Jessica Brodie Whether you are welcoming a child of your own, a grandchild, or another new life making its way into the world, here are nine prayers of praise for the promise of new life. Sat, 03 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/valuing-the-word.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/valuing-the-word.html Dr. Josh Moody If it is true that the Bible is God’s Word, how come we give so little attention to the Bible? And if we do give so little attention to it, why are we surprised that we have so little grasp of the truth? Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-do-my-loved-ones-hurt-me.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-do-my-loved-ones-hurt-me.html Vivian Bricker When our loved ones hurt us, it hurts terribly. God wants us to turn to Him in these times and pour our hearts out to Him. He cares about every single hurt we have, and He longs to heal our wounds. Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/devotionals/bible-study-minute/your-daily-bible-verse-june-8.html https://www.christianity.com/devotionals/bible-study-minute/your-daily-bible-verse-june-8.html As we learn to lean on God and what He tells us in his Word, we’ll remember we’re not alone. God is close enough to collect our tears. Thu, 08 Jun 2023 01:05:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/what-should-christians-consider-before-seeking-psychological-counseling-or-therapy.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/what-should-christians-consider-before-seeking-psychological-counseling-or-therapy.html David Powlison https://www.christianity.com/author/david-powlison/ (The following is a transcript of the video above, edited for readability) First thing I think I'd say is that psychotherapy is qualitatively different from chemotherapy or physical therapy. Those are there's something wrong. You got a cancer, it's trying to attack the cancer. You had a broken leg, you're trying to rehab the leg. Psychotherapy, maybe the first thing worth knowing about it is that it's simply a transliteration of the Greek word for the cure of souls. It's a word that actually originated within Christian faith. It's a word about how do you take what's most wrong with us and make it right? How do you lead, shepherd, disciple a human being to deal wisely and rightly with their sins and sorrows, with the hardships of life and with the things that are wrong about us as people? So the origin of not only the word, but the practice goes back into the pastoral care of the church in seeking to help people with their troubles.Why do people seek psychotherapy, seek counseling? It's for trouble. It's the troubles that come upon us, life sufferings, hardships, disappointments, griefs. It's because we are troublesome to others or ourselves with our addictions, our temper, our immorality, whatever. It's because we feel troubled. We have a sense of distress or being overwhelmed or feeling guilty or anxious, upset by our lives. Every attempt to try deal with the troubles of human life is some kind of cure of souls or other. One of the things that, again, most people might not know is that Sigmund Freud, for example, who was really the pioneer of a secular psychotherapy, he described a psychoanalyst and those who would follow him as secular pastoral workers. He believed that in a culture that had no more need for God, that was passe to deal with real guilt before a real God, that people still had all the same troubles.They felt miserable, and depressed, and anxious, and guilty, and frustrated, and their relationships didn't work, and they were addicted. They needed some cure of souls. He basically sought to provide a secular cure of souls. I think you can tell where I'm going in that. Basically what that means is that every single form of psychotherapy, every counseling system, when you take it apart at heart, it offers those who seek help an evangelism leading to a discipleship, because there's always a worldview that's imparted.There's a way of understanding your sufferings and hardships. There's a way of understanding yourself. There's a labeling provided for what's wrong with you. There's a theory of why you have those problems. There's a view of what human flourishing would look like, and there's some agent power at work to change you. I'll oversimplify, but in a secular form of counseling, the agent of change is almost invariably yourself and your own self-trust. What's wrong with you is usually a combination of your personal history, bad experiences, and your body. It's not your sins. Christ is not your savior. So the labels used are things that kind of steer you in a semi-medical or quasi-medical way of understanding life's troubles.So as I think about what are the things you look for when you feel those very real human distresses that lead people to seek counseling is you want someone who is going to operate within the worldview that is faithful to reality, that deals honestly and candidly with human struggles, and deals with them in a way that recognizes that the power and the mercy and the aid that we most need lies outside of ourselves. It's not just a matter of me telling myself things that can make myself feel better or feel more self-confident. It's not just a matter of me making better choices that lead to a healthier lifestyle, but I need a savior. I need a helper. I need someone who can work on the inside to make me new.I remember about 25 years ago, there was a gathering of about 5,000 psychotherapists out in Phoenix, I believe. They called it the Psychology Super Bowl. The commentator afterwards said they disagreed about everything, but the one thing they agreed on was that the answers to our problems lay within ourselves. I thought as a Christian, they actually got most wrong the one thing they all agreed on. In a Christian, think looking for help, I want them to look for someone who will respect what is most profoundly true about their need and God's mercies towards them.For more information about David Powlison, visit: www.ccef.orgFor more information about Christianity, visit: www.christianity.com(Article published June 18, 2013)Great Books about Counseling and Mental HealthIf you're seeking more information about mental illness, therapy and achieving healthier life, these books may be right for you.10 Christian Books on Depression5 Encouraging Christian Books on AnxietyBible Resources on Mental HealthWhile the Bible may not use modern words like "post-traumatic stress," it has a surprisingly amount to say about mental illness and how to continue serving God and living life even when mental illness makes it hard to get up in the morning. These articles will help you understand what the Bible has to say, and find the solutions it recommends.What Does the Bible Say about Struggling with Mental Health?7 Bible Figures Who Struggled with DepressionWhat Does the Bible Say about Mental Health?3 Biblical Ways to Combat Anxiety and DepressionUseful Prayers for Better Mental HealthWhether it's a diagnosed mental illness or something harder to define, these prayers will help you keep going and combat the symptoms.8 Prayers for Mental Health and Those Struggling with IllnessA Prayer for Stress & Anxiety25 Prayers for Anxiety That Provide Instant Relief and CalmHealing Prayers to Heal the Body, Mind, and SoulGreat Resources on Counseling and Mental HealthIf you're seeking other perspectives on how to understand mental illness and understand what it's like for Christians to struggle with mental illnesses, these books are the best place to start.Truth Heals: 5 Reasons to Stop Hiding Anxiety and DepressionFaith and Mental HealthWhen Grace & Reality Collide: Dealing with Mental Illness, Part IWhen Grace & Reality Collide: Dealing with Mental Illness, Part IIWhat Can Churches Do to Help People Experiencing Mental Health Issues?3 Things Christians Need to Know about Mental Illness (and What it Means during a Pandemic)Should Christians Take Medication for Mental Illness?5 Reasons Why Christians Should Prayerfully Consider Therapy4 Things to Know about Christian PsychologyGreat Techniques for Better Mental HealthWhile counseling and medication can be helpful, there are a surprising number of things you can do right now to improve your mental health. From strategies to combat symptoms to proactive healthy lifestyle choices, the following articles discuss many things you can start doing now to live a more balanced life.10 Ways Christians Can Improve Their Mental HealthHow to Deal with Anxiety as a Christian10 Resolutions for Mental Health5 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental HealthYou can learn learn more about Crosswalk.com's Depression/Mental Illness resource section. Photo Credit: Getty Images/StockRocket Tue, 02 May 2023 15:00:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-noahic-covenant.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-noahic-covenant.html Michael Lawrence https://www.christianity.com/author/michael-lawrence/ The Noahic covenant is the covenant that's unlike the rest of the covenants in the Bible. It is a covenant that's made with all of creation. Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:40:00 -0400 2023-06-08T22:53:56-04:00