How to Diagnose if You Could Use Inner Healing
Who hasn't experienced wounds and put a guard in your heart?
The other day I met with 3 other Christians for a pre-workday devotional time – all mature, well-seasoned Christians and professionally competent in their fields of work. The presenter started by explaining she’s had a history of mental illness and anxiety is now on the comeback – to such an extent that she can hardly sleep. She knew she should trust God more with all the things that concern her, and then proceeded to quote from Word for Today with scriptures about trusting God. Another Christian lady explained how she suffered that sort of thing in the past and now looks back at “how stupid that was”. The presenter tearfully concurred, acknowledging that she knows it’s stupid to worry.
Why is this sort of conversation not unusual amongst “believing” Christians? We sign up to the faith statements, we sing the songs with gusto, but how many of us experience life that is simply not aligned with the basics of Biblical Christianity? Things like “I can’t hear God”, “God doesn’t like me”, “I can’t live rightly”, “God doesn’t have a plan for me…” Could it be that you feel that the Holy Spirit (or Father-God or Jesus) is distant, scary or unpleasable?
Jesus gets us! (Yes, I’m referring that great ad for the Superbowl). Remember the Isaiah 61 anointing that was upon him? That’s for us, too. And that’s the mandate especially for those who do inner healing. As I continue to partner with the Holy Spirit in this practice, it is truly a joy and privilege to see the broken-hearted healed and captives set free – among other good fruit. I longer am perplexed when I come across those earnest Christians who insist on muscling through foibles and triggers, understanding believing that they have everything pertaining to life and godliness as Peter assured us in his 2nd letter, third verse.
If only we all just lived up to the promises in the New Testament! The explanations and justifications abound, but just stop and ask if the good ideas you’ve already tried will suddenly produce different results. Why not consider inner healing?
“If you’ve got the fruit, you’ve got the root” of something toxic – below the surface – that needs to be removed.
A simple self-check would be noticing overreactions to minor threats, inability to overcome addictions, and any type of “bad fruit” that inexplicably cannot be eradicated from one’s life. “If you’ve got the fruit, you’ve got the root” of something toxic – below the surface – that needs to be removed. While demonic influence may be involved, you likely don’t need an exorcist. The spiritual structures upon which demons legally reside are easily dismantled when wounds get healed. This opens the heart to true repentance, and receiving the truth that sets one free indeed!
The mysterious truth is that emotional trauma results in self-protection which ultimately self-sabotages our brain’s ability to execute decisions simply by the force of will. Here is how neuroscientist and Christian counselling expert Jim Wilder explains it:
“If we believe we are alone and the pain exceeds our mental capacity, we become traumatized. We can get stuck at any point along the pathway; therefore, metabolizing pain is essential for healing… When pain has been fully processed, the experience usually produces wisdom. What caused us pain was not always a good thing, but a full resolution brings good from everything. This is redemption. If we allow God to take us through a proper pain-processing sequence, we develop deeper compassion and empathy. Wilder, E. James. Joyful Journey: Listening to Immanuel (p. 33,34).
Inner healing – at least as we practice at SoulCare Prayer – is not about reciting a prayer. It's about getting the truth about your identity as a valued person, made in the image of God, who belongs in this universe. You don't have to have much faith or be religious.
It's about replacing the false beliefs you learned in times of trauma that were needed to protect your heart. The "prayer" bit is simply a profound conversation with the Holy Spirit (or if you prefer, your heart) that allows it to speak what is hidden from your mind. Let the Spirit (or your heart) respond with the truth that will set you free as we guide the conversations with curiosity clothed with compassion.
If you know your heart doesn’t know or believe what the Bible says is true, there may be a disconnect between your mind and heart that was caused by emotional trauma. Consider reflecting on these scriptural truths and see if any of them gives you an uncomfortable resonance:
I overcome all things through Christ.
God will provide all things needed.
I keep in step with Holy Spirit
It’s pretty clear that eternal life begins now, full of huge promise. Here is an example of St. Paul’s expectation: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being… to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16,19
Here is a great 1-minute “reel” of someone explaining how an inner vow results in self-sabotage when attempting to be vulnerable in relationships (although I don’t recommend any of his other explanations!)