Some Encouragement?

[RachelZ]

Hi...I've put a question mark after the title of this thread cos I don't find it easy to be confident that God is showing me something or trying to encourage me. But I was in church this morning and happened to read these verses...apologies JayAngel it is the good news version I'm afraid!

"I ASK GOD FROM THE WEALTH OF HIS GLORY TO GIVE YOU POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT TO BE STRONG IN YOUR INNER SELVES..." EPHESIANS 3:16

I don't know about you but I greatly desire to be strong in my inner self and it just felt such an appropriate prayer for me and for people with OCD. Please don't think I'm saying you guys are weak...far from it...you cope with far more than your average Joe who doesn't have to think twice about half the things he says and does. But its that inner strength that the well prolly take for granted and it would be wonderul to experience it at least most of the time!

Actually if you go on to read the rest of the passage it really is quite appropriate especially for those suffering from scrupulosity or any other doubts surrounding our faith.

"...I PRAY THAT YOU MAY HAVE YOUR ROOTS AND FOUNDATION IN LOVE, SO THAT YOU , TOGETHER WITH ALL GOD'S PEOPLE, MAY HAVE THE POWER TO UNDERSTAND HOW BROAD AND LONG, HOW HIGH AND DEEP, IS CHRIST'S LOVE. YES, MAY YOU COME TO KNOW HIS LOVE - ALTHOUGH IT CAN NEVER BE FULLY KNOWN -AND SO BE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH THE VERY NATURE OF GOD. TO HIM WHO BY MEANS OF HIS POWER WORKING IN US IS ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE THAN WE CAN EVER ASK FOR, OR EVEN THINK OF: TO GOD BE THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS FOR ALL TIME, FOR EVER AND EVER! AMEN" EPHESIANS 3: 17a - 21

One things that seems to shine out from this passage is the lack of striving...it is God's power that reveals His love and it seems to me that it isn't that Paul prays that God WILL love them, he prays they will UNDERSTAND God's love for them. So unless I'm way of track here...you don't need to FEEL loved by God to BE loved by God. Again, I may be way off beam but I think Paul is writing to and praying for Christians...he says "...together with all God's people..." how encouraging that even those without OCD need prayer for God's power to reveal His love for them!

I'm gonna just leave it at that cos I'm already starting "Yeah but ing....." I pray it will encourage you and give you some hope and that The Holy Spirit's power will be what speaks to you and illuminates these verses for you...and me too. Take care...Rachel

 

[keryakos]

THANK YOU RACHEL YOU ARE ALWAYS A BLESSING TO US ALL ...THANK YOU FOR THE SCRIPTURE .. and youre desire to encourage us

 

[Jayangel81]

apologies JayAngel it is the good news version I'm afraid!

Don't worry, I won't hold it against you 's

Thank you for posting this thread

 

[keryakos]

Don't worry, I won't hold it against you 's

HOW GRACIOUS OF YOU ... YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JIMMY ..

 

[kaykay9.0]

Good post, Rachel. I think there is a lot in the Bible, especially in Paul's writings, where he seems to express that he wants us to have a full revelation of the depth of the love of God. Good for anyone, but especially for those of us who struggle with OCD. I think you're on to something there!

 

[pjspara]

exactly rach!! you got a revelation this morning YAY!! and yes paul was talking to christians......... they didnt have it any more together back then than we do it seems he often had to talk to them and remiind them of things didnt he??? but GOd still loved them and was patient , just as HE still is

the book by wayne jacobsen called HE LOVES ME talks about how you dont have to feel GODS love for it to be there.... its HIS feelings, and HE is ever faithful no matter how we FEEL.....

when i first startedthis forum, i would read posts And jayangel would always say read and re-read and study HIS WORD.. and i was like yeah, well all it does is scare me!!, but i did it anyways and started to see things a lil differently and was given bits of revelations as i asked for them..... its been slow, but steady, so thats ok for me!!

i think that if we focused on GODS love, mercy patience longsuffering, etc... then the scary verses wouldnt scare us so much if we could only comprehend HIS lOVE...

and i know i can YEAH BUT...... alllll day, but when i start to even say that to myself, i remind mywself that HE IS ALOT BIGGER than my doubts, so i just say OK FATHER, i dont know why i keep on doubting everything and again im sorry, but i KNOW fear isnt from you, so im going to do my best to enjoy today......

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Amen, thank you for your sweet message!

 

[ObsessedButBlessed]

Right on, Rachel! And you are absolutely correct - being unable to FEEL God's love does not change his love for us, not one bit. Being unable to FEEL his forgiveness does not change the fact that we are forgiven.

This passage reminds me of another great passage that Paul wrote in Ephesians. As you know, he was writing to the church in Ephesus - who were indeed followers of Christ.

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:3-8)

So, even before he created the world and everything in it, he loved us. Even before we were born, he knew he loved us so much, that he would die for us. And because he loves us so much, and because Christ died for us, he sees us as blameless and pure. What a way to start a Monday!!

 

[RachelZ]

Hi Keryakos, JayAngel, Pjspara, KayKay, HB and Sad for reading, responding and encouraging me with your feedback! I kinda feel like I've had a bit of a week with it what with having one post responded to in a manner that indicated that the poster's intital reaction was "Is this a Christan post?" and then being told my OCD was cos of my sins by another poster...it's nice to feel something I've read might have encouraged you guys too! Hope you all have a good week and thanks for being such a blessing to me...take care, Rachel

 

[pjspara]

its nice to take one step forward when you felt you took two steps back...... dont let people get you down...... they are just PEOPLE, and dont even understand what it is we go thru..... and then, they think they have all the answers and act accordingly..... all i know is GOD is not a GOD of confusion ,and people who post such as that cause distress AND confusion for us.... we are here to help, and lift up each other on this ocd journey....... its about sharing encouraging things, things that help, not hurt.......and i love that i have met people such as all of you who in one way or another, have been where i am..... or where i was, and likewise, i share your difficulties, because i have been there too!! the fog is lifting for me, little by little, and i do thank GOD for that....
rach, keep your eyes and ears open and i believe you will get more and more revelations!!!!

i asked my counselor and pastor friend how did i know if what i got was revelation from GOd, and he said... well, is it leading you toward GOD, or away... and is it giving you some peace, or only fear? and i said well some peace and i believe toward GOD, not away from HIM.... and he said well, THE devil wants to keep you away from getting closer or seeking GOD and he delights in fear...........GOD wants you closer to HIM, seeking HIM, and does not operate out of fear.... hmmm.... just something to think about when you start your "yeah buts" lol

pj

 

[RachelZ]

Hey PJ...thanks for that...what a wise counsellor you have!!! I am pretty useless at hearing God most of the time...it would be good to be able to recognise His still small voice above all the shouting of OCD.

Yes I shouldn't let people get to me I know but so often if they say something that fuels my fear or is hard to hear or in any way confirmatory of my fears then I get very worried that a. they may be right and b. to ignore them might be to ignore God. I kinda feel like if I ignore stuff I don't like I'm in danger of being a "Pick and Mix" Christian who takes the nice stuff not the challenging stuff. It makes it very difficult to read the bible or Christian stuff without feeling like God is standing over me waiting to clout me from behind! That's why even the verse "Be still and know that I am God" made me feel like God was rebuking me and saying "Stop It!" (The notes said that's what the original text said.) I long to feel God's love again...to know that even just once He was pleased with me...the idea that He delights in me is almost laughable to me! I can turn seemingly innocuous texts around against me and I don't know if that's OCD or just that I have a guilty concience. Sorry...whittering on now...

Thanks again...take care, Rachel

 

[pjspara]

its ocd and probably a lil bit of a concious too!! which is another proof in my opinion that you re HIS, because if you werent, you wouldnt feel anything, and the devil wouldnt mess with you and condemn you , because he wouldnt need to.... as far as being a pick and mix... i totally understand that too, and am chewing on some more challenging stuff right now, BUT.... i couldnt come to that place until i started to actually believe HE might really love me, scars and all.....i still go back and forth,, and i may do that my whole life idk, but even if i do, i wont give up or give in, and i just firmly believe you have to learn GODS love for you, before any of the other even makes sense..... and thats what im beginning to see.......... thru the WORD, prayer and great christian authors that have traveled the same roads....

i would have loved ocd to just have stayed at me having to count everything, or check everything and not attacked my faith.. but again .. i either believe GOD is bigger than ocd .. or i dont and i believe HE is and thru prayer, and meds (yes meds) and therapy with GODLY people, there is a light coming on... its only dim right now, but hey, its not complete darkness anymore!!!

 

[kaykay9.0]

Hey PJ...thanks for that...what a wise counsellor you have!!! I am pretty useless at hearing God most of the time...it would be good to be able to recognise His still small voice above all the shouting of OCD.

Yes I shouldn't let people get to me I know but so often if they say something that fuels my fear or is hard to hear or in any way confirmatory of my fears then I get very worried that a. they may be right and b. to ignore them might be to ignore God. I kinda feel like if I ignore stuff I don't like I'm in danger of being a "Pick and Mix" Christian who takes the nice stuff not the challenging stuff. It makes it very difficult to read the bible or Christian stuff without feeling like God is standing over me waiting to clout me from behind! That's why even the verse "Be still and know that I am God" made me feel like God was rebuking me and saying "Stop It!" (The notes said that's what the original text said.) I long to feel God's love again...to know that even just once He was pleased with me...the idea that He delights in me is almost laughable! I can turn seemingly innocuous texts around against me and I don't know if that's OCD or just that I have a guilty concience. Sorry...whittering on now...

Thanks again...take care, Rachel

I think that's how OCD works, Rachel. We tend to micro-inspect our actions, thoughts, etc. One aspect of OCD you touched on has to do with other's input. I think I've learned a few things at least in the past couple of years even...things that maybe are obvious to others. I dunno. But the thing was if a Christians said something, or sometimes even a non-Christian, :othat might trigger my OCD, I tended to put far too much weight or authority in their opinion. Consequently, I would be as the scripture says, "blown about by every wind of doctrine." Usually, in a few days, if something upset me, I would be able to settle down and think rationally. But in the meantime, I would allow myself to be painfully "blown about" by someone's opinion and not able to evaluate rationally what they said.. I dont know if I'm articulating very well what I mean, but this was a big step for me with the OCD battle. My counselor even picked up on this aspect of the problem and helped see what I was doing. I know we don't want to just have "ticklish ears" but generally, OCD makes us go to far the other direction,where we don't sufficiently discern. Hope that makes sense.

 

[RachelZ]

Hey Pjspara, thanks for your input...it's good when someone understand but can also say they've moved along the road in the right direction! As to meds I have no problem with that at all...diabetics may need insulin for their dodgy pancreas to work better, asthmatics may need ventolin for their dodgy lungs to get better...and people with mental health problems may need tablets to help their dodgy brains work better...and the last time I checked the brain was as physical an organ as the pancreas...though thankfully I don't tend to take mine out to check! LOL I believe I'd be much worse not on meds and prolly better on more. You sound like you have a very honest yet positive approach...thanks for posting!

Hey KayKay...tell me you're kidding about not articulating very well...you just described me to a tee! In fact I'm starting to wonder where the web-cam is...LOL What your saying makes perfect sense and whilst I would rather you didn't suffer in this way it is comforting when I find others who operate in a similar way! When I posted earlier about not wanting to just take the nice stuff and not the difficult stuff I nearly wrote that I actually tend to do the opposite...I couldn't quite type that as there's still too much fear that actually I'm right to be NOT taking the nice stuff...but a small part of me can say I prolly tend to disregard the comforting verses and dwell on the scary ones.

As to micro-inspecting my actions...oh yes, boy do I do that. And sadly I do that with my hubby too. In fact I've often said I see him under a microscope and that nothing looks that good when it's so magnified.

Thanks for your input...I'm glad you've been able to get help with this from your counsellor...and also that that help is then avaialable to others! Take care and God bless, Rachel

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Hi...I've put a question mark after the title of this thread cos I don't find it easy to be confident that God is showing me something or trying to encourage me. But I was in church this morning and happened to read these verses...apologies JayAngel it is the good news version I'm afraid!

"I ASK GOD FROM THE WEALTH OF HIS GLORY TO GIVE YOU POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT TO BE STRONG IN YOUR INNER SELVES..." EPHESIANS 3:16

I don't know about you but I greatly desire to be strong in my inner self and it just felt such an appropriate prayer for me and for people with OCD. Please don't think I'm saying you guys are weak...far from it...you cope with far more than your average Joe who doesn't have to think twice about half the things he says and does. But its that inner strength that the well prolly take for granted and it would be wonderul to experience it at least most of the time!

Actually if you go on to read the rest of the passage it really is quite appropriate especially for those suffering from scrupulosity or any other doubts surrounding our faith.

"...I PRAY THAT YOU MAY HAVE YOUR ROOTS AND FOUNDATION IN LOVE, SO THAT YOU , TOGETHER WITH ALL GOD'S PEOPLE, MAY HAVE THE POWER TO UNDERSTAND HOW BROAD AND LONG, HOW HIGH AND DEEP, IS CHRIST'S LOVE. YES, MAY YOU COME TO KNOW HIS LOVE - ALTHOUGH IT CAN NEVER BE FULLY KNOWN -AND SO BE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH THE VERY NATURE OF GOD. TO HIM WHO BY MEANS OF HIS POWER WORKING IN US IS ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE THAN WE CAN EVER ASK FOR, OR EVEN THINK OF: TO GOD BE THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS FOR ALL TIME, FOR EVER AND EVER! AMEN" EPHESIANS 3: 17a - 21

One things that seems to shine out from this passage is the lack of striving...it is God's power that reveals His love and it seems to me that it isn't that Paul prays that God WILL love them, he prays they will UNDERSTAND God's love for them. So unless I'm way of track here...you don't need to FEEL loved by God to BE loved by God. Again, I may be way off beam but I think Paul is writing to and praying for Christians...he says "...together with all God's people..." how encouraging that even those without OCD need prayer for God's power to reveal His love for them!

I'm gonna just leave it at that cos I'm already starting "Yeah but ing....." I pray it will encourage you and give you some hope and that The Holy Spirit's power will be what speaks to you and illuminates these verses for you...and me too. Take care...Rachel

God Bless you Rachel! Don't be afraid of letting that pearle of truth soak deep into your heart. God is not against you, but rather he's for you/us! Just let it soak in... let all the "yeah buts" fall aside, and just let it soak in, accept it. Because it's true. What a wonderful jewel from the lord!

HB

 

[annrobert]

Rachel,
Thankyou for posting that awesome scripture.It would be a good one to meditate on and memorize.It is encouraging.
Jesus Bless You
annrobert

 

[Jayangel81]

We tend to micro-inspect our actions, thoughts, etc.

I find doing it to other people can be annoying

nice word btw