Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook (2 page)
Read Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook Online
Authors: June Hunt
27. ILLNESS—CHRONIC AND TERMINAL:
48. VERBAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE:
Before You Begin…
A HELPFUL NOTE FROM JUNE
Dear Friend,
Oddly enough, when we’ve been heading in the wrong direction, the painful result of being on the
wrong road
can be the most persuasive motivator to get us on the
right road
.
But what do we do if we don’t know what to do?
At times, I’ve been stuck, stymied, and totally stumped…not knowing what to do or which way to turn. How I longed for wise counsel—someone to pull me “out of the ditch,” to pivot me toward the right path, to put me on the right road. But…sometimes that special someone wasn’t in my life.
You, too, know what it’s like to feel the strain of a perplexing problem and to seek a fitting solution. You ask for help, but the answers aren’t helpful. You want wisdom, but the counsel isn’t wise. You feel no confirmation, no spirit of peace, no sense of “Yes!”
What should you think when you don’t know what to think?
When your mind is mired in the mud, you can’t move forward, you can’t move backward. You’re bogged down in the ditch and see no way out, with no one to help.
That is the
why
of this handbook:
• to offer step-by-step solutions for climbing out of a ditch (actually, 50 difficult ditches) and…
• to offer powerful hope, help, and healing from God’s holy Word.
And why rely on the Bible? When King David careened off course, he found himself in the “ditch of adultery.” Trying to get himself out of that muddy hole, he dug a deeper ditch—into the mire of murder. But after a complete change of heart—the deepest dedication of his life to the Lord—David made this strong declaration: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). He learned that the wisdom of God’s Word would keep him walking on the right road, in the right direction.
At different times in our lives, we’ve all found ourselves caught in a quagmire—whether self-propelled or by accident or by an unwelcomed shove! No matter the depth of the ditch, we all need a helping hand to pry us out of the pit. However, Jesus warned, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39). Therefore, our helper needs to see the situation and the solution accurately and to take a stand on solid ground,
being solidly grounded in truth
.
In reality, the Lord always offers His hand, saying, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
My prayer is that throughout your lifetime, the timeless truths in this handbook will…
• provide a strong hand to pull you out of the ditch,
• provide a guiding hand to guide you down the right path,
• provide a helping hand to help you help others.
Realize that each chapter in this handbook is one separate path. And each of the 50 paths is distinctly different, with its own “map.” Every map contains step-by-step directions, concluding with ten relevant passages (for the Scripture Prayer Project described later). These mapped paths ultimately lead to “the Road.” Being on the Road means you are moving toward Christlike maturity—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. On this Road you will find inner freedom and true fulfillment.
Everyone wants guidance from someone who is wise—especially someone the Lord has freed from a pit. Indeed, it is He who “redeems your life from the pit” (Psalm 103:4). Once you’re out of your own ditch and walking the Road—look around! By sharing your journey with strugglers who are stuck,
you can be that wise person
…called by Christ to speak His words of wisdom into their lives.
Because all these maps are biblically based, I believe this how-to handbook will divinely help you help others. And toward what end? That, being conformed to the character of Christ, we all reach His designed destination—
total transformation!
Enjoy the journey.
Yours in the Lord’s hope,
June Hunt
Your Scripture Prayer Project
“Set up road signs; put up guideposts.
Take note of the highway, the road that you take”
(J
EREMIAH
31:21).
At the end of each chapter, you will see a list of relevant scriptures. These Bible verses pertain to the chapter’s topic (such as Rejection) and they serve as “road signs” revealing God’s heart on that topic. They are guideposts to show how God wants us to think and act.
To turn these passages into
Your Scripture Prayer Project
, simply look up each of these verses, write them down, and personalize each verse with words you would naturally speak from your heart. These personal prayers, when applied to your life, will be especially powerful because…
— the Word of God possesses unique power (Hebrews 4:12), and,
— the Word of God renews your mind, producing a transformed life (Romans 12:2).
The following sample prayer is a model:
Your Scripture Prayer on Decision Making
