Psychology vrs faith

[Justicia_et_Pax]

Yes. My ex-pastor banished me from parish property because some brand new idiot teacher thought I was scary. The teachers who knew me, loved me.

The pastor I have now has been supportive from day 1, is very brilliant with people skills and counseling skill as well as theology, and has been of great help in my own healing.

I’m here to tell you that complete healing is possible, because I received it. It was beyond medical hopes for me, much less expectations. It all made sense, but very little of it made sense until it was all over, my mind went calm and clear, and I felt totally in the kingdom. It’s been this way over a month now, with not a trace of symptoms. For the past 11 years, one day without symptoms was pretty miraculous.

I appreciate that you are taking the journey the way the Lord leads you. When I myself let go of the steering wheel, so to speak, it felt a lot like what you are describing. I think such a surrender puts you in a good position for being able to follow the path the Lord is leading you, and IMO you are right on target with your perspective on it.

I used to converse with a lady from Australia who said they are very advanced there with peer counseling, and have had a lot of success with that. I think it’s excellent, because honestly I would love to be a peer counselor. Not only could I help people, I think that the other people would help me. When I talk to someone who is having a hard time, I try to feel their experience just a little bit at least.

What your saying closely aligns with my own thoughts on the matter. It makes me feel like maybe there is someone who might understand me. Plenty of people love me, and without that I wouldn’t have found health. But understanding? These experiences are clearly outliers on many scales. I think extreme experiences of all sorts are forms of passion and can help empathize with each other and our Lord.

Alan

Thank you for posting your thoughts on my ramblings, Alan. I am glad it made some sense to you. I went off on a little rant there! I follow your posts with great interest and always enjoy reading of your complete healing through the grace of God. Please pray for me, for I fear my faith is not as steadfast as yours

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Thank you for posting your thoughts on my ramblings, Alan. I am glad it made some sense to you. I went off on a little rant there! I follow your posts with great interest and always enjoy reading of your complete healing through the grace of God. Please pray for me, for I fear my faith is not as steadfast as yours

If you aren’t already seeing signs you are in the kingdom, I kind of doubt it will be long. :heaven:

For me, the primary indicators are the fruit of the spirit.

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

The last one that came in for me was self-control. When you can go through different situations, ups and downs, and still sense that those fruit are with you, then you will see what I mean. Things that were mysteries will start making sense. You may not be able to put it into words, but you’ll “feel” it. Not “feel” it like emotions, but have this confidence about it. It doesn’t even feel like faith anymore because it is more like sight. (“I’ll see it when I believe it.”) Also for me I got this “synchronized” or “tuned in” feeling that things were happening at just the right time, and “coincidences” start to happen so much that they become normal.

If you have any of the above symptoms, most importantly the fruits, maybe you’re catching some of what I caught? From reading your posts, my first guess is you have an advanced case of it. :harp:

Alan

 

[3DOCTORS]

Found this book, Unholy Madness, to be of interest in my own grappling with these kinds of questions. It’s out of print but there’s always Amazon.

ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=1939

 

[Tingo]

What role do you think spirituality has in the healing process?

I’m not talking about determining medicine; that’s done by the symptoms. Preferably symptoms the doctor can observe, but as you say much is self-reported.

Do you see a connection between improving one’s spiritual life and taking medicine under doctor’s orders, as far as the mental illness healing process?

Alan

I think it is possible that spiritual belief has a material consequence, but have not seen much evidence to demonstrate this. Illness and its consequences appear to fall alike upon the just and unjust, and upon believer an non-believer.I think believers may be able to deal with death better than non-believers, although a strong belief in hell and the likelihood of one’s going there does not seem to me to be the best medicine.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I think it is possible that spiritual belief has a material consequence, but have not seen much evidence to demonstrate this. Illness and its consequences appear to fall alike upon the just and unjust, and upon believer an non-believer.I think believers may be able to deal with death better than non-believers, although a strong belief in hell and the likelihood of one’s going there does not seem to me to be the best medicine.

I agree that having the prospect of hell looming over us is not helpful. I think we spend entirely too much time worrying about going to heaven or hell because that’s worrying, which Jesus said not to do, that’s fear which the angels and Jesus tell us we don’t need to have, and frankly it’s how we train lab rats … do this and not that or you’ll get zapped.

I have not seen a lot of evidence myself, until I started with a fantastic SD who started me into contemplative prayer and other spiritual exercises. Without a doubt, not just spiritual beliefs, but exercises (spiritual “works”) which shaped and enabled my beliefs, played an impact in my own healing that was indispensable. It wasn’t all that had healing effect, but without it I wouldn’t have come out of it even now.

So to me the solution is to shift more from focusing on the law of sin and death, as St. Paul puts it, and become born of the spirit so that we may be under the law of spirit and life.

Alan

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

If you aren’t already seeing signs you are in the kingdom, I kind of doubt it will be long. :heaven:

For me, the primary indicators are the fruit of the spirit.

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

The last one that came in for me was self-control. When you can go through different situations, ups and downs, and still sense that those fruit are with you, then you will see what I mean. Things that were mysteries will start making sense. You may not be able to put it into words, but you’ll “feel” it. Not “feel” it like emotions, but have this confidence about it. It doesn’t even feel like faith anymore because it is more like sight. (“I’ll see it when I believe it.”) Also for me I got this “synchronized” or “tuned in” feeling that things were happening at just the right time, and “coincidences” start to happen so much that they become normal.

If you have any of the above symptoms, most importantly the fruits, maybe you’re catching some of what I caught? From reading your posts, my first guess is you have an advanced case of it. :harp:

Alan

Thanks for your insight and your kind words, Alan. I have indeed seen and felt some of the fruits of the Spirit manifest themselves in my life. I don’t believe in coincidences - only Godincidences! Nevertheless, despite all the gifts that have been showered on me, I’m still somewhat of a Doubting Thomas. I am struggling with my faith journey at the moment

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Last year at I went through various tests for cancer, I had some small cancerous bits removed with no guarantees for the future, I still have to go back for regular checkups, the doctors do something you wait weeks, or months, you go back again for more tests, wait again for results. I can only say that during this time I experienced profound moments of peace, my prayers were not that I should be healed, rather that whatever the outcome of the tests that I should have the peace, serenity and strength to do God’s will.

Psychology seems too complicated, but just trusting in God is where we find peace, somehow God will make something good happen through my cancer; whatever the outcome might be.

Blessings

Eric

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Nevertheless, despite all the gifts that have been showered on me, I’m still somewhat of a Doubting Thomas.

Hey I hear that. As a mathematician and engineer, I have to be pretty convinced before I believe. I do not believe that my beliefs are subject to my will. I can’t “make” myself believe something. So when I have “faith” it isn’t because I believe it, it is because I am going with it with my whole confidence. I don’t actually believe it until all the “loose ends” in my mind are investigates and tied up, which is something I can work on but not as a direct act of will. kpeople:

Here was my conscious and subconscious mind, before they finally went synchronous: :slapfight:

I am struggling with my faith journey at the moment

You know what “they” say? Fake it 'til you make it?

I actually believe that’s a valid concept; put yourself in a role and get used to it, and you will more likely slide into it. I like to put myself in the various roles of Bible figures – any one. I imagine myself saying what Jesus said, for example, or just as good, I imagine myself saying “lawyer and Pharisee things” to Jesus and imagine what it’s like when He rebukes me. Or pretend I’m Peter, telling the Lord “I will never deny you” and see how that goes down. If you are not “authentic,” whatever that means, it seems to me you’re doing a pretty good job of faking it – better than most posters I’ve read. I have confidence in you, and I know the Lord is good. From that, I trust the Holy Spirit really is in charge, and I trust that God’s will be done on earth. With those two trusts, I have peace, and serenity about the choices I make. Where there is a surrender of will, there is a way.

Alan

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

Hey I hear that. As a mathematician and engineer, I have to be pretty convinced before I believe. I do not believe that my beliefs are subject to my will. I can’t “make” myself believe something. So when I have “faith” it isn’t because I believe it, it is because I am going with it with my whole confidence. I don’t actually believe it until all the “loose ends” in my mind are investigates and tied up, which is something I can work on but not as a direct act of will. kpeople:

Here was my conscious and subconscious mind, before they finally went synchronous: :slapfight:

Those are some great smilies you’ve got there, Alan! I credit the good nature and patience of our Lord when it comes to me believing stuff. I just feel that when I am so-called “manic”, that everything - particularly in my spiritual life - makes more sense and I don’t know whether that is because I am more near to God when I am so-called “ill”, or whether it’s just delusion on my part?

You know what “they” say? Fake it 'til you make it?

I actually believe that’s a valid concept; put yourself in a role and get used to it, and you will more likely slide into it. I like to put myself in the various roles of Bible figures – any one. I imagine myself saying what Jesus said, for example, or just as good, I imagine myself saying “lawyer and Pharisee things” to Jesus and imagine what it’s like when He rebukes me. Or pretend I’m Peter, telling the Lord “I will never deny you” and see how that goes down. If you are not “authentic,” whatever that means, it seems to me you’re doing a pretty good job of faking it – better than most posters I’ve read. I have confidence in you, and I know the Lord is good. From that, I trust the Holy Spirit really is in charge, and I trust that God’s will be done on earth. With those two trusts, I have peace, and serenity about the choices I make. Where there is a surrender of will, there is a way.

Alan

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Alan. It means a lot to me, since I admire your posts and your Christian journey thus far. I like your idea of role-playing, especially taking the role of Peter. Peter is someone who I identify with quite a bit. I like to think that as much as I stuff up, my love for and faith in the Lord is sincere

God bless you, Alan!

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Those are some great smilies you’ve got there, Alan! I credit the good nature and patience of our Lord when it comes to me believing stuff. I just feel that when I am so-called “manic”, that everything - particularly in my spiritual life - makes more sense and I don’t know whether that is because I am more near to God when I am so-called “ill”, or whether it’s just delusion on my part?

You too? I’m telling you it’s amazing how you just do things and don’t really always understand why, but always in total trust that you are Not Mistaken about what you’re Supposed To Do at any given time?

I didn’t even feel like “driving,” either literally or figuratively, except in a state where I was manic but I was totally undecided about anything in terms of making decisions. By golly I just did this, then that, then suddenly a consolation would roll in, or I’d get to perform an act of mercy that was just “coincidentally” made available as a result of a previous choice I didn’t understand at the time … but now a minute, hour, or year later it all fits together. No, not in control at all, but content to be an active observer, willing to lend out my nerves and muscles to whatever spiritual forces I’ve gotten myself into. Does that sound like pure drivel, anything like what you have found, or both?

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Alan. It means a lot to me, since I admire your posts and your Christian journey thus far. I like your idea of role-playing, especially taking the role of Peter. Peter is someone who I identify with quite a bit. I like to think that as much as I stuff up, my love for and faith in the Lord is sincere

God bless you, Alan!

Here’s another favorite. I once wrote a php script online to do this automatically but shucks if it didn’t go away … maybe I can fix it. anyway, you put your name and pronoun gender in, and it “personalizes” the Beatitudes:

Examples:

…

Blessed is Alan when he mourns, for he will be comforted.

…

Blessed is Alan when he makes peace, for then he will be called a child of God.

Blessed is Alan when he is persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for his is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed is Alan when they insult him and persecute him and utter every kind of evil against him [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for his reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before him.

It would be easy to do by hand, or use search/replace.

Sometimes I’ll put in names of people I think might qualify for one of the blessings.

Alan

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

You too? I’m telling you it’s amazing how you just do things and don’t really always understand why, but always in total trust that you are Not Mistaken about what you’re Supposed To Do at any given time?

I didn’t even feel like “driving,” either literally or figuratively, except in a state where I was manic but I was totally undecided about anything in terms of making decisions. By golly I just did this, then that, then suddenly a consolation would roll in, or I’d get to perform an act of mercy that was just “coincidentally” made available as a result of a previous choice I didn’t understand at the time … but now a minute, hour, or year later it all fits together. No, not in control at all, but content to be an active observer, willing to lend out my nerves and muscles to whatever spiritual forces I’ve gotten myself into. Does that sound like pure drivel, anything like what you have found, or both?

The more I read the above, the more my brain cries out “yes. YES!” It’s funny how the seemingly random things in life come to make complete sense and a journey, years later. So yes, that is what I have found in my own life

I love your idea of taking the Beautitudes and inserting your name. I might write them out later in bright colours and stick it on my wall

 

[Lady_Love]

youtube.com/watch?v=WRPEaosGCMA&noredirect=1

This is a You tube video of Dr. Ray on EWTN on this very subject.

I highly recommend this video. I stand corrected on a few things.

 

[toaster333]

Hello All, this is my first post to any kind of forum like this.

I wanted to ask all of you especially any who are in the mental health field such as RPRPsych about a book I stumbled upon for anxiety.

It is called Panic Miracle written by Chris Bayliss.

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it? In particular, is it of a New Age nature, as I obviously want to stay away from that stuff.

Here is the link in case you need to look at the website: panicmiracle.com/

Thank you and God bless,
Tony