Biblical Counseling Insights https://biblicalcounselinginsights.com Life Discipleship Resources from Dr. Henry Brandt Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:15:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.1 Applying God’s Word in Counseling https://biblicalcounselinginsights.com/blog/biblical-counseling/applying-gods-word-in-counseling/ Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:57:38 +0000 http://biblicalcounselinginsights.com/blog/?p=932 Applying Gods Word in CounselingAre you someone who desires to communicate the Word of God to distraught people who have lost their way? If so, according to Hebrews 4:12, you have the right tool. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Many people are confused and mixed up. The Bible is the only true mirror that can help a person unscramble their mixed-up thinking. However, the Bible is a difficult book to face for the person who is on the defensive. And so the real question is: Does this person want to change?

People in a state of confusion need hope–the hope of God! Romans 15:13 tells us, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” It’s God that fills hearts with hope!

Many times individuals will focus on whatever difficulty is in front of them. It is important to direct them to the root problem:  an issue between themselves and God. The person you’re counseling needs to admit they’re wrong. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. We can all make excuses for not walking in the Spirit–our past, our childhood, how people have treated us. But the true issue is: What does the Bible say? This is what you, as a counselor, must point out to those you counsel. Challenge the people you interact with to walk moment by moment with the Lord, and to be sensitive to the fact that the Lord will, in His faithfulness, cast light on their path.

Take a step . . .

Memorize Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Ask God to help you to apply His Word wisely as you counsel others.
Read Hebrews 4:12, Romans 5:13, James 3:14 and  1 John 1:7.

This summary is from Dr. Brandt’s message, The Use of the Bible in Counseling.

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]]> What Is Your Measuring Stick? https://biblicalcounselinginsights.com/blog/bible/what-is-your-measuring-stick/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:13:38 +0000 http://biblicalcounselinginsights.com/blog/?p=114 What Is Your Measuring StickWhat do you measure things against to guide your decisions about what is right and wrong?  Everyone has something that they use to help them decide if it is right to do something or not.  Politicians use popularity polls to direct their campaigns.  Actors and actresses are not considered marketable if their movies don’t do well at the box office.  When they are in a slump, the decision is made for them by the studio.  Corporations make decisions based on the upward or downward turn of the graph line on a Profit and Loss Report.  Many people go by popular opinion of their friends or the media.

All of these things can vary depending on who you talk to, or the place or time you are living.  Opinions vary.  Sometimes the same source will change its mind concerning a topic and give the opposite advice at a later time. What do you use to decide?

Many people are living miserable lives because they are confused about what guidelines to use for their life decisions.  God gives us a measuring stick that is unchanging:  the Bible.

God tells us that the written Word that He has given us is “God-breathed.”  That means that the Bible was inspired by God.  Timothy goes on to tell us how valuable God’s inspired Word is to us.  It is helpful for teaching and instructing, reproof when someone has done something wrong, correction to restore someone to a right state, and training in righteousness, which is instruction with the goal of increasing virtue.

Look up the following verses and answer the associated questions:

Hebrews 4:12:  What exposes the thoughts and motives of a man’s heart?

Psalm 1:1-2:  What does a person have to do to be blessed?

Psalm 119:165:  What two things will someone have if they love God’s law?

Matthew 24:35:  What does this verse say will never pass away?

So, what is your measuring stick?  Make a decision today to find out what God says and live by it.  Do you have a plan for reading the Bible?  Why not make a plan today to start reading God’s Word, which has never been influenced by popular opinion!  Have a measuring stick that never changes and will never pass away.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

 

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