Christian Life Archives | Kerry L. Skinner

July 22, 2019 By Kerry Skinner

What is My Problem?

What is my problem? I hear this question asked over and over by sincere people looking for solutions to difficulties in life. Most often the issue is about overcoming anxiety, stress, and frustration. Let’s first set the context by considering this passage from Proverbs:

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. (Prov. 3:7-8).

One of our responsibilities as Christians is to be witnesses to weary travelers who are trying to use human resources to deal with sin. The collapse of family life and the escalation of dishonesty, stealing, violence, crime, physical and sexual abuse speaks for itself. Our world needs a good dose of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Solutions

Many in our day wonder whether their problem can be solved by spending time in the solitude of some peaceful place or whether they must see their doctor for medical help. Christian’s minds are confused by the constant magazine articles, newspaper clippings, and news reports that claim a cure to the monotony of life. They wonder whether their problem is physical, emotional, or spiritual. Where do they turn when everyone is claiming to have the answer?

Am I depressed? Am I A.D.D.? Do I have a chemical imbalance? Why am I so dissatisfied with life? Can somebody help me? These are the questions that I hear every week as people consult me looking for peace.

Can the biblical counselor be so bold as to claim that the Scriptures have all the answers they are looking for? Maybe a person they counsel started with a sin problem but now has a physical problem too. Now what?

Counselors trained in other than biblical methods seem to think God is not the answer. Family members are tired of going to secular and Christian counselors and churches looking for help but coming up empty. Who really has the answer?

Oriented to Christ

Jesus has the answer but many are so disoriented to a relationship with Him that they can’t seem to find Him. For every born-again believer, He is available twenty-four hours a day yet many cannot sense His presence. How do they get back in tune with Him? IF they do, will Jesus solve their problem? Can Jesus deal with physical issues or is He just interested in your spiritual condition? If your problem is physical, what do you do next?

Maybe you do have a physical problem. If so, go see your doctor and seek help. However, you must not ignore your spiritual condition. Medical doctors have stated to me many times that up to ninety percent of the people who come for help have a problem that did not began physically. Possibly an ulcer has developed. But why? Maybe it is high blood pressure or constant headaches. Sure the problem is physical, but why did it start?[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Biblical Counseling, Christian Life, Main Blog, Personal Growth

July 1, 2019 By KSkinner Leave a Comment

God’s Promises Bring Hope!

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He [GOD] has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. (Numbers 23:19-20)

God is not like man. He never needs to repent and He always does what He says. While God is the great I AM, Satan is the great I am not. God can do anything He says He can do!

Numbers 23:19 shares what kind of God we serve. What can God do? Anything He chooses to do. God is constant and consistent. Balak was trying to get Balaam to put a curse on the children of Israel. Balaam just could not do it. Why? Because he realized that God does not speak and then not act. He does not promise and not fulfill. Balaam received a command to bless. When God blesses, there is nothing you can do to change it. When God promises–He will fulfill.

God will not lie and He will not change His mind. He does not speak and not act. Have you ever been around people who say, “Oh yes, I’ll do that for you” and then they do not follow through? Possibly years later, you are still waiting for it to be done! God follows through with what He says. I am so glad that the God we serve is constant and consistent.

Promises and Patience

Sometimes we become discouraged because we believe God is going to do something that He has promised and it has still not yet occurred. We tend to become impatient because the promise has not met up to our timing. That is when we must remember that what God was yesterday, He is today, and He will be tomorrow. He is a God that is constant and consistent.

Helen Keller said this, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.” Keep your focus on God and you are not going to be moved by all the negatives around you. You will become more and more constant. Vance Havner said, “Our efficiency without God’s sufficiency is only deficiency.”

Keep This List for Encouragement

Our world can give many negatives to life, but God can give so many positives. I pray the following exceeding great and precious promises of God will encourage you as they have me.

God promises abundant life in John 10:10. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

God promises a crown of life to us in Revelation 2:10. …Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

God promises a heavenly home in John 14:6 …And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

God promises us a new name in Isaiah 62:1…You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Articles, Christian Life, Main Blog, Peace, Personal Growth

June 10, 2019 By KSkinner 2 Comments

Controlled by Christ

How is a person controlled by Christ? It really is rather simple, but not easy as a human being. Exalting Christ in your life means to surrender yourself to the ways of God. Many though, hinder the Spirit of Christ within by relying on self instead of relying on Christ. It is so easy to get out of shape spiritually. All you have to do is decide–I can do this on my own.

Jesus is the Vine and we are simply the branches. The branch does not produce the fruit. Christ produces fruit in and through us. He enables us to be who we need to be in Christ. When you encounter a difficulty avoid saying and believing, “I’m going to have to tough this out, but I can handle it.” Handling something on your own will probably make a bigger mess than it was before you started. Discover and remember this truth about Christ living in you–Christ makes no mistakes. But, if you are not in tune with Him, your response to the situation will be led by your own flesh, your own self, your own wisdom, and your own thinking. This will put you in control. Gaining the Spirit’s self control is impossible unless you deny self and meet with Christ on a daily basis, which results in being controlled by Christ.

Jesus is your friend. You are valued by God. It cost God His only begotten Son to provide you an opportunity to pray and walk in the Spirit. Why in the world would you want to live any other way than to spend time with God’s Only Son?

To walk in the Spirit is not only difficult, it is absolutely impossible in your human strength. But to surrender yourself, that is another story. Christ wants to take authority in the area of life that you keep holding on to. If you keep holding on, Christ will let you. Christ will let you be as miserable[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Articles, Christian Life, Main Blog, Personal Growth