Restoring the Christian Soul

1. Embrace Self-Acceptance as a Core Christian Virtue

Accepting oneself is the vital step to be taken in order to cross this line [between bondage and freedom].

Foundational virtue. Self-acceptance is not self-centeredness but a crucial Christian virtue, enabling us to live from our "true self" in Christ. Many Christians struggle with this, remaining stuck in immaturity and seeking external validation, which blocks God's love from flowing freely into their brokenness. This virtue allows us to understand our justification and at-one-ment in Christ, empowering us to "glory always in the cross of Christ."

Beyond self-esteem. Unlike worldly concepts of self-realization or self-love, Christian self-acceptance is grounded in God's acceptance of us. It means agreeing to be the person we are, with our unique qualifications and limitations, recognizing that our true self is found in Christ. Without this, we remain dependent, seeking affirmation from others, and unable to fully live out our identity as God's beloved children.

Maturity in Christ. Failure to accept oneself is an attitudinal block, leading to immature patterns of relating to God and others. It manifests as a judgmental spirit, perfectionism, fear of the future, feelings of aloneness, or preoccupation with guilt. Overcoming this barrier allows us to move into the freedom and maturity Christ calls us to, enabling us to love others authentically.

2. Confront Self-Hatred as a Traitor Within

Often these persons have come to Christ out of dysfunctional homes and environments, places where evil has, whether overtly or more subtly, run rampant, ravaging their spirits and souls, if not their bodies as well.

Destructive force. Self-hatred is a powerful, pathological infirmity of the soul, often rooted in dysfunctional backgrounds and past rejections. It's a "traitor within" that the enemy uses to tempt Christians to sin, wallow in self-pity, and lose their creative capacity to collaborate with God. This deep-seated self-rejection can be so intense that individuals struggle to receive teaching or healing prayer until it is acknowledged and renounced.

Pride's disguise. Paradoxically, self-hatred in a Christian is often a substitute for humility, stemming from pride that refuses to acknowledge our fallenness and accept Christ's righteousness. It's the desire to be "good enough" on our own, rather than relying on the sufficiency of the cross. Renouncing self-hatred is a deliberate, volitional step, keeping our eyes on Christ as the source of our salvation, not on unreliable subjective feelings.

Pathway to freedom. When self-hatred is confronted and renounced in Christ's presence, it opens the heart to receive God's healing. This process involves:

• Acknowledging and renouncing self-hatred.
• Lifting diseased thoughts and imaginings to Christ.
• Receiving His truth and life in exchange.
• Understanding that Christ's cross covers not only our sins but also the evils we have suffered.
  This allows individuals to move from a place of shame and inferiority to a joyful acceptance of their true identity in God.

3. Forgiveness of Others is Non-Negotiable for Wholeness

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Divine imperative. Christ's teaching makes it clear that our forgiveness of others is directly linked to receiving God's forgiveness for ourselves. Unforgiveness acts as a formidable barrier to wholeness, hindering spiritual and emotional freedom. It can manifest in various forms, from petty irritations to deep-seated resentments against "unforgivable" acts.

Categories of unforgiveness:

• Petty offenses: Everyday irritations that, when unaddressed, lead to despising others. Confessing pride and forgiving the offender is the remedy.
• Unconscious unforgiveness: Many are out of touch with their hearts and don't realize they harbor unforgiveness until the Holy Spirit reveals it, often linked to past abuse or abnormal behavior.
• The "unforgivable": Actions that cause profound suffering, making forgiveness seem impossible. This requires divine intervention and identification with Christ's suffering on the cross.

The way of Christ. Forgiving the "unforgivable" means identifying with Christ's suffering, releasing our rage and woundedness to Him, and praying, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." This act of will, empowered by God's grace, brings freedom and can even heal deep-seated hatred, as seen in Johnny's story of forgiving his brutal father. It's a profound act of humility and trust in God's redemptive power.

4. Healing of Memories Addresses Deep Wounds and Unconscious Sin

Healing of memories means forgiveness of sin. It is the heart’s experience of forgiveness of sin at the precise sore spot where it is needed, one that impacts the soul in its totality.

Holistic healing. Healing of memories is the heart's experience of forgiveness, impacting our emotional, feeling, intuitive, imaginative, willing, and thinking capacities. It addresses deep wounds and suppressed memories, often from childhood or even ancestral lines, that continue to affect our present. This ministry is crucial because the "two minds" (head and heart) are often out of harmony due to past traumas and unforgiveness.

God's presence in time. God is outside of time, and all our past moments are eternally present to Him. This means He can enter into any past trauma, even those before conscious memory (like prenatal or birth traumas), and bring healing. This is not "re-writing the past" but rather God's intervention to heal the effects of past hurts and sins, releasing us from their power to shape our present and future.

Symbolic language of the heart. The heart, as the "feeling mind," thinks in symbols. Repressed memories and emotions surface in disguised, symbolic forms (e.g., dreams, physical sensations). Effective healing involves:

• Acknowledging the symbolic nature of these manifestations.
• Inviting God into these memories.
• Confessing sins (our own or those committed against us).
• Extending and receiving forgiveness.
  This process, often guided by the Holy Spirit, brings profound relief and integration, as seen in the author's healing from the trauma of her father's death.

5. Listening Prayer: The Essential Path to Grace and Truth

This listening involves, of course, coming into the Presence of God and there receiving His Word and illumination as to why we feel the way we do, why we do the things we do.

Two-way conversation. Listening prayer is not merely speaking to God but actively receiving His Word and illumination. It's the vital step towards self-acceptance and the "walk in the Spirit," enabling us to discern God's perspective on ourselves and others. This practice helps us replace diseased thought patterns with truth, bringing our minds and imaginations into submission to Christ.

Practical application. To begin, individuals are encouraged to:

• Go through the Gospels, personalizing Christ's promises and commands.
• Write these in a new prayer journal, addressing them by name.
• Record negative thoughts and patterns, then listen for God's healing words to replace them.
• Confess mental sloth and the pride that resists thinking through problems with God.
  This process helps us move from introspection to God-consciousness, fostering radical obedience and preparing us for deeper spiritual listening.

Transformation through truth. As exemplified by Sister Penelope, listening prayer can lead to profound inner transformation, a "mystical wedding" of the soul to Christ. It allows God to speak directly into long-standing issues like inability to surrender or feelings of unworthiness, replacing them with joy, peace, and a secure identity. This practice is a lifeline for those who have "put to death the real self" in the name of religion, enabling them to come alive psychologically and spiritually.

6. Receive God's Forgiveness to Break Cycles of Guilt

If by God’s grace we have been forgiven, why is it sometimes hard to receive that forgiveness?

Overcoming barriers. Despite God's abundant grace, many Christians struggle to receive forgiveness. This failure often stems from:

• Remaining under law: Striving for self-righteousness rather than trusting in Christ's completed work.
• Denying the "bad guy" within: Refusing to acknowledge personal sin and the need for regular confession.
• Unconscious guilt: A vague sense of guilt rooted in unaddressed sin or misinterpretations from childhood.
• Unsettled sin question: A lack of genuine repentance or intention to turn from sin.

Luther's breakthrough. Martin Luther's experience highlights the terror of trying to earn God's love and the freedom found in understanding "the righteousness of God" as something we "put on" by faith. This truth liberates us from compulsive perfectionism and the fear of never being "good enough." We are simultaneously sinners and justified, called to a rhythm of repentance and receiving forgiveness.

Practical steps. To receive forgiveness, we must:

• Confess specific sins, "seeing" Jesus on the cross taking them.
• Consciously and deliberately receive God's forgiveness as an act of faith.
• Distinguish between false guilt (from human judgments) and true guilt (from violating divine standards).
• Regularly kneel as sinners, allowing God to search our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24), and then rise as saints, prepared to live from Christ's righteousness.
  This process, often aided by the sacrament of Holy Communion, breaks cycles of guilt and empowers us to live in freedom.

7. Address Infantile Trauma and Abandonment for Deeper Healing

The roots of all the psychoneuroses lie in infantile experiences of mental pain of such an intolerable severity as to require splitting off from consciousness at about the time they occurred.

Early life impact. Infantile trauma, such as prolonged isolation or perceived abandonment, can cause intolerable mental pain, leading to repressed emotions and a shattered sense of selfhood. These early wounds, often beyond conscious memory, manifest as deep-seated feelings of abandonment, separation anxiety, and a desperate craving for connection, as seen in Linda's story of early isolation due to a staph infection.

Coping mechanisms. Individuals develop strong coping mechanisms like denial and repression to survive such pain. When these defenses break down, intense grief, fear, anger, and shame erupt, leading to profound depression and neurotic compulsions (e.g., lesbian neurosis, cross-dressing). The pain itself becomes a vital part of the healing, signaling that repressed feelings are surfacing to be addressed.

Divine and human intervention. Healing requires a delicate process of:

• Acknowledging the unbearable pain and grief.
• Ministering to the "inner suffering infant" through words of comfort and appropriate touch.
• Allowing the sufferer to relive the trauma in a safe, trusted environment.
• Deflecting feelings of dereliction to God, who acts as Mother-Father-Savior.
• Forgiving parents and circumstances.
  God uses human love and touch, combined with prayer, to build a bridge of trust, enabling a new sense of selfhood and healthy interdependence, transforming wounds into healing power for others.

8. Leverage Christian Symbols and Agencies in Healing Prayer

God does not despise matter, He deigns to come to us through the womb of Mary, through baptismal waters, through the Communion cup, through the hands of our brother or sister in Christ who lays them on us and prays in such a way as we are flooded with light and life from above.

Sacramental reality. Christians have historically used "sacramentals" like holy water, blessed oil, and crucifixes as material means through which God's grace, blessing, and healing are channeled. These are not superstitious objects but powerful agencies when used with faith and prayer, embodying the Incarnational Reality that God hallows matter. This understanding helps bridge the modern rift between head and heart, reason and faith.

Holy water's power. Blessed water, consecrated with specific prayers, is a potent aid in deliverance and purification. It can:

• Drive away demonic oppression, as demons cannot stand its holiness.
• Bring about physical healings, as seen in the arthritic woman's instant cure.
• Facilitate "holy washings" for deep cleansing from the effects of sin and abuse, even acting as a form of water baptism for those whose initial baptism lacked true repentance.
  Its use, often accompanied by the Holy Spirit's charisms, demonstrates God's immediate healing presence.

The crucifix as a sign of victory. The crucifix is a central Christian symbol, representing Christ's death and resurrection, our full redemption, and His triumph over evil. Demons hate it because it images the reality they most fear. Placing a blessed crucifix in the hands of a demonized person can provoke manifestations and lead to swift deliverance, as seen in the case of the grievously possessed young man. These symbols, when rightly understood and used, are powerful tools in spiritual warfare, reminding us of Christ's ultimate victory.

9. Engage in Spiritual Battle with Divine Wisdom and Love

Christians who are under the cross of persecution need to pray for the gift of battle, the ability to endure under trial, the boldness to challenge immorality and heresy in high places.

The gift of battle. In an increasingly intensified battle between good and evil, Christians need to pray for the "gift of battle"—the strength to endure, challenge immorality, and stand for truth. This gift, rooted in divine love (agape), enables us to speak truth powerfully without hating the sinner, reflecting Christ's disposition even when insulted. It's about being used by God in His battlings, not fighting in our own strength.

Principles of warfare:

• Agape love: Functioning in divine love is paramount; it keeps our focus on God and prevents us from hating the enemy.
• Mature prayer partners: A "life-support system" of intercessors is vital for perseverance, providing spiritual support and discerning God's word in times of intense conflict.
• Speaking truth in love: Truth, aptly spoken in love, is incredibly powerful, capable of exposing evil and bringing panic to the enemy.
• Confidence in God: The battle is the Lord's; we fight with spiritual weapons, trusting in His protection, deliverance, and strength.

Overcoming opposition. Spiritual warfare often arises from within intimate circles or Christian institutions, fueled by envy, slander, and lies. Like Nehemiah, we must refuse to be lured onto the enemy's turf of endless, fruitless dialogue. Instead, we band together in prayer, receive God's battle plan, and speak truth, knowing that God will cause the real enemy to be revealed and His purposes to prevail.

10. Avoid Misguided Approaches to Spiritual Warfare

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.

Balanced perspective. While acknowledging the reality of demonic forces, Christians must avoid the error of excessive and unhealthy interest in them. Misguided practices, often stemming from faulty theology, can lead to:

• Focusing on demons: Instead of God, leading to "practicing the presence of demons."
• Misapplying "binding and loosing": Attempting to control principalities and powers through verbal assertions, effectively praying to demons.
• Spiritual pride: Believing oneself to be an "intercessor extraordinaire" who can unilaterally "bind" evil over cities.

Dangers of misdirection: Such practices can inadvertently create "landing platforms" for the enemy, unleashing darkness and confusion, as seen in the seminary incident where misguided prayers stirred up a principality. This drains spiritual energy, leads to unnecessary confrontations, and can result in serious demonic deception, even paranoia and slander among believers.

Scriptural model. The Bible teaches us to:

• Pray to God: "Deliver us from the evil one," trusting Him to send His holy angels for warfare.
• Focus on sin: Confess and repent of sin, which gives demons a foothold, rather than primarily on the demons themselves.
• Command demons to leave: When discerned in our path, speak directly to them with Christ's authority, "In Christ's name, be gone!"
  This approach keeps our focus on God's victory, avoids fruitless dialogue with evil, and ensures that our spiritual warfare is aligned with divine wisdom and power.

11. Restore the Hope of Heaven to Fuel Perseverance

Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Purifying hope. The restoration of the hope of heaven is crucial for the Christian soul, bringing with it the promise of Christ's appearing and our transformation into His likeness. This hope is not passive but actively purifies us, enabling us to overcome the challenges of a fallen world. It's a powerful antidote to the institutionalized unbelief and materialism that have diminished our spiritual vision.

Eternal perspective. This hope provides the miraculous power to persevere through impossible circumstances, knowing that God's grace is "triumphantly adequate" for every situation. It shifts our focus from earthly glory and the approval of man to the eternal reward of God's honor. This is the "crown that will last forever," a far greater ambition than worldly success.

Mythic reality. Hope is a "mythic" longing for a good too great for words, reflecting our transcendent dimensions as beings created in God's image. It's intertwined with "glory" and "immortality," reminding us that this world is not our final home. Cultivating this hope involves:

• Meditating on Christ's resurrection and promises.
• Asking God to increase our desire for heaven.
• Ordering our lives through prayer and discipline, seeing time as a gift to be used for eternal purposes.
  This allows us to live with "one foot in heaven," drawing strength and joy from the eternal reality that awaits us, transforming our pilgrimage into a journey of strength to strength.