Spiritual Development Archives | Little Elm Christian Counseling

Mental Health Benefits of Spiritual Counseling

Mental Health Benefits of Spiritual Counseling

Cyndi Kay Green2024-09-27T09:27:50+00:00December 22nd, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Spiritual counseling unlocks the how and why of a person’s belief system, helping them discover who they are, what they believe, and the truth of what God says about them. These discoveries can bring a wellspring of mental health benefits. A spiritual coach teaches tools and routines that help a person to connect more deeply to God and unlock the application of God’s word to an individual’s life. Benefits of Spiritual Counseling Spiritual counseling grows many attributes that can benefit your mental health. They include: Self-discovery. As you explore your deeply held beliefs, you can uncover things you have come to believe that are not true or worthwhile. Using God’s word as a guide, you can reorient your values and desires and choose a positive mindset. Through the guidance of a spiritual coach, you can reach a point of letting go of past trauma and lean into healing. Intentional presence. When you begin to understand true joy, you can relax into the importance of being present in the moment. A less anxious state and a deeper abiding trust in God helps you learn to appreciate and fully engage in whatever you are doing. Knowing that God has your future, you are less prone to miss what He is doing right now. Flexibility. As you work with your coach, you will become more deeply anchored in the truths of scripture and your faith. Your growing maturity will equip you to navigate the storms of life with more flexibility and trust. Balance. Spiritual coaching ingrains the balance needed for healthy well-being. This can help with understanding how faith and wellness go together to create a healthy lifestyle. Confidence. Through spiritual coaching you will likely discover that your confidence grows. As you pursue goals that allow you to develop the gifts and [...]

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Studying Bible Verses About Loss to Cope with Grief

Studying Bible Verses About Loss to Cope with Grief

Melissa Plantz2024-09-27T09:26:19+00:00November 26th, 2022|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

The sense of loss can run deep. It encompasses mourning and grief. It can stem from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the failure to accomplish a dream or goal. The grieving process applies to any loss and includes five stages: denial (shock), anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Whatever stage of the grieving process you are currently going through (you can cycle through the stages a few times before acceptance), studying Bible verses about loss can help you see how God brings us comfort during the hardest trials in our lives. He helps us overcome grief. Bible Verses about Loss We live in a fallen, sinful world, and we experience loss and grief because of this. Our tears fall, and our hearts hurt for what could have been or the memories of something or someone special to us. Yet, God sent us His Son to ensure that we will have joy and no more tears for eternity after this life. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:3-4, NIV In the meantime, we must walk through dark times, knowing that we will emerge stronger, braver, and wiser. We will come out the other side and move past this loss. When we enter the denial stage, we want to avoid the pain. We procrastinate on the arrangements after the death of a loved one, often delegating them to someone else. [...]

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Preparing for the Big Day: Bible Verses about Marriage

Preparing for the Big Day: Bible Verses about Marriage

Melissa Plantz2024-09-27T09:25:33+00:00September 26th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Spiritual Development|

A wedding includes so many details that it is easy to get caught up in the planning stage. Many couples want a church, minister, rings, flowers, candles, reception, food and drinks, party savers, photos, groomsmen, and bridesmaids. But how much time are you putting into planning your marriage? Are you studying Bible verses about marriage? The wedding and reception will last less than a day, but your marriage will hopefully last for the rest of your life. Yet, we place more emphasis on the wedding than the marriage. The Bible speaks of the union of a man and a woman, the partnership, and the intimacy. Studying Bible Verses about Marriage Pick a time when you and your significant other can sit down and study Bible verses about marriage. Consider seeking out a counselor for premarital counseling. It may be a much more beneficial investment than the wedding and honeymoon combined. Making Christ the center of your marriage and your family will help when times get tough, knowing that in God’s strength you can strive to be the godliest and most loving spouse possible. If you want the same for your partner, make sure they know where you stand. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18, NIV God created the union of a man and a woman with the creation of Eve. God had already made the animals and saw that Adam needed a companion, a helpmate. God thinks so highly of marriage that the church is referred to as a bride waiting for her groom (the return of Jesus). God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” – Genesis 1:28, NIV [...]

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What Does Forgiveness Mean?

What Does Forgiveness Mean?

Joanna Kucherera2024-09-27T09:26:57+00:00August 8th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

Perhaps one of the most thought-provoking and challenging things Jesus ever commanded was for us to forgive those who have offended us seventy-seven times if necessary (Matthew 18:20-21 NIV). He had many other things to say about forgiveness and practiced it remarkably even while dying unjustly on the cross (Luke 23:34, NIV). Why is forgiveness often such a difficult thing to do? What does it truly mean to forgive? What Forgiveness Is Not If we are honest with ourselves (and with God), forgiveness is not something that comes easily. It is often difficult to let go of the emotions that arise from experiencing injustice. A partial explanation of this is that anger, bitterness, and resentment – emotions commonly associated with unforgiveness – are immensely powerful emotions, and they can be a form of toxic fuel. In many cases, we never receive an apology let alone restitution. Should forgiveness wait until there is an apology or acknowledgment of guilt? The answer is no. Forgiveness is different from being satisfied with justice. The parent who looks the murderer of their child in the eye and forgives them does not receive their child back. It is not justice. There will remain an empty space in their life, but with forgiveness, that emptiness will no longer be filled with bitterness, resentment, and anger. Forgiveness is also not reconciliation. You are not bound to make amends with the party who hurt you. Forgiveness does not require you to build a bridge that was broken. The abused child may find it in their hearts to forgive their abuser, but that does not mean the relationship is mended, nor does it mean they should try to repair it. In many cases, it is wisdom and self-preservation to cut ties with the one who has damaged you. Forgiveness [...]

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Anger in the Bible: Distinguishing Between Righteous and Unrighteous Anger

Anger in the Bible: Distinguishing Between Righteous and Unrighteous Anger

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T08:58:19+00:00July 13th, 2022|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Anger seems to be around us everywhere. To be sure, there’s no shortage of good reasons to be angry, from errant politicians to abuses of power by people in positions of authority, and frustration over social and other causes one can think of. Even a cursory look at social media and in-person interactions reveals people expressing anger over a whole host of things. We often see anger that quickly flares up and descends into vitriol and violence. But anger in the Bible? Unfortunately, our sentiments toward anger and its expressions are shaped by what we typically see. For people who only experience destructive outward expressions of anger, it can be hard to reconcile that with the message of the Bible, and so in their own lives, they may resolve to hold onto their anger, button it up, and not express it under any circumstances. The very idea of “righteous anger” would seem a misnomer, or a bad joke someone’s trying to make. How can anger be righteous when it looks like people throwing tables and chairs at each other at a buffet spot? The Bible does make such distinctions, however, and they may help us to steer away from the types of anger and expressions that are displeasing to the Lord, and toward those that honor the Lord and constitute healthy and constructive expressions of anger. Anger in the Bible: Righteous Anger Can anger be “righteous?” The Bible has many examples of people doing horrible things to one another in their anger. After the Lord rejected Cain’s sacrifice, we read, “So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is [...]

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7 Bible Verses About Anxiety

7 Bible Verses About Anxiety

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T08:58:28+00:00June 6th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Did you know that over forty million adults in the United States have an anxiety disorder? Anxiety is unfortunately a normal part of life, and we all experience it on different levels and for different reasons. Today, we’re going to take a look at the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety, types of anxiety disorders, what causes anxiety, seven Bible verses about anxiety, and some different strategies for minimizing anxiety in our everyday lives. The Symptoms of Anxiety Anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes and can affect each person adversely. Let’s unpack the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety below. Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Pounding or racing heart Shortness of breath Sweating Tremors Twitching Headaches Fatigue Insomnia Upset stomach or other digestive issues Frequent urination Diarrhea Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety Restlessness Irritability Feeling tense or jumpy Feelings of apprehension or dread Anticipating the worst Being watchful of signs of danger Types of Anxiety Disorders There are many anxiety disorders out there, each coming with different symptoms and causes. Let’s explore the most common types of anxiety disorders below. Social Anxiety Disorder Some might mistake social anxiety disorder as shyness, but it goes deeper than just that. When someone has Social Anxiety Disorder, they experience intense fear about social interaction. These fears are often driven by irrational worries about being humiliated or not accepted. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Generalized anxiety disorder is when someone experiences chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life and daily tasks. This type of anxiety can consume a person’s days and interfere with daily living. Headaches, muscle tension, or nausea often accompany generalized anxiety disorder. Panic Disorder Panic disorder is characterized by frequent panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. Symptoms of a panic attack include: Heart palpitations Shortness of breath Chest pain [...]

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