I once heard a Christian counselor make this statement: “Ninety percent of counseling would not need to take place if everyone lived by this one verse: He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Cor 5:15). While I might differ with the percentage, I love where he was going with this. There are numerous compelling and encouraging truths that can be drawn from this one verse.
Always remember, rejoice in, and be inspired by what God has done for you. That alone will transform your life. Remember His purposes for you, and how He designed your life to be lived—and how your faithfulness to His design plays a huge part in the fruit in your life. Living less focused on yourself—while also passionately living for God and others—will greatly help you avoid many common struggles in life, much of which are presented in counseling. Even better, this will also produce incredible blessings in you as well.
In addition to directing us to the wonderful principles in this passage, he presented a fascinating idea, which is isolating one verse, and how the truths therein can profoundly impact and improve our lives. He also connected this to the more specific and pivotal area of counseling—in which we seek to understand our personal problems, and to grow and overcome these as we learn, know, and apply the solutions
To piggy back on his idea, I would say that a great deal of our troubles and unwanted fruit in our life would be lessened or removed—and replaced with incredible fruit—if everyone somehow fully lived by the principles in this one verse:
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope … (Lamentations 3:21)
In other words, this means that if the biblical principles in this verse were truly lived out by everyone, then the need for counseling would be greatly reduced. It also means that the biblical realities in this one verse—which are expounded on throughout this book—should be emphasized and taught in all churches and in all counseling contexts. In so doing, we will be re-minded—which will renew our minds, still and calm our souls, and produce many desired outcomes, including overcoming countless troubles in our lives.
I realize by using this one verse that this might be seen as kind of cheating. How so? This is like being given one wish, and then wishing for an infinite amount of wishes. To put it another way: by choosing this singular Scripture, we are not limiting ourselves to just this verse. Rather, by employing the truths in this verse, we can also use all of Scripture, and the unlimited truths and blessings therein. Best of all, we will be able to have God Himself and His Word work powerfully in our minds, hearts, and lives.
Therefore, not only will this one verse be a focal point for us, we will take advantage of it to be re-minded as we practice calling to mind countless other verses and essential truths for life and blessings.
What is more, this passage will not only help us preempt numerous common struggles in our personal lives, it will also help us overcome many problems that might already exist. On top of all that, we will be able to enjoy incredible fruit, including joy, comfort, freedom, peace, and hope.*
* Excerpt from Mark’s new book Re-Minded: How To Renew Your Mind, Quiet Your Soul, and Transform Your Life
We All Need To Be Re-Minded
Are you looking for answers and needing hope?
Fortunately, God gives us unlimited hope and solutions—both in Himself and in His Word. Not only does Re-Minded expound on countless truths and remedies, it also helps connect these principles to the many common and specific struggles of life.
Who can be helped by being re-minded? Everyone will be blessed and equipped by the biblical truths in this book, and especially those who struggle with any of the following:
- Anxiety and Fear
- Panic Attacks
- Hopelessness
- Depression
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Living in Shame, Guilt, Regret, and Condemnation
- Insecurity and Loneliness
- Past or Current Trauma (including PTSD)
- OCD, ADD, ADHD
- Addictions (Harmful Dependencies)
- Anger
- Resentment or Bitterness
- Unforgiveness
- Over-Thinking
- Intrusive or Irrational Thoughts
- Paranoia
- Difficulty Sleeping, Bad Dreams, Nightmares
- Other Struggles often referred to as Mental Health Issues
Everyone needs a renewed mind. Everyone has times where they need to calm and quiet their soul. And God calls every believer to transform their heart and life.
Re-Minded does all of that, and much, much more. And it does so by relying on the numerous truths God has given us in His Word.
Practical application and discussion questions included throughout make this a perfect book for individual or group study. Available now in the Hope For Life Shop and through Amazon
Hope For Life Biblical Counseling & Equipping is a non-profit ministry based in the Central Valley of California. We have always been fully committed to providing biblical counseling at no cost to anyone in need, along with classes, books, and other equipping resources for the local community and the worldwide body of Christ as a whole.
Because we truly believe that “everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope,” we are passionate about sharing that Word every chance we get.
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