Spiritual Development Archives | Plano Christian Counseling

Joy in the Journey: Strategies to Navigate Anxiety, Spiritual, and Personal Development

Joy in the Journey: Strategies to Navigate Anxiety, Spiritual, and Personal Development

By McCartney Paul|2024-07-18T10:20:14+00:00July 16th, 2024|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

No matter who we are or what we encounter in life, challenges will be embedded as part of our spiritual and personal development. While circumstances can produce anxiety, God doesn’t intend to hurt us through what He allows in our lives. It is quite the opposite. As we develop fortitude amid struggles, we also encounter the reward of the Lord’s Presence. Always with us, the Holy Spirit is the treasure in earthen vessels who reveals unforeseen blessings in times of unprecedented suffering. Instead of abandoning our anticipation for God’s goodness, the Lord arises when we cling to Him in hope, scattering the enemies of doubt and destruction. When we apply and exercise what the Holy Spirit teaches in life’s classroom, we develop the kind of personal habits and spiritual character that shift spiritual atmospheres and overcome evil. Our obedience and alignment with the Word flood the Light of Christ in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. He illuminates our ways, dispelling darkness and directing us away from harmful patterns that hijack the life of peace and joy we are created to live (Job 22:28). When we choose to rivet our attention on Jesus, we encounter the richness of a Holy God who makes everything new (Revelation 21:5). The fruit of our development and deliverance may appear differently from one season to the next. Despite it all, our Savior continually elevates us into other realms of His glory and experiences of His manifest Presence (2 Corinthians 3:18). Speak the truth to encourage personal development We assert godly authority when we change our internal dialogue to align with the Father’s original design. Speaking His Truth establishes us in triumph when we commit to saying what He says about us, by faith, not necessarily our feelings. When we do, angels hear and follow [...]

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Guidance for When You are Questioning Faith and Your Spiritual Beliefs

Guidance for When You are Questioning Faith and Your Spiritual Beliefs

By Plano Christian Counseling|2024-03-15T13:07:36+00:00March 15th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

The things that we know to be true help us to make sense of our world as we make our way through it. The truths and values that we consider foundational help us to interpret our daily experiences and to make decisions that will hopefully lead to an enjoyable and meaningful life. That is why it can be deeply upsetting and disorienting when our foundations start to crumble, our lives stop making sense like they used to, and we begin questioning our spiritual beliefs. One of the foundations that people build their lives upon is their faith and the spiritual beliefs that are attached to that faith. Those foundations can be affected by various things, and it is possible to begin questioning that faith. Why we question our spiritual beliefs The author C.S. Lewis once wrote that people are not entirely ruled by reason. It is a bad assumption to think that once someone accepts something as true, they will automatically continue regarding it as true until they encounter some compelling reason for reconsidering it. However, we are often ruled by our imagination and our emotions, and these can sway us from what we may know to be true. Faith, in the Christian sense, is not believing something despite the evidence. Rather, it is placing your trust in God and living like you believe what you have come to know to be true. There are several ways in which one’s spiritual beliefs about what they know to be true can waver. One can question what they believe for many reasons. A fresh experience When you encounter something you had not considered before, or you experience a tragedy, it can challenge what you thought you knew. Your belief has not necessarily been proven false. It may just be that you [...]

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10 Steps to Building Self-Esteem

10 Steps to Building Self-Esteem

By Plano Christian Counseling|2024-01-22T14:18:31+00:00January 19th, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Self-esteem is how you perceive your worth. It is self-respect. If you struggle with low self-esteem, you may have trouble in relationships and social situations. Low self-esteem typically means a lack of assertiveness, which indicates you may need help building self-esteem. 10 Tips for Building Self-Esteem Building self-esteem is simpler than you may think. It is not easy; however, taking specific action can simplify boosting self-esteem. Here are ten steps to building self-esteem. Accept where and who you are now. There is much unhappiness in trying to return to being the version of yourself you used to be. The version you were before the loss of a family member, the end of a marriage, the birth of a child, or the move to a new state. Accepting who you are now and where you are regarding a specific life category grounds you. This acceptance provides clarity for what you want next. Catch negative thoughts. Negative thoughts and demeaning self-talk can do a great deal of damage. Vow to catch these thoughts as soon as you recognize them. Recognize the lie and look for the truth. You can change an old belief into a new one with practice. Flip these thoughts into positive self-talk. Smile. A quick tip for building self-esteem is to smile. Smiling stimulates the amygdala, releasing endorphins that brighten your mood and boost confidence. Notice how others perceive you when you greet them with a smile. You can experience a mood boost by simply smiling when you are alone. Play music. Energetic music, the kind that makes you want to dance, can boost your mood and improve your self-esteem. A song can make you feel like you can take on the world. Create a new playlist with songs that make you feel confident and strong. Be nice [...]

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4 Ways to Experience Effective Coaching

4 Ways to Experience Effective Coaching

By Plano Christian Counseling|2023-11-29T18:44:37+00:00November 29th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

You know that you want to improve certain aspects of your life, be it career or personal. You've researched coaches and found one that seems to be the right fit. Now you want to get the most out of your time together. How can you make sure you have an effective coaching experience? Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. – Colossians 3:23, NIV 4 Tips for an Effective Coaching Experience 1. Have definable goals. You may go into your coaching sessions with some big goals, and maybe even some specific goals, early in your time with a coach you want to make clear, definable goals for your time together and apart. Effective coaching will help you determine the best sequence of dreams and make smaller milestones toward the big goal you are trying to achieve. Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. – St. Francis of Assisi 2. Set deadlines or milestones. These could be private and rather arbitrary, but by setting a deadline you create the pressure you need to achieve the results you want. The deadlines can be milestones or stepping stones. Examples include: “By the end of the week, I will…” or “In three months I need to finish…” Finding an approach that works for you can help you maximize the effectiveness of your coaching experience. Have a plan to celebrate those milestones. Maybe you watch a TV show after you accomplish your goal for the week. Perhaps you plan a coffee date with a friend after a certain deadline. Deadlines can be used to reward as well as drive you toward your goals. “Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.” – Nelson Mandela [...]

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Seen by the Savior: Overcoming Loneliness and the Wound of Rejection

Seen by the Savior: Overcoming Loneliness and the Wound of Rejection

By Plano Christian Counseling|2023-10-28T10:04:51+00:00August 15th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

At times, the world can appear as a warm, lively place, brimming with possibility. At other times, it seems cold and full of loneliness. Jesus was fully aware of these contradictions and complexities in the world He entered as well as the one in which we currently live. As the stairway between God and humans, He came to redeem the lost connection (John 1:51). While it seems that many would embrace His gift of sacrifice and salvation, others rejected Him. In a matter of days, those who cheered Him, shouting Hosanna, countered their initial cries, insisting on His crucifixion (Mark 11:9-10; 15:13-14). The pain of rejection is real, and it can produce a feeling of “otherness,” a loneliness that the APA characterizes as affective and cognitive discomfort or uneasiness from being or perceiving oneself to be alone or otherwise solitary. Yet, this jumbled assortment of experience and emotion doesn’t cancel us out of the books that are written about us in Heaven (Psalm 56:8). As the Everlasting Father, God committed to developing us into all He envisioned us to be. The challenge is we may have discounted ourselves because we agreed with those who rejected us. If rejection’s message of disapproval, denial of attention, and love influenced us in childhood or vulnerable times, we may have come to believe that those negative words were true. Jesus knows the range of conflicts we experience in our emotions as He was fully God and human during the time of His earthly ministry. Scripture describes Him as well-acquainted with sorrows and grief, to the degree that people hid their faces from Him (Isaiah 53:3). The prophet Isaiah’s description of the Messiah sounds like someone we can identify with when it comes to rejection and the loneliness that may play a role in [...]

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Slow Burn: Releasing Unresolved Anger and the Right to Revenge

Slow Burn: Releasing Unresolved Anger and the Right to Revenge

By Plano Christian Counseling|2024-04-04T11:13:03+00:00April 29th, 2023|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

Anger is a normal emotion. We don’t have to fear it; but like fire, we are to handle it responsibly, with caution, maturity, and a sober mind submitted to the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. We bring it to the Lord. As Helper, He filters what is unnecessary and gives insight and understanding of what to do with what’s left. We may have been legitimately wronged, but allowing unresolved anger in our lives has dire consequences we don’t always see. Cain didn’t know that his brother’s blood would cry out from the earth when he killed Abel. God heard it, though (Genesis 4:10-11). Perhaps, no human witnesses were present to observe the traumatic incidents that sparked our anger and the thirst for revenge. God knows all the details. Always present, our Advocate was fully aware and completely committed to righting the wrongs on our behalf. The Father repurposes evil, turning it for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). We have to yield God’s sovereign position to Him alone. We don’t have the right or the capacity to occupy His throne and administer short-sighted human justice, restricted by the finite realm of what we know, see, and feel. While our feelings are legitimate, our wounded hearts demonstrate true love when responding to God with trust versus unforgiveness and revenge. He does what we cannot. Love breaks the stronghold that hate seeks to establish in our hearts. We may look vulnerable, perhaps even foolish. Some would say that Jesus appeared the same way. Without retribution, He was tortured mercilessly for all of humanity, including those who reject Him as Savior and Lord. His suffering preceded the souls. Glory came later. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8, ESV Scripture is [...]

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How to Get Closer to God: Nurturing Your Spiritual Growth

How to Get Closer to God: Nurturing Your Spiritual Growth

By Plano Christian Counseling|2024-07-31T10:00:24+00:00April 19th, 2023|Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Listen to this article Summary Our lives are defined by our relationships, and out of the bounty of one’s relationship with God flows flourishing throughout our lives. He is always close to us, but we can choose whether we want to be closer to God. Through Jesus Christ, we can know God and walk in humble obedience with Him as we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Even when we encounter tough times, we can continue to walk closely with God and grow to become the kind of people He wants us to be. Table of Contents Introduction What does it mean to get closer to God? Why being closer to God matters. How to begin getting closer to God. Am I walking closely with God? What do you do if you’re struggling to connect with God? Frequently Asked Questions. 1. Introduction Getting to know someone doesn’t happen overnight. It takes loads of time and shared experiences to get to know and trust them. This goes for platonic and romantic relationships, and it also applies to how we relate to God. Whether you’re simply curious about how intimacy with God works, or you’re serious about discovering how to grow closer to God, this article will help you on your journey. You may even have been journeying with God for a while, and need to remind yourself of the basics that get lost in the shuffle of daily life. 2. What does it mean to get closer to God? God already knows you. God knows you better than you know yourself, and nothing that you say, do, think, or feel is surprising to Him. Psalm 139 begins this way: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you [...]

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How to Forgive: Tips for True Forgiveness

How to Forgive: Tips for True Forgiveness

By Plano Christian Counseling|2023-10-28T10:40:05+00:00November 22nd, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

Who hasn’t been harmed by someone else’s deeds or words? Perhaps you experienced repeated criticism from a parent when you were a child, a coworker sabotaged a project, or your partner had an affair. Or perhaps you’ve gonethrough a terrible event, such as being physically or psychologically assaulted by a family member and have had a difficult time with forgiveness. You may experience lingering sentiments of rage, bitterness, and even vengeance as a result of these traumas. But if you don’t learn to forgive, you can end up paying the price. You can embrace joy, happiness, peace, hope, and thankfulness by practicing forgiveness. Think about how moving toward forgiveness might benefit your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Describing forgiveness. To each person, forgiveness means something different. However, in most cases, it involves deciding to let go of resentment and thoughts of vengeance. Although the act that injured or offended you might always be with you, forgiving the offender might assist loosen its hold on you and help you break free from its grasp. Even feelings of comprehension, empathy, and compassion for the person who injured you might arise after you have forgiven them. Forgiveness does not entail forgetting or dismissing the hurt that was done to you or reconciling with the offender. You can go on with life more easily when you can forgive. What advantages come from forgiveness? It is possible to experience better health and mental tranquility by letting go of past wrongs and bitterness. What may forgiveness lead to? healthier connections elevated mental state less stress, anxiety, and hostility blood pressure reduction fewer depression symptoms enhanced immunological response better heart health higher self-esteem Why is it so easy to harbor resentment? Anger, anguish, and confusion can result when someone you love, and trust hurts you. Grudges fueled [...]

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Using the Psalms to Help You Overcome Anxiety

Using the Psalms to Help You Overcome Anxiety

By Plano Christian Counseling|2022-09-03T11:47:19+00:00September 3rd, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Anxiety affects millions of Christians each day. Brought on by worry and stress anxiety causes many of us to feel overwhelmed. Finding ways to overcome anxiety without medication can be stressful in itself. Christian counselors can help you overcome anxiety using Scripture. Many verses address anxiety in the Bible. What is anxiety? Anxiety is a common health issue that comes from a feeling of fear or dread. It can cause many physical symptoms and even lead a person to believe they are having heart problems. Anxiety is most commonly a stress reaction. Learning to identify stressors can greatly reduce the amount of anxiety you experience. God gives us the wisdom to overcome anxiety in the Bible. He does this by teaching us how to change our way of thinking. Christian counselors often use secular-based treatment with scripture to battle anxiety Can listening to or reading Scripture help you overcome anxiety? Many Christians who battle anxiety have stated that listening to scripture helps calm them during an anxiety attack. While some have no preference as to what they listen to, others have said that Psalm 91 is one of the best chapters of the Bible to overcome anxiety. There are many scriptures about anxiety in the Bible. While you may not find the word anxiety you can refer to any Scripture that talks about overcoming fear. What is Psalm 91 about? When you are struggling to overcome an anxiety attack you become panicked about your health. This panic only enhances the symptoms of anxiety. Your heart continues to race faster, you feel lightheaded and weak, and you can’t seem to focus. The best thing you can do is to calm your mind and begin to take some deep breaths. Easier said than done in most cases. Psalm 91 is a great [...]

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Bible Verses to Help You Take Every Thought Captive

Bible Verses to Help You Take Every Thought Captive

By Plano Christian Counseling|2022-07-14T18:24:37+00:00July 6th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

There is a great deal of literature on the subject of positive thinking, and the beneficial outcomes of abolishing negativity in one’s life. These principles make sense, as our minds are powerful, and our thoughts shape the actions we take and the type of people we become. The Bible is not silent on the topic of learning to take every thought captive, and there are numerous references in Scripture that boldly claim that anxiety can be beaten, and a life of peace and joy claimed, through the thoughts we allow into our minds by the grace of God. The best thing about being able to attempt to take every thought captive is that, when we do it prayerfully and ask God for his help, we are changing ourselves in His strength and not through our own efforts. That brings with it a wonderful sense of relief and frees us to enjoy the process rather than lamenting our failings. Here are some verses to help you on your journey toward renewed thinking: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV The Christian life is based on faith and belief – what we think and know about God through His Word. There is also the very real existence of the devil, who knows how important our thoughts are, and “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He works cunningly, going directly to our vulnerabilities and planting lies in our thought life. Think about how many thoughts cross our minds daily, how often these are negative ones, or are lies? Thoughts that we are not valuable or loved, that we are failures because we have not achieved a standard [...]

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