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July 2009
When Brent and I made a 2-day driving trek to Texas several years ago, we decided to read the “How People Grow” book (by John Townsend and Henry Cloud, both psychologists who are Christian) to be read out loud as we traveled. We did not get too far in the reading, because it prompted much discussion along the way; but the opening chapters certainly piqued my interest for reading the book in its entirety.
The premise for the book is based on the two authors’ experiences as Christian psychologists. Most of their clients are Christians and believe in the power of prayer and the Holy Scriptures; yet, Townsend and Cloud ascertained very early on in their careers that these people were oftentimes stymied in their ability to move forward in their individual healing. All manner of personal problems were not healed by the use of Christian therapy. They pondered over what could be the missing factor. In time, they found their answer.
The authors state: “First, when people came to us for counseling, we wanted them to understand that the issues they were working on were not growth issues or counseling issues, but spiritual growth issues. Spiritual growth, in our mind, was the answer to everything. … Secondly, we wanted to bring the idea of working on relational and emotional issues back into the mainstream of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth should affect relationship problems, emotional problems, and all other problems of life. There is no such thing as our ‘spiritual life’ and then our ‘real life.’ It is all one.”
In the space I am given for this article, I cannot do justice to the building blocks the authors use to make a case for how to bring us back into right relationship with God and with each other. I can only encourage you to read the book yourself. However, I do want to focus on one of the chapters that speaks to the issue of inviting the Holy Spirit into the process of our spiritual growth.
Townsend writes, “The Spirit begins the process of growth by wooing us to Jesus, and he is working to finish the task.” In other words, the Spirit draws us towards wanting growth and then works with us to attain it. The Holy Spirit is working right there along with us as we struggle to understand and make sense of what “ails us.” One of the key components to this process is to realize the Holy Spirit will only reveal to us as much as we can handle at the time. Therefore, the timeline of one person’s growth process in emotional or relational issues may vary greatly from another. It is not a race – it is a progression towards the goal of clarity and ultimate healing. But in order to achieve this goal, one must be deliberate in asking the Holy Spirit to be a part of the growth development.
Cloud writes, “One of the main ministries of the Holy Spirit is that he leads us to truth … he is called ‘the Spirit of truth’ (John 14:17; 16:13). … The Spirit knows the truth of our own lives and souls, and he knows what needs to change and be revealed. I suggest that you ask the Holy Spirit specifically to show you what he wants to reveal to you about your growth, your soul, issues in your life, and so on. Ask the Spirit to show you the truth about you as a person, and also about his answers and God’s ways. Truth is healing, and we need as much of it from him as he will give. And that is usually as much as we are ready, able, or strong enough to receive.”
At the time I was reading their book, a good friend shared with me that she had what I would describe as an “epiphany moment” – a healing by the Spirit of God. She said she awoke, in the middle of the night, after only a few hours of sleep, and felt the Lord prompting her to get up and spend some time with Him. [As a back-drop to this story, keep in mind that she and her husband had deliberately been spending time in prayer asking for the Lord’s intervention in their lives as they sought His wisdom in making some major decisions and choices.] When she was about to reach for her Bible, she felt led instead to pull Max Lucado’s book, “When God Whispers Your Name,” from off the shelf. My friend said she spent the next few hours reading and digesting the contents – followed by a time of prayer after the reading of each chapter.
She alluded to the fact that this time was a “holy moment” for her. She felt the touch of the Holy Spirit upon her life – breaking her free of regrets and disappointments long harbored in her heart. She felt liberated and lighter from burdens and emotional pains which had haunted her for years.
The Holy Spirit is only too willing to do the same for us, if we only invite Him to participate in our personal spiritual growth journey. He will not fail us. All we need do is ask.
The premise for the book is based on the two authors’ experiences as Christian psychologists. Most of their clients are Christians and believe in the power of prayer and the Holy Scriptures; yet, Townsend and Cloud ascertained very early on in their careers that these people were oftentimes stymied in their ability to move forward in their individual healing. All manner of personal problems were not healed by the use of Christian therapy. They pondered over what could be the missing factor. In time, they found their answer.
The authors state: “First, when people came to us for counseling, we wanted them to understand that the issues they were working on were not growth issues or counseling issues, but spiritual growth issues. Spiritual growth, in our mind, was the answer to everything. … Secondly, we wanted to bring the idea of working on relational and emotional issues back into the mainstream of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth should affect relationship problems, emotional problems, and all other problems of life. There is no such thing as our ‘spiritual life’ and then our ‘real life.’ It is all one.”
In the space I am given for this article, I cannot do justice to the building blocks the authors use to make a case for how to bring us back into right relationship with God and with each other. I can only encourage you to read the book yourself. However, I do want to focus on one of the chapters that speaks to the issue of inviting the Holy Spirit into the process of our spiritual growth.
Townsend writes, “The Spirit begins the process of growth by wooing us to Jesus, and he is working to finish the task.” In other words, the Spirit draws us towards wanting growth and then works with us to attain it. The Holy Spirit is working right there along with us as we struggle to understand and make sense of what “ails us.” One of the key components to this process is to realize the Holy Spirit will only reveal to us as much as we can handle at the time. Therefore, the timeline of one person’s growth process in emotional or relational issues may vary greatly from another. It is not a race – it is a progression towards the goal of clarity and ultimate healing. But in order to achieve this goal, one must be deliberate in asking the Holy Spirit to be a part of the growth development.
Cloud writes, “One of the main ministries of the Holy Spirit is that he leads us to truth … he is called ‘the Spirit of truth’ (John 14:17; 16:13). … The Spirit knows the truth of our own lives and souls, and he knows what needs to change and be revealed. I suggest that you ask the Holy Spirit specifically to show you what he wants to reveal to you about your growth, your soul, issues in your life, and so on. Ask the Spirit to show you the truth about you as a person, and also about his answers and God’s ways. Truth is healing, and we need as much of it from him as he will give. And that is usually as much as we are ready, able, or strong enough to receive.”
At the time I was reading their book, a good friend shared with me that she had what I would describe as an “epiphany moment” – a healing by the Spirit of God. She said she awoke, in the middle of the night, after only a few hours of sleep, and felt the Lord prompting her to get up and spend some time with Him. [As a back-drop to this story, keep in mind that she and her husband had deliberately been spending time in prayer asking for the Lord’s intervention in their lives as they sought His wisdom in making some major decisions and choices.] When she was about to reach for her Bible, she felt led instead to pull Max Lucado’s book, “When God Whispers Your Name,” from off the shelf. My friend said she spent the next few hours reading and digesting the contents – followed by a time of prayer after the reading of each chapter.
She alluded to the fact that this time was a “holy moment” for her. She felt the touch of the Holy Spirit upon her life – breaking her free of regrets and disappointments long harbored in her heart. She felt liberated and lighter from burdens and emotional pains which had haunted her for years.
The Holy Spirit is only too willing to do the same for us, if we only invite Him to participate in our personal spiritual growth journey. He will not fail us. All we need do is ask.
Last Updated ( Friday, 03 July 2009 21:24 )
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