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HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE -- p 56

Frank Minirth, M.D. & Paul Weier, M.D.

Dr. William P. Wilson, a former professor of psychiatry at Duke University, has done a great deal of research and writing concerning the benefits of an intimate relationship with God on our over-all emotional health. Dr. Armand Nicholi, professor of psychiatry at Harvard, has also made major contributions in this area. Both Wilson and Nicholi are committed Christians.

In summary, the authors believe there are three major sources of emotional pain:

1.     Lack of self-worth.

2.     Lack of intimacy with others.

3.     Lack of intimacy with God.

 

Flight fright or freeze… but today lets talk about freeze. It is an involuntary reaction to a perceived threat. 

it could be a verbal threat, it could be experienced as you needing to make a decision quickly, it could be a physical threat, or even an emotional threat… but you freeze up… but what does that look like?

 

The three characteristics of a freeze point: poor at commitment and communication, and either extremely defensive or overly sensitive.

So you are asked to take on a special project at work and it will keep you late on Tuesdays and Thursdays… 

A freeze point might mean you say yes… but then don’t keep the commitment 

Or it may be walked out in a very defensive manner… “why don’t you ask Jim- he doesn’t do anything  around here”

Or the overly sensitive… I guess, I mean it will wreck my time with my kids, and I feel like you are just using me, I already don’t get paid enough… my wrist hurts from to much typing… 

 

Garth… why are we talking about this?

Well it is definitely a problem in todays world… but it is also addressed in scripture. 

 

1.     Lack of self-worth.

2.     Lack of intimacy with others.

3.     Lack of intimacy with God.

 

The book of Ephesians covers all of this but does so in most perfect fashion. 

Ephesians 2:10 says we are Gods masterpiece… that is the self worth piece that is missing.

Then it says All things in our life come down to knowing how much God loves us Eph. 3:16-22 - that covers the Lack of intimacy with God part and finally Ephesians 5:22 - 6:10 covers the intimacy with others part.

But here is what is interesting… the last thing that Paul talks about in Ephesians is spiritual warfare… Why? I honestly believe that until we get a hold of the other three our spiritual warfare is compromised…

if you don’t like yourself and accept yourself

If you have poor relationships

and if you have a shallow walk with God… how can you go to war spiritually with complete confidence?