Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Updated Edition (with subtitles)

In this video download of Session 1, "The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality," you will learn how emotional health and spiritual maturity cannot be separated, and how to identify spiritually unhealthy symptoms in your life. This video can be used for personal reflection or for group discussion with the coordinating study guide (sold separately).

Self-awareness is intricately related to our relationship with God. In fact the challenge of Scripture to shed our old "false" self in order to live authentically in our new "true" self strikes at the very core of true spirituality. Learn how to get to know who you are, what drives you, and what your passions are so that you can know your Creator more fully.

There are two essential biblical truths that point out the importance of dealing with our past so we can move into a healthy future: 1) The blessings and sins of our families going back two to three generations profoundly impact who we are today. 2) Discipleship requires putting off the sinful patterns of our family of origin and relearning how to do life God's way in God's family.

Emotionally healthy spirituality requires that we go through the pain of the Wall-some sort of crisis that turns our world upside down. Failure to understand and surrender to God's working in us at the Wall often results in great long-term pain, ongoing immaturity and confusion. But receiving the gift of God in the Wall transforms our lives forever.

We all face many "deaths" in our lives. We often use common defenses to protect ourselves from grief and loss, such as denial, minimizing, blaming, over-spiritualizing, rationalizing, distracting, becoming hostile, and medicating. The choice is whether these deaths will be terminal (crushing our spirit and life) or will open us up to new possibilities and depths of transformation in Christ.

Many of us want a relationship with God, but can't seem to stop long enough to be with him. God is offering us a way to root our lives in him with two ancient disciplines-the Daily Office and Sabbath. These acts are not another "to-do" to add to our schedules. Rather, by learning to Stop, Rest, Delight, and Contemplate, we stay attuned to God's presence throughout our days and weeks.

Growing into an emotionally mature Christian includes not only loving God, but also the skill of loving others maturely. This requires learning, practicing, and integrating such skills as speaking respectfully, listening with empathy, negotiating conflict fairly, and uncovering the hidden expectations we have of others.

Nurturing a growing spirituality in our culture calls for a thoughtful conscious, purposeful plan. To do this well requires us to develop a Rule of Life. A rule is like a trellis that enables the vine to grow upward, becoming more fruitful. Consider the rules you want to implement to nurture your relationship with Jesus and make it bountiful in the areas of prayer, rest, work, and relationships.