Inner Healing and Spiritual Wholeness

Inner healing addresses the deep emotional and spiritual wounds accumulated throughout life's journey. Through biblical principles and faith in Christ's redemptive work, believers can experience genuine freedom from past hurts and find restoration to wholeness.

Understanding the Impact of Past Experiences

Behaviour patterns have been imprinted in our minds from early childhood experiences; be they good, positive and beneficial or bad, negative and destructive. These thought patterns continue to influence or empower our actions and reactions through life as habits. Wrong beliefs need challenging and the destructive lies of Satan's deception exposed for what they are, demolished in the name of Jesus and the mind renewed by meditating on the truths of God's Word (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 10:4-5).

Painful memories can be pushed down and stored in the subconscious mind. Many children are subject to soul damaging experiences from early in life, be it verbal, emotional, sexual or physical abuse. It is not beneficial to dredge up and replay the occurrences that caused the hurt or anger nor use visualisation techniques that 'see' Jesus walking with you through this hurtful situation.

Don't be held in bondage, crippled in your emotions, by past painful negative experiences but receive inner healing at the source of this memory and for the resulting, perpetuating problem. The interpretation of painful events, fears and traumas in the memory needs addressing so present situations don't trigger off similar destructive emotions as previously.

The past has a strong influence on the present

Release comes not by reasoning or reliving our feelings but rather what we know about God. Thus relief comes, not so much by healing of the memories as identifying and dealing with the lies that have empowered them. It is not a matter of applying a formula, but rather the principles of God's Word. As the present is a reflection of the past, deal with the past and redeem the present.

The Path to Transformation in Christ

The Bible is clear that the Christian experience involves the death of our old selves and "rising to walk in newness of life," with this new transformed life characterized by thoughts about Him who saved us, not thoughts about the dead flesh that has been crucified with Christ (Rom 6:4, 12:1-2; 2 Cor 5:17). As we abide in Him He transforms our hearts and heals us (Jn 15:5). Our focus is to be on the Lord not on ourselves.

Christ's death on the cross provides the foundation for complete healing and restoration. Through His sacrifice, we have access to the power that can break every chain of emotional bondage and bring wholeness to every area of our lives. The process of inner healing is not about our own strength or abilities, but about surrendering to His transforming work within us.

Rather than let hurtful experiences gnawing away within, deal with them as they occur so they become growth points and not offenses that will hinder progress. Unpleasant emotions are not destructive if they motivate constructive growth responses. Do not resort to the devil's ploys of engaging in destructive and addictive habits to deaden the pain.

Christ died to make us whole

Seek help, if necessary, from a trusted confidante or professional. Time and persistence are necessary, along with the motivation of desire to be free of the shackles of the past. Forgiving those who have caused you the pain is a major key to come into freedom. Always keep your eyes on Jesus – have a close and up-to-date relationship with Him.

Walking in Freedom and Victory

He came to heal the brokenhearted and assist us to victory (1 Cor 15:57). He alone is the source of genuine and complete healing of all emotional wounds. The world's way is to literally drown out the pain through alcohol, numb the mind with destructive substances, engage in illicit sex or bury oneself in an activity, yet this is to no avail – the problem is only masked and will reappear.

True freedom comes through embracing our identity in Christ and allowing His truth to replace the lies that have held us captive. As we walk in obedience to His Word and trust in His unfailing love, we experience the abundant life He promised – a life marked by peace, joy, and emotional wholeness. The journey of inner healing may be challenging, but the destination of freedom in Christ is worth every step.

Reflection and Application:

Identify areas of past hurt that may still be affecting your present attitudes and behaviours.
Bring these areas before God in prayer, asking for His truth to replace any lies you have believed.
Practice forgiveness toward those who have caused you pain, releasing them to God's justice.
Focus daily on Christ's love and His promise to make you whole in Him.