[Discoveries] 08-18-08 The case for comfort -- Isaiah 40:1

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

"/*Comfort, comfort My people," says your God. -- Isaiah 40:1*/

The key to transforming lives is

... NOT repentance (at least the way it is commonly understood)

... NOT salvation (the way it is commonly approached)

... NOT Bible knowledge

... NOT word of faith

... NOT trying harder, praying more, speaking in tongues or almost 
anything else that is commonly proposed.

Lest you think I'm a heretic, let me reassure you: I believe in 
salvation. I believe in the Bible. I believe in repentance and faith and 
prayer.

But these things do not typically transform people's lives. Saved people 
still get drunk and depressed. Bible scholars commit adultery. And so on.

The key to transforming lives is allowing the presence of Christ through 
the locked doors of our souls. Everybody has doors that are locked. 
Everybody has rooms in their souls with big "KEEP OUT" signs on the door.

What do these locked doors look like? They typically are NOT what you 
would think. They typically are NOT, "I'll never go to Africa," or "I'll 
never give up my gambling." But rather these locked doors are hurting, 
painful places that we want to close off to God, to ourselves and to 
everyone else.

These hurting places are the fulcrum of the soul. If we want Christ to 
have the leverage that He needs to grant us real love, joy, peace, 
patience and so on, He needs to bring His soothing, comforting presence 
into these places inside that have been off limits for so long.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries? Victims of 
violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace, wholeness, the 
power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries. Those ensnared by 
addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being restored. Families 
are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in restricted lands who 
face persecution are finding strength and encouragement. Young believers 
are learning how to walk with the Lord, and people are coming into the 
faith for the first time. None of this happens as a result of one 
person's efforts, but rather this is God's work as He blesses the 
sacrifice of many people including yourself. We partner with you, with 
other ministries, and, most significantly, with the Lord. That's how the 
supernatural happens.

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