Tag: support

What is The Difference Between Positivity and Trusting God.

Trusting God

What is positivity? How does it differ from trusting? Is it a good thing to always be positive? How do you know if your being just positive when it comes to trusting God?

What does positivity mean? The dictionary states, “Positivity: The practice of being or tendency to be positive or optimistic attitude.” I believe the practice of being optimistic is helpful to support and endure opposition. Being positive can be helpful unless it is unrealistic and not based in truth. Being positive and speaking truths to yourself is helpful in many ways.

What does trust mean? The word trust means “1) firm belief in the character, strength or truth of someone or something. 2) a person or thing in which confidence is placed. 3) confident hope: I waited in trust of their return.”  Trusting God is placing your belief in His existence, character, and Word. It is placing your confidence and hope in God and relying on His Word as His truth. This is trusting God.    

When I first got saved it was in the late 70’s and I was introduced to what is called “name it and claim it.” This period was a part of the charismatic movement. I’m not sure where it originated from but I believe it was taken out of context, with the bent towards having a ‘positive attitude’ where you only ‘spoke positive’ and never talked about the symptoms you had.

If you were prayed for ‘you should say I’m healed’ whether you felt it or not because that was considered a faith statement. Although the healing movement was supernatural and powerful healings and miracles were taking place and still do by God. I believe also individuals took statements made by some preachers out of context and decided you could have whatever you said. It was out of balance.

It is wisdom to pray, call things that are not as though they are when God leads you to. But just saying ‘I claim that or this,’ isn’t always based in scriptural context or inspired by The Holy Spirit. If it is not inspired by God, the Holy Spirit then it’s not happening.

I was a young wife and mother and thought I was believing God for a miracle in my hips. I was left disappointed in the early 80s after I had to have open heart surgery and two hip replacements. Because I confessed, ‘I was healed.’ As a young adult I was left disappointed and bewildered. Because back then my own experience was if you did not get a miracle, healed or were not blessed financially you were considered ‘to not have enough faith.’ This fallacy caused me hurt and I began thinking ‘that something was wrong with me.’ Unfortunately, I pulled away from God at that time for several reasons. Eight years later I became born again, He delivered me from marijuana, cigarettes and anger. He set me free, my heart was renewed, and He baptized me in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit taught me the way to keep my deliverance.

He showed me my faith was not really on God concerning a healing, it was on a method I was taught. Just because you say ‘I’m healed’ if it is not based in Him and by Him and His Word there is no power in it.

I have seen God miraculously heal people. I have experienced His healing and delivering power in my life. I have learned you do not have to say ‘your healed’ if you do not sense it, you can say I’m believing for a healing, I’m trusting God for a healing, today I hurt thank you for praying. I’m still believing God for the manifestation of healing. This will continue to build your faith and trust in God. Basing your faith on God Almighty, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and atonement for you, to be healed. Trusting God’s Word about healing builds your faith and trust in God.   

I tend to be more optimistic than pessimistic, but I believe it is important to speak truth about where a situation is so that you can receive what you really need. Going around saying everything is ok when it is not only isolates you from receiving help. Although if you lean toward the negative that too can be a problem. It affects your outlook on situations. If I am hurting, I tell God and ask for healing and grace and if I need prayer, I text or call a friend. 

I know that we can speak His word over situations, ourselves, and loved ones. He watches over His word to perform it the Bible says. But I personally seek His way and His mind for a situation. And I base it on what The Holy Spirit is leading me when I am praying for others or myself. It is important to line up your prayers and petitions according to the Word of God.

This is the way to place your trust in God and not in positivity. Are You Quieted by His Love? Rest = Faith

Subscribe Contact Dr. Annette

Chronic Pain…

What is Chronic pain and how do you live with it?  In my own phrase chronic discomfort is pain and distress in a constant state.  As stated by google chronic pain is, “persistent pain that lasts weeks to years.”  The reality is that whenever you are suffering in chronic pain or a disease it remains stressful.

How can somebody with chronic pain handle it?  The response is not considered to be a single-step fix.  What does work for one individual’s pain might not work for others as well.  I am under no circumstances a medical doctor therefore I do not have all the answers, and neither can I diagnosis someone, but I may share from my own personal experience with chronic pain whatever is working for me.

I make it first by faith and God’s strength.  February turned out to be a month packed with extreme pain.  My left-ankle that was replaced Aug 20th, 2019 developed tendonitis and my right- ankle the one that the bone is now deteriorated has currently become deteriorated into the soft tissue in the foot as well, therefore the cortisone injections will no longer be an alternative for pain management.  Being born with several congenital abnormalities has been a challenge along with pain throughout my life.

But I place my trust in God I know he never leaves me nor forsakes me and somehow, he has provided me with the ability to thrive mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Trusting God gives me strength and grace to face each day knowing I’m not alone.  He also gives me wisdom to know when to rest, use ice or take medicine.  Pain can affect your thoughts, emotions and outlook on life if you let it.

I choose to look at the good things in my life even though I’m in pain.  I refuse to feel sorry for myself.  Self-pity only makes it hurt worse because you become focused on the negative and the pain increases it seems.  And sometimes tears do help to relive the stress so long as we don’t remain in it.  Chronic pain may vary in degrees of pain one-day hurts you realize that it’s there, however you shelve this ache to force through. Other days its incapacitating pain and cannot be pressed through to accomplish, so you get some rest.

Some of the different ways to deal with pain are prayer, mediation, rest, relying on the grace of God, support systems of family, friends and support groups, medication, exercise, physical therapy, massages, electrical stimulation, chiropractic care, stress management, counseling, acupuncture, surgery, dietary changes etc.  This is just a small list of ways to help deal with chronic pain they don’t elevate all the pain, but they help to cope with it. 

I prefer to look at the good things in my life even though I’m in pain, I also select the option to activate my will to focus on reaching out to others through phone calls and text and now blogging.  I’m not able to move around like I’m use to for now, but I do know God’s with me and can give me opportunities to show His love right where I’m at.  If your feeling that you no longer have a chance to do something because of your chronic pain I can assure you when you trust God, he’ll provide you with opportunities no matter where you are too.