Product Description

From chronic physical pain to deep emotional hurts, we are all, at some level, in need of healing. And healing, writes author Stephen Arterburn, is a choice, although not our choice-it is God's choice. While that may lead us to understand that healing is out of our hands, there are several things we do or believe that can stand in the way of God's healing in our lives.

Describing ten choices we can make, and the corresponding ten lies that we must reject, Arterburn outlines the plan for opening our lives to God's divine touch. For example, to be receptive to God's healing, we must make the choice to feel; but we often buy into the lie that we need something to help numb the pain. Likewise, we can choose to embrace reality; but we often falsely believe that if we act as if nothing is wrong, the problem will go away.

Healing on all levels-spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical-is a miraculous gift from God; but it is a function of our own decisions and beliefs as well. When we make the right choices, and reject the lies, we can find the way to wholeness again.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #228171 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Interspersing wise though basic advice with real-life examples, Arterburn (Every Man's Battle) offers a guide that could help many people progress farther along the path of emotional and psychological healing. Written at a simple level, the book's purpose is to break down the barriers that keep people from seeking the help they need. Arterburn challenges some obstacles to healing that are particular to the Christian community, such as the idea that believers should feel peaceful and happy all the time. Yet he also does a good job of addressing the more basic barriers to healing common to all people, e.g., denial of pain and lack of forgiveness. His examples from the lives of others are quite helpful, drawn mostly from his workshops on obesity and sexual addiction. But the glimpses he gives into his own life are the most engaging. He shares openly about the confusion, fear and shame stemming from his divorce, as well as the pathway toward healing he has had to take. Arterburn is very clear that the process of healing is often long and difficult, yet he still conveys a hopeful, encouraging tone to those in pain. (Aug. 16)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

Practical methodology for making biblically sound decisions to change life for the better
Every person makes choices. Some are major and imposing, while others seem insignificant and inconsequential. Still, each individual --- no matter how discouraged, hopeless, or dejected he or she might feel --- has the opportunity to effect positive, life-enhancing change in his or her life. This principle holds true for those struggling to recover from infidelity, divorce, bankruptcy, illness, job loss, familial estrangement, or abuse. Author/counselor/radio host Stephen Arterburn teaches readers practical methodology for making biblically sound decisions that will change their lives for the good.

Arterburn offers no quick fixes in his text, but he compassionately leads those who are seriously interested in investing their time, energy and commitment toward realizing significant life changes through biblically effective methods that will help them to think differently --- Godwardly --- and will enable them to recast a damaged, spiritually stunted history. The author points out that God has provided the properties to heal within every facet of our nature --- bodily, emotionally and spiritually. Writes Arterburn, "It takes courage to seek out, obtain, and utilize whatever resources you need to treat the untreated areas of your life. But not everyone has the courage. Not everyone is willing." His call (plea, actually) is for all Christians to look carefully at who they are, why they do what they do, and how they can move forward to a richer, more spiritually healthy place.

To jumpstart this process, Arterburn recommends "inviting quiet" so as to do a "pain inventory and a feelings checkup." He suggests that individuals ask these introspective questions: What am I afraid of? What is missing? Am I empty? What am I filling up on? Why am I refusing to feel? What feelings am I avoiding? Arterburn says that these questions and their respective responses help people gain insight into life patterns of protection. He asks readers to look at areas where they experience fear, then anger, and finally guilt. Once this exercise is completed, studied and carefully considered, healing can begin when honesty and courage meet with trust and faith in God, and in His ability to provide gracious daily strength to change.

Specifically, the author discusses the following 10 choices every person makes in regard to healing:

Connect one's life with others, or give in to the lie that "all I need to heal is just God and me."
Face life (ugly emotions and all), or the lie that "real" Christians experience real peace in all circumstances
Thoroughly investigate life in search of truth, or embrace the lie that it does no good to look back.
Seek healing for the future, or believe that time heals all wounds.
Help one's life, or give in to the lie of self-sufficiency.
Embrace life, or pretend there is no problem by denying its existence.
Espouse forgiveness, or only bestow the gift on those who deserve it.
Allow risk its proper place, or spend every day protecting oneself from any potential pain.
Serve today, or wait until complete healing has taken place.
Persevere, or give in to hopelessness.

Each of these subjects is handled on a chapter-by-chapter basis with countless narratives, real-life scenarios, and lots of author-to-reader dialogue that encourages, challenges, and lovingly directs.

One of Arterburn's strengths as a communicator is his willingness to be honest about his own life struggles. He is candid, at times sorrowful, and at other times jubilant. But always he urges individuals to seek out the substantive help and healing Christ alone can offer them.


--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

Very Convicting
As anyone who has read my reviews knows, I have read a lot of books on emotional healing. But I have to say, this is one of the best out there. Steve is incredibly vulnerable about his divorce and the resulting pain. I think people who pass this book by simply because Steve is a divorced are making a mistake. This book plays it straight and hits you right between the eyes. I could identify with so many of the lies that Steve discusses in this book. This book was incredibly hard for me to read, but I made it through. This book contains a lot of practical, solidly biblical advice, if you have the courage to follow it. This book will keep you awake at night. It certainly has me. But I've realized that we can either go through life healed or we can be comfortable. We can't do both. Being healed is many things, but it is not and never will be predictable and comfortable. Another thing I like this book is that Steve makes it clear that healing is different for everyone and that it manifests itself in different ways, in different people. This book has TONS of food for thought. I believe this book will be life-changing for anyone who reads it. It certainly has been for me. I also recommend reading this book through at least twice.

He's got to be kidding?
I couldn't believe it when I first started to read this book and the author disclosed the details of his wife leaving him and the terrible divorce he faced. After reading this so early on in the book, I wondered how this man was going to successfully give advice to others on how to heal? I must publicly ask forgiveness from God and from Mr. Arterburn for my shortsightedness! How awesome it turned out to be that he could share that intimate story with his audience and show us how to deal with the different pains that we must all go through! I learned a tremendous amount from this book! Please do yourself a favor and read it, no matter where you are or what you are facing in your life! Don't wait another minute!