On the way back home I had to stop and mail a package.  At the post office I realized that the address I needed was, you guessed it, on the phone.  I use a pda phone and it has way too much information stored on it.  My next thought was funny, “I will call Angie (my wife) and she can give me the address.”  Ya, right! How am I going to do that?  My phone is there.  I gave up and drove home!

Does anyone remember the days when we used a quarter and a pay phone?  Just a reminder to be grateful for what we have and not to become too dependant on it!

Dr. David M. Smuin

www.FaithCounseling.org

It is critically important that as individuals, ministers and counselors that we come to terms with a basic flaw in our nature.  We have the tendency to think that whatever we are doing is ok.  The danger isn’t really in the things that are obviously sin such as killing, adultery and so forth.  The real danger is when it appears to be a good thing.

We must never forget that the Lord weighs the motives of our heart.  This is a comfort to the righteous.  All we must do is acknowledge are basic flows and then listen for God’s instruction in a matter.  Keep in mind what James 4:3 states; “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

There have been many times that the reason a person came in for counseling is because they were doing something that was hurtful, destructive or simply sinful.  Rather that acknowledging their wrong they defend it.  There have also been those times when I was convinced that what the person was doing was ok, until the Holy Spirit revealed to me that it was the motive in which they were doing it that was a problem.  This can often be the case in marriage situations.  One spouse can be controlling or critical while all the time thinking that they are doing a good thing. 

If we desire to live godly lives and have healthy relationships we must listen to the Holy Spirit and correct our actions and motives no matter how right they seem to us. 

Blessings,

Dr. David M. Smuin

Pastoral counselors should be trained in theological matters as well as counseling techniques.  As they go through their training they must be aware of the secular philosophies that are so engrained in the field of counseling.  In essence, the pastoral counselor should be trained in two disciplines rather than just one.  These two also need to be kept in balance with the theological taking the primary position.  The techniques that a Christian counselor uses should never violate spiritual truth.  

In addition to the intellectual training of the pastoral or Christian counselor there is a requirement for spiritual maturity.  The counselor’s own walk with the Lord is a vital consideration that should not be passed over.  It is, in fact, the greatest component or asset that they have.  Pastoral counselors know that while they may show compassion or share a spiritual perspective it is really the Holy Spirit who is the counselor and does the work in the client.  Without spiritual maturity it is difficult for the counselor to get themselves out of the way and hear what the Holy Spirit would like to say to the client.

When pastoral or Christian counseling is undertaken from this perspective it should show much more compassion, love, gentleness and hope than secular counseling.  In addition to being loving and kind Christian counseling involves the discovery of absolute truth.  When this truth is discovered and followed the success rate is much higher because the individual is following divine truth rather that human philosophy. 

Dr. David M. Smuin

Faith Counseling and Training

http://www.faithcounseling.org