Tag: personal growth

470. Beyond the Norm: Finding Joy Outside the System

Mike Parsons

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Christians can’t have fun?

We can find ourselves really constrained within certain systems and among people who all think the same way—which leaves little room for personal growth or enjoying life. Christians, for example, often end up repeating the same routines—organising potluck meals and eating quiche and such things, which can become a bit staid and, frankly, rather dull and boring. That’s not to say Christians can’t have fun—but generally speaking, the world exists for us to discover, to enjoy, and to bring light into, ideally in a way that’s enjoyable and adventurous.

Sometimes I wonder why anyone would want to become a Christian when, so often, Christians come across as quite miserable. Then there’s the expectation of attending church three times on a Sunday. Why should that be necessary? If I’m enjoying myself by going out, why can’t I worship God in the fresh air? These mindsets persist: we invite people to join us, and then expect them to give up what they find pleasurable in order to join a ‘Christian club.’ In the process, such people often lose touch with real life—and many of the positive experiences they had with God in the past are lost. They end up just becoming ‘church people,’ which really doesn’t attract anyone.

Representatives of God’s love

Instead, we ought to show that life can be enjoyable, that we can have fun, love others, and care for them—that’s the sort of dynamic we should be bringing to the world. We’re meant to be representatives of God’s love, demonstrating care and compassion through what we do. When people hit a crisis, they’ll seek out those who are authentically loving, relatable, and understanding—the kind of people who can help them encounter God through genuine relationships.

I wholeheartedly believe in continuing to enjoy life. Since embracing this perspective, I enjoy life much more as I believe it was intended to be—without imposing a set of rigid rules and obligations that dictate where I should be and what I must do.

Going to church

I go to church meetings with Debbie because she enjoys fellowshipping with others. I like singing too, so I don’t mind joining in, but I doubt I would go if it weren’t for her. I value those friends and connections, but sometimes I do find it a struggle. In the home group, I occasionally bite my tongue to avoid offending others, but now and then God gives me permission to say something a bit provocative, to open up honest discussion. Ultimately, though, if Debbie didn’t attend the group, I wouldn’t go there either. This week, there’s football on—so I’ll watch that, as I’ll probably enjoy it more than wrestling with theological discussions I find hard to connect with. I don’t attend to cause trouble; I simply value the freedom to go or not to go.

No option

Reflecting on my past, especially when I was in church leadership, I remember having no option—I had to be there, unless I was on holiday. It was expected of me as a leader. I was often speaking—which meant there was little choice, and as I was being remunerated, there was a sense of obligation. I would have felt guilty for not going. Although it was genuinely more than just a job for me, there was still a mindset that I needed to “give them their money’s worth.” That way of thinking comes from conditioning: it is certainly not freedom.

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317. Leaving a Positive Light Deposit

328. Experiencing God’s Love: A New Approach to Evangelising Christians

 

395. Soul Ties | Recognising and Releasing Toxic Relationships

Mike Parsons

When it comes to relationships and the connections that form between individuals, these are often referred to as soul ties or emotional connections. Some of these ties can be negative, especially if they involve people who drain energy from you or have impure or unholy motives. Such connections can cause problems in your life.

Cutting Negative Ties

The key to dealing with these ties is intention, desire and choice. Since these connections are spiritual, it’s important to ask the Father to help disconnect them. Hebrews describes the Word of God as being sharper than a two-edged sword, capable of dividing soul and spirit. This isn’t referring to the Bible, but to Jesus as the Living Word. He can sever the spiritual connections between souls, setting you free from any negative ties that feed off your energy or bring negativity into your life.

Steps to Freedom

  1. Forgive and Release
    Begin by ensuring your heart is free of bitterness, resentment, anger or frustration toward the other person. Forgive them—not because they’ve asked for it, but because it’s your choice to let go. Release them from any perceived debt or obligation to make things right. Forgiveness is about freeing yourself as much as it is about freeing them.
  2. Ask God for Help
    Once your heart is in the right place, ask God, or Jesus as the Living Word, to sever any unhealthy spiritual connections. Choose to cut the ties and ask Him to free you from them. This includes releasing any energy or influence they have over you.
  3. Maintain a Positive Attitude
    After severing these ties, maintain an attitude of love and blessing toward the person. Wish them well, but do not allow them to reconnect with you in a negative way. Sometimes, people may try to re-establish harmful connections. By standing firm in your freedom and relying on God’s help, you can prevent this from happening.

Protecting Yourself

If the individual has been involved in harmful spiritual practices such as witchcraft or cursing, breaking the tie ensures they no longer have a spiritual connection to you. This also protects you from further harm. Stand firm in the knowledge that a curse without cause cannot affect you. You can even ask God to assign angels to safeguard you from any residual negativity.

Living in Freedom

It’s essential to stay in peace and rest, trusting in God’s protection. When negative people or situations arise, they don’t have to affect you if you remain shielded in your relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit. Being clothed in light ensures that darkness cannot penetrate. Once the internal connections are severed, external ones cannot form.

Relationships change over time, and it’s okay to move on from certain connections. However, always ensure that you act out of love, keeping your heart pure and free from resentment. This allows you to maintain your freedom and live unaffected by negativity.

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394. Salvation Isn’t What You Think!

Mike Parsons

Mike Parsons reflects on memes and quotes from social media.

Salvation isn’t what you think. People often view the miracles and healings in Jesus’ ministry as separate from what He accomplished on the cross, as if healing bodies and restoring lives were somehow different from the salvation of our souls. But Jesus’ entire ministry—His healings, His miracles, His death, and His resurrection—are all part of the same mission: bringing us into God’s shalom, into God’s peace.

Shalom, in Hebrew, means wholeness, the healing of all that is wrong. The word we translate as “salvation” is sozo, which means saved, healed and restored—a perfect reflection of shalom. Look at how Jesus shalomed people. He didn’t just forgive sins; He made broken people whole. When He healed the lepers, He wasn’t simply curing disease. He was restoring them to community, dignity, and life itself.

As Brian Finley says, “When Jesus healed, He didn’t just fix the physical; He restored lives in every way.”

Jeff Do writes, “The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the new birth of all humankind. He who is the firstborn from the dead is the firstborn of all creation because all creation has been made alive in Christ.” What Jesus did is for all creation. Everything He created, He reconciled to Himself.

There are so many great and uplifting quotes like these. I encourage you to look for positive and encouraging messages that reflect love and grace. When you see a quote, meme, or post, ask yourself—what frequency does it carry? Does it reflect love and kindness? Is it full of grace? Or does it feel harsh, unloving, judgmental or unkind? We must be cautious not to embrace negativity when there is so much positive encouragement available. Focus on what uplifts and inspires.

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This is an excerpt from Mike’s current ‘Restoring First Love’ series. Sign up for one payment of £30 GBP at https://eg.freedomarc.org/first-love and receive a recording each month as they are released (ad-free and with many extras). Or become a Patreon patron and join Mike live online for each teaching!