2005 by Stephen Arterburn
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Scripture quotations noted The Message are from The Message: The New Testament inContemporary English. 1993 by Eugene H. Peterson.
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Scripture quotations noted NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible , The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
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C ONTENTS
C HAPTER 1
The First Choice: The Choice to Connect Your Life
C HAPTER 2
The Second Choice: The Choice to Feel Your Life
The Second Big Lie: Real Christians should have
a real peace in all circumstances.
C HAPTER 3
The Third Choice: The Choice to Investigate
Your Life in Search of Truth
The Third Big Lie: It does no good to look back
or look inside.
C HAPTER 4
The Fourth Choice: The Choice to Heal Your Future
C HAPTER 5
The Fifth Choice: The Choice to Help Your Life
C HAPTER 6
The Sixth Choice: The Choice to Embrace Your Life
The Sixth Big Lie: If I just act as if there
is no problem, it will finally go away.
C HAPTER 7
The Seventh Choice: The Choice to Forgive
The Seventh Big Lie: Forgiveness is only
for those who deserve it or earn it.
C HAPTER 8
The Eighth Choice: The Choice to Risk Your Life
The Eighth Big Lie: I must protect myself from
any more pain.
C HAPTER 9
The Ninth Choice: The Choice to Serve
The Ninth Big Lie: Until I am completely healed
and strong, there is no place for me to serve God.
C HAPTER 10
The Tenth Choice: The Choice to Persevere
L ISTED BELOW ARE SOME QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS WORKBOOK:
What will theHealing Is a Choice Workbookdo for me? This workbook will guide you through a study of the ten important choices that contribute to healing, and the ten lies that work against people in the healing process. It will challenge the reader to engage in introspection concerning the need for healing, and to develop a proactive approach to becoming well.
Is this workbook enough or do I also need the book,Healing Is aChoice? The book Healing Is a Choice contains all the primary and necessary information. The workbook is a companion text designed to reinforce the content and enhance your ability to assimilate and apply the truths found in the book.
The lessons look long. Do I need to work through everything ineach one?Healing Is a Choice begins with an important premise and builds upon it throughout the text. Reading from the beginning to the end provides a thorough understanding of the subject and its applications. You need it all to receive the most benefit. The workbook is intended to reinforce the truths in the book and guide the reader toward application. If you neglect selected passages, you may experience some loss in application. Choose carefully.
How do I bring together a small group to go through this workbook? There is no greater learning environment than an interactive small group. If you share this book with friends and colleagues, you will probably discover a keen interest among them. The fact is that many people are in need of healing, or they certainly know people who are. Gathering some of them into a small group to study this book might be just the prescription that will change their lives.
How should I use the workbook? We will consider one chapter at a time. Reading it will give you the basic information. Using the workbook will provide reinforcement of the books content through a variety of questions, exercises, and devotionals. Take time to complete them. Following this method will provide the greatest impact.
What is the structure of the book?Healing Is a Choice identifies and explains ten important healing choices that people can make as they seek healing. In contrast, it identifies ten big lies that hinder and derail healing. This contrasting style encourages an emphasis on the healing choices, while making us aware of the lies that would dissuade us from making choices that heal. In every case, healing is a choice in which God and man are involved. Healing is Gods choice. Mans choice is to reject the lies that work against healing.
T HE F IRST C HOICE :
The Choice to Connect Your Life
T HE F IRST B IG L IE :
All I need to heal is just God and me.
I F WE SENSE THAT WE ARE NOT WELL AND REALLY WANT TO recover, it is important that we connect with others. Whether it is a physician, a health practitioner, a counselor, or a trusted friend, the need to connect during the healing process is profound. A physician has the expertise to diagnose and prescribe medicine. A counselor can help us examine the emotional pain we often have and guide us toward the means of dealing with it, so that healing occurs. A friend stands solidly with us during illness; supporting, praying, helping, and most of all, caring.
In fact, connecting with friends in our time of illness or crisis is one way to fulfill Gods purpose in relationships.
T HE F IRST C HOICE :
The Important Choice to Connect Our Lives with Others
Key Scripture: Carry each others burdens, and in this way you willfulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NIV
The introduction to Healing Is a Choice