Resources In The Refine.
Wow, the last post was… well, it was hard for me to write and get real and raw with you all. To open up and expose the parts of you that are broken, can take its toll. It’s even harder to try and fit three years worth of wilderness and refinement into a few letters, but I tried, whilst also trying not to write a books worth about it. Before we get into the next post… where sunlight begins to appear, I want to thank you all so much! The emails and messages I have received have been overwhelming, and I never realised my story could impact so many. I know it’s hard to write your own journey in the comments, and I completely understand. But be sure to say hi though or share and encourage someone else today.
If you haven’t read the entire journey yet, I recommend you do to get the full picture, starting at Entering The Refiners Fire. Okay… let’s dive into it.
I ended the last post with the resources that God was about to send my way and how the brain surgery was about to begin. And sisters… did He send resources! I didn’t have to wait weeks or even days. Within hours of pleading for the Lord to help me, because I had really hit that point where I just couldn’t go on in my own strength anymore, my husband decided to put on a DVD for me to watch, hoping I could try and rest. He grabbed one from a heap my mother had brought over for me. And what he put on, began my road to recovery.
The Wilderness Series by John Bevere. If you haven’t listened to John & Lisa Bevere, you are missing out! Before my mind broke, I listened to them often and read their books. Let me tell you… That was the first series that had my complete attention and as I sat there watching one video after another, that day in February, three years before came rushing to my mind. The day I asked the Lord to refine me and take away all my impurities. Up until that point, I had understood I was walking through a wilderness season, but I had no idea that God was removing all of my impurities and it took me months after that realisation to truly see what He had removed and in turn placed within me. To this day, I have watched The Wilderness Episodes at least a dozen times and if you would like to check them out download the Messenger X app on your phone or visit their website here.
Within days of beginning The Wilderness Series, I decided to see what John Bevere sermons were on YouTube but instead, the first video that popped up was a sermon where a neuroscientist was preaching.
Dr Caroline Leaf was doing a talk on one of her books called, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. I had heard the name before and when I asked my mother if she had heard of her also, she told me she had her book called, Who Switched Off My Brain. I tried reading it, but at the time, I just couldn’t concentrate enough to get through even a few pages. But then I found the one app that changed the path my life was on and helped me to fix my brain. The Neurocycle App! I am on my third cycle with this app, and honestly, I will probably do it for the rest of my life.
I’m going to get real with you all and say… the first time through this cycle is hard! You walk right into your trauma and unpack it. It’s not fun and somedays you feel as if you are going backwards, but I am here to tell you that the Neurocycle changed my life. Throughout the journey, I kept a journal where I wrote what I was feeling out to God also, and as I did that, I let go of trauma I carried into everyday. I forgave people I never thought I would. I let go of those, that were toxic and… I learned how to control my mind. If you are suffering with depression, anxiety, past trauma, ptsd or even addictions, Dr Caroline Leaf is amazing and this app changed everything for me.
Even though I was doing better and getting to a point where the anxiety had calmed and the depression was slowly lifting, I still struggled with silence and when it came to bed time, my fear of falling asleep was still present. I still couldn’t watch movies, listen to music or read, but one night my husband turned on War Room and I placed on my sleep headphones. I still woke up three times and turned the movie back on, to drown out the silence… but it worked! From that night on and even throughout the day, I had a Kendrick Brothers movie playing. Now, they have some great ones, but War Room and Facing The Giants are my go to movies. If you haven’t watched them, check out the Kendrick Website Here. They are about to release a new movie soon, and I cannot wait!
Thank you to those who wanted to know what resources God sent my way to help me walk out of my refining season and into Victory. This post is for you, or someone you may know and needs a few things to help them press through. I want to say this… through all of my refining, it is God who deserves all the glory. When you are walking through a wilderness that feels as if it has broken you completely, it’s hard to remember that He is in control. But He is! Sometimes, the trauma is so deep… it needs to be removed so you can step forward into your destiny, so all people can see, is the light that replaced the darkness that kept you trapped. So like me, ask Him to send you resources to help you. Without the ones I mentioned above, I don’t think I wold have walked out as easily. When I called out, He answered and I am forever grateful for the tools He sent me.
I have one more post, to go where I finish off with what The Holy Spirit exposed, the things God removed, the lessons I have learned, and where I am at on my journey today as I continue to step into a new season.
Love Sarah, x.
Click to read the next post Out Of The Fire.
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