Restoration happens here
I am convinced that whatever our natural instinct is, God wants us to operate in the opposite. Take “lovers” versus “fighters,” for example. If you know me, you would know I am a fighter. I’ve been fighting my whole life. History would support that I have been fighting since the day I was conceived. In fact, one definition of my name means “tenacious one, or persevering.” I have to “fight” not to fight.
My name is Kerri Johnson. For the past 20+ years, I have searched for answers to my own struggles. My lifelong passion has been in pursuit of my true identity and the healing of body, soul, and spirit. Out of those studies, Transformations was birthed. Transformations is an interactive healing process and a catalyst for helping people come out of the lies they believe and into the fullness of truth and identity.
Unfortunately, many of us spend our entire lives trying to mask who we are. That’s what we are taught. We are taught that we should hide our scars and shortcomings to survive and thrive in this perfect world. Neither of those statements is true. We shouldn’t hide our hurt, and the world is far from perfect. To be authentic, we have to identify our pain, bring it forward, and offer it on the altar of life to be able to be free. Otherwise, pain is our autopilot in everything we are, do, and say.
Continue reading “Take Off the Masks and Find Your True Self”
Have you ever been “amiss” with God? I know we all get frustrated with Him but I mean, like, nothing, no feedback, lights are on but no one’s home? Not just for a day or two but for a long period of time?
Have you ever longed and cried out for Him so much that you felt like you couldn’t cry or beg anymore? Have you ever felt like your prayers were hitting the ceiling and bouncing back? Or better yet, you felt like God left in the night with no forwarding address? Have you ever measured your relationship with Him by how well you perform?
If you answered yes to any/all of the above, you may have come into a season called the Dark Night of the Soul. The Dark Night of the Soul is a period of time often described as “A Wilderness Season.”
Do you know who you are? Do you know who God created you to be?
Most people don’t know, but they are searching. I call this an identity quest.
How about you? Are you in search of your identity?
Trauma affects mind, body, and spirit. Trauma locks itself into our bodies.
I discern things in my body. Often, I can relate pain to circumstances.
One time, I was pushed onto my back. For years, whenever I experienced something similar, I immediately felt pain in my back.
When I asked the Lord, He showed me I had locked fear into my back from that first experience. I was still carrying it. Every new trauma triggered that pain.
So I prayed to release the trauma. I don’t have trouble with my back anymore. If I do feel back pain, I know I need to check spiritually how I’m doing.
Often we manifest physically what we are carrying spiritually.
Continue reading “How Trauma Settles in Our Bodies and Emotions”
I’ve been wanting to share something that I’ve experienced personally in the past few years. I have noticed a few others going through something similar, so I believe now would be a great time to share.
A few years ago, I went through the greatest season of loss I have experienced (since a divorce 20 years ago). This season has been very similar to a divorce but of greater capacity. This season of loss was not only of my job, but also of a great family of friends and many of those I loved in my own community.
Most detrimental (at the time, but now one that I am learning to be grateful for) was the loss of my identity. I pretty much lost everything that I ever knew to rely and depend on. What was one of the darkest seasons of my life led me to what I later learned was referred to as the dark night of the soul.
“How do I know if I’m bitter?” I am often asked that question. Here are some ways you can tell:
Do people set your teeth on edge?
Who have you blocked on Facebook lately and why?
Do you cross the street when certain people come your way?
Does your jaw set when you think of somebody? And why?
When you hold onto unforgiveness and let it grow in your heart, before long you will have bitterness.
Bitterness grows roots that bury deep in your heart. It hurts you. It blocks God. It stunts your growth.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
There is a story that comes with this picture. I love the water and I love boats. Always have. But I’ve always felt fear in a kayak. If you look closely at this photo, you will see the fear in my face. But guess what? God used this event to bring healing to my fear. Continue reading “I Vow to Be Afraid”
Have you ever wondered why we go through painful experiences? What purpose does it serve?
First, we need to remember it’s not about us. It’s all about God. When you go through a painful experience, God is trying to bring you to the end of yourself, so He can take over. He wants to stretch you and make you depend on Him. That doesn’t mean He causes the painful event, but He will certainly use it.
Did you know real emotional pain lasts only two minutes? The rest is perceived pain. We have a choice of how we respond to that perceived pain. It matters greatly what you do with your pain. Pain will point you to the path of your healing. Do you want to be healed? Follow the pain.
I am often asked these questions: “How do I learn to hear God? What does God’s voice sound like? Is it audible?”
God speaks to us in many ways:
Scripture
Nature
Impressions
Dreams
Sometimes people wonder if they are hearing God or talking to themselves.
There are only three voices you can hear in your spirit. It will either be God, the enemy, or your own voice. You will have to discern among those three voices.
Ask yourself: “Does what I am hearing line up with God’s Word and with His nature?”
It helps to practice talking to God. You can talk out loud to Him. The more you call on God and ask to hear His voice, the more you will be able to discern His voice.
Try this to start a conversation:
Say, “Jesus, I love you.” Then be really quiet. What do you hear? What did God say?
People have also asked me, “When I think I’m hearing from God is it because I want to do what I want to do?”
Again, does what you are hearing line up with God’s Word and with His nature?
What are your own motives in what you are asking Him? Are you being selfish and focused on you? Have you really asked God and are waiting to hear His response? Or did you just decide, “God, here is what I’m going to do, please bless it”?
Ask God something that’s on your heart. Listen for His answer. Check it out in the Bible. Does the answer you heard line up with what He says in His Word?
Another common question is this: “What if I don’t like His answer?”
What makes you think you wouldn’t like His answer? He always wants His best for you. Why do you assume you wouldn’t like His answer? Ask yourself where that concern is coming from.
If you hear His answer and don’t like it, ask yourself why you are reacting to it this way. What is His answer triggering inside of you?
Remember, God likes obedience. Have you ever given your children an answer they didn’t like?
Here is another frequent question: “Can other people hear from God for me?”
Yes, they can, but why would you want them to? Don’t you want to hear from Him yourself?
Other people can confirm what you are hearing, but God wants a relationship with you.
If someone hears a word from God for you, do you witness to what they say? Does it resonate with you? Be cautious of who is telling you. Don’t cast your pearls before swine.
If you feel that other people can hear God, but you can’t, ask yourself, “Who is God to me?”
Your relationship with your earthly father can affect how you hear from Father God.
Here are some ways you can get better at hearing God:
Take some time now to practice. Ask God a question. Write the answer. Check that it lines up with His Word.
Keep practicing, and you will get better at hearing God.