At any point in time, millions of people throughout the World are afflicted with psychological problems. For many, these problems persist for years, and in some cases for a lifetime. Consider, for example, Paul Segrin, a 25-year-old single unemployed former copy editor for a large publishing house. He had been hospitalized after a suicide attempt in which he deeply gashed his wrist with a razor blade. He described [to the therapist] how he had sat on the bathroom floor and watched the blood drip into the Victorian clawfoot bathtub for some time before he telephoned his father at work for help. He and his father went to the hospital emergency rom to have the gash stitched, but he convinced himself and the hospital physician that he did not need hospitalization. The next day when his father suggested he needed help, he knocked his dinner to the floor and angrily stormed to his room. When he was calm again, he allowed his father to take him back to the hospital. The immediate precipitant for his suicide attempt was that he had run into one of his former girlfriends with her new boyfriend. The patient stated that they had a drink together, but all the while he was with them he could not help thinking that “they were dying to run off and jump in bed.” He experienced jealous rage, got up from the table, and walked out of the restaurant. He began to think about how he could “pay her back.” Mr. Segrin had felt frequently depressed for brief periods during the previous years. He was especially critical of himself for his limited social life and his inability to have managed to have pleasures of the flesh with a woman even once in his life. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20

As he related to this to the therapist, he lifted his eyes from the floor and with a sarcastic smirk said, “I’, a 25-year-old virgin. Go ahead, you can laugh now.” However, this is what God wants. Chastity is sexual purity. Those who are chaste are morally clean in their thoughts, words, and actions. Chastity means not having any pleasures of the flesh before marriage. It also means complete fidelity to husband or wife during marriage. Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love within marriage. No matter how strong temptations seem, the Lord will help us withstand them. In the gospel, our Heavenly Father desires nothing for us but to be happy. He tells us only those things that will bring us joy. And one of the surest principles given by God to help us find that joy is the law of chastity. “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of people. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts,” reports Jacob 2.28. Paul Sergin was actually doing the right thing in the eyes of the Lord by remaining a virgin. Nonetheless, he has had several girlfriends to date, who he described as very attractive, but who he said had lost interest in him. On further questioning, however, it became apparent that Mr. Sergin soon became very critical of them and demanded that they always meet his every need, often to their own detriment. The women then found the relationship very unrewarding and would soon find someone else. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20

During these past two years Mr. Sergin had seen three psychiatrists briefly, one whom had given him a drug, the name of which he could not remember, but that had precipitated some sort of unusual reaction for which he had to stay in a hospital overnight. Concerning his hospitalization, the patient said that “It was a dump,” that the staff refused to listen to what he had to say or to respond to his needs, and that they, in fact, treated all the patients “sadistically.” The referring doctor corroborated that Mr. Berman was a difficult patient who demanded that he be treated as special, and yet was hostile to most staff members throughout his stay. After one angry exchange with an aide, he left the hospital without leave, and subsequently signed out against medical advice. Mr. Sergin is one of two children of a middle-class family. His father is 50 years old and employed in a managerial position for an insurance company. He perceives his father as weak and ineffectual, completely dominated by the patient’s overbearing and cruel mother. He states that he hates his mother with “a passion I can barely control.” He claims that his mother used to call him names like “pervert” and “sissy” when he was growing up, and that in an argument she once “kicked me in the balls.” Together, he sees his parents as rich, powerful, and selfish, and, in turn, thinks that they see him as lazy, irresponsible, and a behaviour problem. When his parents called the therapist to discuss their son’s treatment, they stated that his problem began with the birth of his younger brother, Owen, when Paul was 10 years old. After Owen’s birth Paul apparently became an “ornery” child who cursed a lot and was difficult to discipline. Paul recalls this period only vaguely. He reports that his mother once was hospitalized for depression, but that now “she does not believe in psychiatry.” #RandolphHarris 3 of 20

Mr. Sergin had graduated from college with average grades. Since graduating he had worked at three different publishing houses, but at none of them for more than one year. He always found some justification for quitting. He usually sat around his house doing very little for two or three months after quitting a job, until his parents prodded him into getting a new one. He described innumerable interactions in his life with teachers, friends, and employers in which he felt offended or unfairly treated, and frequent arguments that left him feeling bitter and spent most of his time alone, “bored.” He was unable to commit himself to any person, he held no strong convictions, and he felt no allegiance to any group. The patient appeared as a very thin, bearded, and bespectabled young man with pale skin who maintained little eye contact with the therapist and who had an air of angry bitterness about him. Although he complained of depression, he denied other symptoms of the depressive syndrome. He seemed preoccupied with his rage at his parents, and seemed particularly invested in conveying a despicable image of himself. Paul Sergin is clearly dealing with some issues, but how did he become to be the way that he is? How do we explain and correct his many problems In confronting these questions, we must first look at the wide range of complaints we are trying to understand: Paul’s depression and anger, his social failures, his lack of employment, his distrust of those around him, and the problems within his family. Then we must sort through all kinds of potential causes, internal and external, biological and interpersonal, past and present. Which is having the biggest impact on behaviour? #RandolphHarris 4 of 20

Although we may not realize it, we all use theoretical frameworks as we read about Paul. Over the course of our lives, each of us has developed a perspective that helps us make sense of the things other people say and do. In science, the perspectives used to explain phenomena are known as models, or paradigms. Each model spells out the scientist’s basic assumptions, gives order to the field under study, and sets guidelines for its investigation. It influences what the investigators observe as well as the questions they ask, the information they seek, and how they interpret this information. To understand how a clinician explains or treats a specific set of symptoms, such as Paul’s, we must know which model shapes one’s view of abnormal functioning. Until recently, clinical scientists of a given place and time tended to agree on a single model of abnormality—a model greatly influenced by the beliefs of their culture. The demonological model that was used to explain abnormal functioning during the Middle Ages, for example, borrowed heavily from medieval society’s concerns with religion, superstition, and warfare. Medieval practitioners would have seen the devil’s guiding hand in Paul Sergin’s efforts to commit suicide and his feelings of depression, rage, jealousy, and hatred. Similarly, their treatments for him—from prayers to whippings—would have sought to drive foreign spirits from his body. Today several models are used to explain and treat abnormal functioning. This variety has resulted from shifts in values and beliefs over nearly the past century, as well as improvements in clinical research. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20

At one end of the spectrum is the biological model, which sees physical processes as the key to human behavior. At the other end is the sociocultural model, which examines the effects of society and culture on individual behavior. In between the four models that focus on more psychological and personal aspects of human functioning: the psychodynamic model looks at people’s unconscious internal processes and conflicts; the behaviour model emphasizes behavior and the ways in which it is learned; the cognitive model concentrates on the thinking that underlies behaviour; and the humanistic existential model stresses the role of values and choices in human functioning. Given their different assumptions and concepts, the models are sometimes in conflict. Those who follow one perspective often scoff at the “naïve” interpretations, investigations, and treatment efforts of the others. Yet none of the models are complete in themselves. Each focuses mainly on one aspect of human functioning, and none can explain all aspects of abnormality. Paul Sergin is a biological being. His thoughts and feelings are the results of biochemical and bioelectrical processes throughout his brain and body. Proponents of the biological model believe that a full understanding of his thoughts, emotions, and behaviour must therefore include an understanding of their biological basis. Not surprisingly, they believe that the most effective treatments for Paul’s problems will then be biological ones. As noted earlier, not all research on the interpersonal relationships of people with eating disorders had focused on the family-of-origin context. The other personal relationships of these people also appears to be problematic. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20

Symptoms of eating disorders are associated with lower satisfaction and closeness in dating/romantic relationships. An intriguing study comparing the interpersonal problems of patients with anorexia nervosa to those of women who had an occupation or hobby that stressed physical condition and appearance (exempli gratia, dance, athletics, professional models), as well as to women from the general public. The group with anorexia nervosa scored significantly higher on a measure of loneliness than either of the comparison groups. In addition, the correlation between loneliness and eating problems was higher in the group with anorexia nervosa (r= .65) than in either the weight-concerned group (r = .47) or the group from the general public (r = .28). A study of women with bulimia nervosa indicates that such individuals perceive less social support from friends as well as family members. These women felt less socially competent than a group of controls in a variety of social situations, particularly those that involved seeking out social encounters and forming close relationships with others. Some of these interpersonal problems may stem from distorted views of personal relationships by people with eating disorders. For example, characteristics of eating disorders are positively associated with a possessive, dependent love style, and negatively associated with a relatively more healthy passionate and friendship-based love style. In a related study, women with high scores on the Dieting and Bulimia-Food Preoccupation subscales of the Eating Attitudes Test tended to endorse ludus (game-playing) and mania (dependent, possessive) love styles. #RandolphHarris 7 of 20

Women with symptoms of eating disorders also view pleasures of the flesh expression as exploitative, and see relationships with men, but not with women, as difficult and dissatisfying. Studied such as these suggest that people with eating disorders, or at least a propensity toward eating disorders, have characterological attitudes toward love and romantic relationships that are unlikely to lead them into stable and soothing relationships. It is tempting to speculate that the development of these dysfunctional attitudes toward close relationships may have been shaped by earlier family-of-origin interactions that produced distorted models of such relationships. As with depression, eating disorders may be associated with negative interpersonal responses from other people. This may partially explain some of the loneliness and lack of relational involvement among certain people with eating disorders. In a study, over 700 university students were asked an open-ended question about what they thought it would be like to date someone with either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. The responses revealed mostly negative expectations. Themes that were prevalent in the answers included difficulty, stress, frustration, and disliking. Students were asked for their views toward involvement with someone who has anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, starting with just studying with the person, to dating the person, all the way up to getting engaged. There was a very clear and strong linear relationship between reported discomfort and level of involvement: The more deeply involved the relationship was, the more respondents reported discomfort with the idea of involvement. The study also added an important component to the understanding of eating disorders and personal relationships: People tend to harbour negative attitudes toward getting involved, especially in intimate relationships, with others who have eating disorders. #RandolphHarris 8 of 20

Like people with depression, those with eating disorders elicit interpersonal rejection. Also like their depressed counterparts, people with eating disorders actually appear to seek and elicit such negative interpersonal responses. Testing hypotheses derived from self-verification theory, which argues that people prefer information consistent with their self-concept, found were symptoms of bulimia nervosa and body dissatisfaction to be positively associated with interest in negative feedback from others in such domains as intellect, social skills, and even physical appearance. The drive for self-verification among women with bulimia nervosa causes them to seek the very interpersonal responses that serve to maintain or exacerbate their condition. “The LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants,” reports Deuteronomy 32.26. A few years ago, somebody dealt unethically with a Victorian estate in a business deal. This person did not keep his end of the bargain, and ended up cheating the estate out of a lot of money. The estate was tempted to want to pay him back and make his life miserable. After all, they made them suffer; why not make him suffer. It was difficult; however, they decided to be a good corporate citizen and do what was righteous, which was to forgive and forget and turn the matter over to God. They said, “God, You know we are being mistreated. You know that what this man is doing is wrong. However, God, we are not going to try to get even. We are not going to try to avenge ourselves. We are counting on You to take care of the situation.” This process continued for several years, and we did not see any change. We had to keep reminding ourselves that God is a God of justice. God is going to turn our pain into diamonds for doing the right thing. God is going to settle our case. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20

Let me put it to you, My dear Devout, the way the Schoolmen do. Jesus Christ’s is always Act; ours, only Potency. Jesus Christ is the Causation; we, only the Instrumentation. Now who can imagine, let alone grasp, concepts like these? The University thinks it can, but Jesus doubts the Schoolmen are any better for their silvery syllogism. And why is He not surprised? Their thinking leads to more than Philosophy and Theology, more than Reason and Revelation, more than Angelic Intuition can do. It is a merry chase, but can the Cherubim and the Seraphim pass the test? Why, they would founder and they would flounder and eventually they would have to be sent down. How, therefore, can we, wretched students with Earth and ash for a brain—that is how Jesus son of Sirach would have put it (17.32)—ever hope to apprehend, let alone comprehend, the High Holy Secret of the Sacrament? Do not be so quick to despair. Try to be simple of hear and firm of faith; this is something of an echo from First Chronicles (29.17). However, if it were not for Jesus Christ’s invitation, we could never Hope to approach God with reverence. And here God is in the Sacramento. God and Man, no less. One and the same time. What next? We have got God under our tongues; that is to say, we received the Host and God in the Host. However, God is suggesting that at this very same time He has got us under His tongue? That is to day, He has received us whole and entire? Well, we must say! To do it once is staggering. However, to do it again and again—we pray His clemency and we pray His grace. Not only to receive Him again, but also to sour all other consolations that may compete with it. One day, out of the clear blue, God supernaturally stepped in and turned that situation around. He not only moved that man out of our lives, but He paid us back in abundance for everything he had taken. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20

Sadly, the man who tried to cheat us eventually lost his family, his business, his reputation—everything. And I certain do not wish that on anybody, but that, too, is the justice of God. One cannot go around continually doing wrong, cheating people and sowing bad seeds, and not expect it to eventually catch up to one. We will reap what we have sown. The Scripture says, “Never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath,” reports Romans 12.19. Notice, if one tries to pay people back, one is closing the door for God to do it. Either one can do it God’s way, or one can do it one’s ways. If one is going to let God handle it, one cannot have the attitude of: “I am going to show them what I am made of.” That will prevent God from avenging one His way. If you want to keep that door open so God can bring true justice into your life, one has to totally turn it over to Him. Maybe you have been working through a situation and one has been doing the right thing for a long time. Perhaps this had been going on month after month, maybe year after year, and now one is wondering, “Is God every going to change this situation? Id God ever going to bring about justice? Doe He even care about what I am going through?” Do not give up! Keep doing the right thing. God is building character in you, and you are passing the test with flying colours. The Scripture says, “Do not get tired of doing what is right, for in due season you shall reap if you do not faint,” reports Galatians 6.9. Do not grow weary; trust God to bring justice in His timing, not yours. It is easy to respect those in positions of authority as long as they are being kind to us or when we agree with them. However, the true test comes when you get someone in your life who is abusive, when someone treats you unfairly for no apparent reason. If you will keep the right attitude, God will promote you at the proper time. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20

The Most High Worthy Sacrament means many things to me. The salvation of my soul and body. The medicine for what ails my spirit. The pool in which my vices are healed. The reins by which my passions are whoaed. The brawn with which my temptations are brawled. The broom that sweeps my nightmares away. The Sacrament makes several things happen. More grace is infused. Virtue begun becomes Virtue increased. Faith is thewed. Hope is sinewed. Love is torched and spread like the summer sunshine. “If an person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set one right and restore and reinstate one, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on oneself, lest one should be tempted also. Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. For if any person thinks oneself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when one is nobody [of superiority except in one’s own estimation], one deceives and deludes and cheats oneself. However, let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test one’s own conduct and one’s own work. One can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [reasoning to] boastful comparisons with one’s neighbour. For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) one’s own [little] load [of oppressive faults]. Let one who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with one’s teacher [contributing to one’s support]. Do not be deceived and deluded and mislead; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside). [One inevitably deludes oneself who attempts to delude God]. For whatever a human sows and that only is what one will reap. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20

“For one who sows to one’s own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose hear and frow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. See with what large letters I am writing with my own hand. [Mark carefully these closing words of mine.]” reports Galatians 6.1-11. Father, I am trusting You to turn the negative situations in my life for good. I refuse to try to get even, and I will not allow myself to remain discouraged because of how someone else is treating me. With your help, I will return good for evil, and love in the face of oppression, hatred, or indifference. God is far more accepting of our real weaknesses than most of us realize. As the Psalmist said: “As a father has compassion on his children, so has the Lord compassion on all who fear Him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust,” reports Psalm 103.13-14. It is in owning our weaknesses that we have access to the presence of God. He welcomes those who confess their need. And the greatest need is for communion with God. In the New Testament both James and Peter reiterate the Old Testament theme: “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” reports James 4.6; I Peter 5.5. #RandolphHarris 13 of 20

If we desire to encounter and surrender to God, we must become aware of our helplessness. We must experience the reality that on our own, if apart from God’s plan and resources, we will live a partial and fragmented life. This is why the Holy Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, emphasizes that God meets face to face with those of a humble heart, while resisting people who are rigid and controlling in their arrogance. However, here we must make a distinction between humbling ourselves, on the one hand, and becoming helpless, servile, and self-effacing, on the other. While the Scriptures advocate a certain childlike openness and honesty in relation to God and others, they do not teach us to remain fixated at a childish level of development. This is what the Helpless Christian does not understand. So one gets stuck at the infantile stage of psychological and spiritual development. However, in order to restore the rhythm of growth, the manipulative tactics of withdrawing and avoiding need to be transformed into the actualizing qualities of feeling vulnerable and empathizing. As pointed our earlier, in the account of Mrs. Winchester, getting in touch with one’s own helplessness, pain, and vulnerability is an excellent way to develop the quality of empathy toward others. This particular quality, expressed at its finest in Jesus, made Him so approachable by the common people and by little children. The actualizing Christian seeks to integrate the childlike qualities of openness to experience, freshness of perception, and excitement in living, with the more adult qualities of awareness of the consequences of one’s behavior and discipline in expressing oneself. Thus the actualizing Christian is free to keep growing and maturing, while at the same time preserving and giving the finest expression to the feelings of vulnerability and childlike spontaneity. This is the dynamic out of which the virtue of humility emerges. One remains humbly reliant upon God concerning every dimension of one’s life; yet one takes the responsibility to face life and live it to the fullest. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20

Every time one feels overwhelmed by life, one’s feeling of vulnerability is an occasion to draw near to God or to a trusted friend for comfort, guidance, and courage. The old Christian hymn by Charlotte Elliot seems to say it well: “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come! Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!” Jared said, “I my relationship with my wife, Genevieve, I have had to learn how to express my weaknesses and fears openly. This has not been easy, because I sometimes have the appearance of being like the Rock of Gibraltar. Recently I had a very difficult week involving many demands on my time and energy. One night it all caught up with me. I lay in bed feeling overwhelmed by all that was happening. As I began to get in touch with my feelings I started trembling. I was feeling frightened, helpless, and alone. Genevieve sensed that I was feeling upset and asked me to share my feelings with her. I crawled into her arms, might like on our first date, and told her my fears as she cuddled me. Her love and tenderness were so reassuring that my feelings of vulnerability began to be transformed into feelings of confidence and courage. I fell asleep in her arms, and experienced a profound peace the rest of the night.” The actualizing Christian must learn to experience directly the hurts of life. There are many little hurts that we may experience from day to day that are real and painful. A sharp word from one’s spouse, a disappointment over a chattered hope, or an unfortunate misunderstanding with a friend might generate inner feelings of hurt. If these feelings are not allowed into awareness, we might become irritable, restless, or depressed later in the day. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20

As we become aware in a particular moment that we feel hurt, we seek to find a way to handle it. We may confront the person who has caused the hurt and honestly share our hurt feelings with the other person. Or we may decide that our skin is too thin and we need to be a little more realistic in letting people’s criticisms or insults bounce off. Or we might share the feelings of hurt with a trusted friend. The experience of hurt and vulnerability can also lead us to the Lord, who Himself experience persecution, misunderstanding, and betrayal. Paul was well acquainted with this process, for he wrote: “For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong,” reports II Corinthians 12.10. In Christ, we find a Friend who empathizes with out deepest hurt and, with His understanding, restores hope to our lives. Out of accepting hurt and experiencing pain, the actualizing Christian emerges from the situation with dignity and strength intact. The deep and lasting Source of one’s dignity is not man, but God. We know that to be dependent on the approval and praise of everyone is to make everyone our judge. If that were the source of our dignity, we would have precious little of it in this life because people tend to make heavy demands upon those who they praise. Feeling loved and affirmed by God, we experience new courage to continue the adventure of living. Jared wrote: “For a long time I blocked off feelings of hurt, but now I realize that hurting and loving are both aspects of experiencing life. If you want to experience love you must also be open to the possibility of experiencing pain. I am also learning how to separate the feelings of everyday ups and downs from the steady love and peace I get from God. A more profound expression of hurt and vulnerability is grief. Grief is experienced when a person experiences a loss that seems to strike the core of one’s being. This is captured well by the word “brokenhearted.” #RandolphHarris 16 of 20

Perhaps an intimate relationship has abruptly ended. Perhaps there has been an accident that has destroyed one’s property or one’s health. Perhaps a dear friend has moved away. Or perhaps someone has gone to Heaven—a parent, spouse, child, or friend. In the solitude of grieving, one needs to find courage to trust one’s God-given emotional and physiological processes that allow for full and honest expression of inner pain—crying, moaning, trembling, or shaking. One of the unfortunate ways that this natural healing process is blocked is by responding to the cultural message that says crying is a sign of weakness. The message implies that one should bear hurt with grim resignation. We believe this to be destructive and false. Grief is the great leveler. Stoicism is only a halfway house. It is a shield, permissible for a short time only. In the end one has to discard shields and remain open and vulnerable. Otherwise,  scar tissues will deal off the wound and no growth will follow. To grow, to be reborn, one must remain vulnerable—open to love but also hideously open to the possibility of more suffering. If the natural grieving process is blocked, then there can be no psychological “closure” about the situation. The psychological wound cannot heal. The feelings may eventually be repressed or “forgotten,” but the pressure remains because the body musculature is literally locked into place for weeks, months, or even years. Therefore, the face remains tense, the breathing continues to be shallow and guarded, and the body posture is frozen in a stiff, corpselike manner. How unlike Christ Himself, who, when he felt sorrow and pain, wept openly (John 11.35). If a person is to get back into touch with life, one must give in to the profound feelings of hurt and pain as the flood of emotional energy is discharged. When we can give vent to hurt feelings, we are able to see things in a new way. We can finally accept what has happened, take the losses realistically, and move on. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20

Having had the courage to give up a fanatical hold on how things “should have been,” we now are able to regain touch with events, relationships, and circumstances that are currently emerging in our lives. In this way we gain closure on the situation, and it recedes into the background of our awareness. We are now free to live again, in the present! Thus, we become excited about living because we rediscover the rick possibilities for actualizing here and now. Prayer is based on legal documents—because of what Jesus did, you have a legal right to come in prayer and petition God to intervene in the affairs of life and expect God to perform His part of the covenant. God’s Word is a legal document, more so than any legal document that has ever been set forth by any law of this land. Jesus Christ is the guarantee that it will work. The Christian Bible and Book of Mormon are legal contracts between you, Jesus, and the Father. It is God’s will to you and for you. Some people have not even read the will. They do not know what is theirs. A contract governs at least two people: the one who made it and the one who receives it. If you had a contract, it would tell certain things you would have to do. Then it would state certain things the other party would have to do to make it valid. It is legally binding on both parties. If you do not fulfill your part, it releases the other party from performing one’s part. It would become void. This is what Jesus is stating here. He would not do it because He is His friend. God does not answer prayer because of friendship. He answers prayer because of legal document and the result is governed by the rules of this document. That document is God’s Word. Now I am not trying to get you under Law. Do not misunderstand what I am saying. I want you to see the need of accurately stating your prayer according to the Word that Jesus Christ taught. #RandolphHarris 18 of 20

He said that He would not do it because He was His friend. However, thank God, we have a contract with our Father and we are part of the family, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. This is just a friend who came to a man for bread. There is no relationship, just friendship, but we are born of God. He is out Father and we are His children. Jesus Christ goes on to say, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give. At times we have become bogged down in this passage of scripture and have failed to see that this is not portraying God at all. He is simply showing you that prayer is not based on friendship or on need. God answers prayer because He is your Father; you are His son and you have a covenant with Him. He says, “Ask and it shall be given you. For every one that asketh, recieveth.” This runs parallel with what Jesus brought out in John 15.7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” He did not say, “Ask what you will, then beg, plead, and keep on asking.” He said, “Ask what ye will and it SHALL BE done.” What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them. You release faith when you pray. Too many times we have waited to release our faith when we see it is getting better. You know that would not require any faith at all. You would know it then. Sense knowledge would tell you then. That is not faith. Release your faith when you pray. The enemy does not care how much you pray as long as it does not work. However, when we learn that the Word of God was given to us to put us over in life and to cause us to be victorious over the evil one, we will walk in victory here on Earth. “They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ,” reports Romans 5.17. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20

The Amplified Bible says, “Those who receive God’s overflowing grace and the free gift of righteousness reign as kings in life.” The glimpse is a memorable experience, but it is not enough. It shows one a possible future, gives one a new World-view, but one must henceforth bring all that into one’s everyday life and into one’s whole being. This needs time, practice, patience, vigilance, self-training, and more sensitivity. Wisdom does not come overnight. It needs time to ripen. However, Revelation can come in that way. However, its recipient will still need time to adjust to it, and to integrate with it. What one has learned from the glimpse must be applied to life, to action, and to attitude. It is not enough merely to enjoy its memory, as if it made no difference. Blessed be you, harsh matter, barren soil, stubborn rock you who yield only to force, you who cause us to work if we would eat. Blessed by you, perilous matter, violent sea, untamable passion: you who, unless we fetter you, will devour us. Blessed be you, mighty matter, irresistible march of evolution, reality ever new-born; you who, by constantly shattering our mental categories, force us to go ever further and further in our pursuit of the truth. Blessed be you, universal matter, immeasurable time, boundless ether, triple abyss of stars and atoms and generations: you who by overflowing and dissolving our narrow standards or measurements reveal to us the dimensions of God. Blessed be you, impenetrable matter: you who, interposed between our minds and the World of essences, cause us to languish with the desire to pierce through the seamless veil of phenomena. Blessed be you, mortal matter: you who one day will undergo the process of dissolution within us and will thereby takes us forcibly into the very heart of that which exists. You who batter us and then dress our wounds, you who resist and yield to us, you who wreck and build, you who shackle and liberate, the sap of our souls, the hand of God the flesh of Christ: it is you, matter, that I bless. Sounds the great Shofar proclaiming our freedom. Raise the banner to assemble our exiles, and gather us together from the four corners of the Earth. Blessed art Thou, O God, who wilt gather the dispersed of Thy people America. Restore our judges as yore, and our counsellors as aforetime, and thus remove from us grief and suffering. Reign Thou over us, O Lord, Thou alone in lovingkindness and mercy and vindicate us in judgement. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Thou King, who lovest righteousness and judgment. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20

Cresleigh Homes

Of course, we’re hosting Thanksgiving! 🦃 What better spot to cook up a fabulous meal than those gleaming countertops? 👩‍🍳

The four distinct floorplans at #Havenwood provide so many options for entertaining; it’s a dream.

These beautiful open-concept homes have just the right amount of space. Bask in an abundance of natural light, binge watch your favorite show in the greatroom. Or retreat to the large master suite with a walk-in closet. https://cresleigh.com/havenwood/

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