Troubled Teens are really just young people who are living with deep wounds. Troubled Teens needing Jesus in their life. When we are wounded we also become blinded, blinded to the way the past wounds can lead us to act on in our flesh. Troubled Teen Programs for boys like Troubled Teen Search help young people to see their blind spots, their weaknesses, and the ways that they act out in their flesh. The Bible tells us that the flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit stands against the flesh. Unfortunately, for an immature troubled teen they are unable to see the “soul” wounds that lead to “acting out behavior”. Instead, the troubled teen lies, manipulates, justifies, and blames others for all of his/her poor choices. They are essentially blinded to the darkness that looms in their heart brought on by past wounds. Jesus came to heal us, and to set us free. Ashcreek Ranch Academy offers help for troubled teens. Please call 844-211-1354 for more information.
Dividing Between Soul and Spirit
By: Sandy Brunson
Heart, in scripture, is used in various ways. Sometimes it means our reason or understanding, sometimes our affections and emotions, and sometimes our will. Generally it denotes the whole soul of man and all its faculties, but as they all work together in doing good or evil. The mind as it reasons, discerns and judges; the emotions as they like or dislike; the conscience as it determines and warns; the will as it chooses or refuses – are all together called the HEART.
The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and unsearchable fully to any but God alone (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Even as believers we do not know our own hearts (1 Cor. 4:3-5). None of us can discern fully the hidden motives, the secret intrigues, the windings and turnings of his heart. And in this unsearchable heart dwells the law of sin. Much of sin’s strength lies in this, that we fight with an enemy we cannot fully search out. We are blind to a lot that is in our own hearts. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to overcome this “blindness of heart.”
The heart is not only deceitful, but also it excuses, rationalizes, and justifies our actions. It “blinds” us to entire areas of sin in our lives. It causes us to deal with sin using only half-way measures, or to think that “mental assent” to the Word of God is the same as obedience. Mental assent is only half of obedience. (James 1:22)
THIS is the deceit of the HEART and it is a LIE.
“Search me, O God, and know my HEART; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting,” (Psalm 139:23-24).
As we pray for God to search our hearts, we must continually expose ourselves, throughout our lifetime upon earth, to the searching of His Word. God’s primary means of searching our hearts this way is through His Word, as we read it under the power of the Holy Spirit. We are washed by the water of the Word as we apply it to our thoughts and behaviors. WE do the application as God has appropriated the power through His Word and by His Holy Spirit for it to bring change in our hearts.
“The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the HEART.” (Hebrews 4:12)
