Denial and Our Image of God

Denial and Our Image of God

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we explore how denial can impact the way we see God and receive His love. Many of us unknowingly carry beliefs about God that were shaped by our experiences with earthly authority figures, especially our fathers. If our fathers were absent, critical, emotionally unavailable, inconsistent, or difficult to trust, we may unconsciously project those same characteristics onto God. As a result, we can begin to see God through the lens of our wounds rather than through the truth of His Word. We may believe He is disappointed in us, angry with us, impossible to please, or waiting to punish us for our mistakes. These distorted beliefs can create distance in our relationship with Him and hinder our ability to experience true intimacy. In this episode, I also discuss how shame can cause us to misconstrue God’s love. When we are carrying guilt, shame, or feelings of unworthiness, we often assume that God sees us the same way we see ourselves. Instead of running toward His love, we run away from it. We hide, withdraw, and avoid His presence because we believe our failures have disqualified us from being fully loved by Him. But the truth is that God’s love does not diminish because of our struggles. His love is what draws us out of hiding. Just as God pursued Adam and Eve in the garden after they sinned, He continues to pursue us today. He is not looking for reasons to reject us; He is inviting us into healing, restoration, and deeper intimacy with Him. My prayer is that this episode helps you identify any distorted beliefs you may have about God, confront the shame that has kept you distant from Him, and discover the freedom that comes from being fully known and fully loved. True intimacy with God begins when we stop running from His love and allow ourselves to receive it. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/support] Thank you for listening, and please subscribe and share.   Also, subscribe to and share my YouTube Channel.  If you like what you hear, follow us on the following social media platforms: IG- @love.abundantlycounselingmin Tiktok- @loveabundantlycouns.min FB- @Love Abundantly Ministry Patreon-  patreon.com/lovemessages Email us at loveabundantlyministry@gmail.com if you are interested in more information about our Growing Deeper in Intimacy Coaching Program.

How Our Behavior Affects Others

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we continue our discussion on denial by exploring one of its most damaging effects: how it blinds us to the impact our behavior has on others. When we live in denial, we can become so accustomed to our attitudes, habits, and ways of thinking that we simply dismiss them as, "That's just who I am." But what if the very behaviors we've accepted as normal are hurting the people around us and hindering our relationship with God? We also examine the role pride plays in keeping us from seeing the truth. Pride can convince us that we don't need to change, while denial keeps us from recognizing the consequences of our actions. Yet God calls us to a life of transformation, not stagnation. In this episode, I challenge listeners to ask an important question: Who am I following? The world offers one path, while God's Word offers another. Every day, our choices reveal whose voice we are listening to and whose example we are following. If our goal is to become more like Jesus, we must be willing to honestly examine our lives, acknowledge behaviors that do not reflect His character, and surrender them to Him. My prayer is that this episode awakens you to areas where denial may be keeping you from growth, encourages you to embrace humility over pride, and inspires you to pursue the transformation that leads to deeper intimacy with God. Becoming more like Jesus begins with being honest about where we are and allowing Him to change us. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/support] Thank you for listening, and please subscribe and share.   Also, subscribe to and share my YouTube Channel.  If you like what you hear, follow us on the following social media platforms: IG- @love.abundantlycounselingmin Tiktok- @loveabundantlycouns.min FB- @Love Abundantly Ministry Patreon-  patreon.com/lovemessages Email us at loveabundantlyministry@gmail.com if you are interested in more information about our Growing Deeper in Intimacy Coaching Program.

Denial and Self-Deception Part 2

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/fan_mail/new] In this episode, “Denial and Self-Deception,” I take a deeper look at the life of Saul and how denial and self-deception slowly hardened his heart before God. Saul started off humble, small in his own eyes, and chosen by God for leadership. But somewhere along the way, he lost sight of who he was and the responsibility that came with the position God entrusted to him. Instead of fully obeying God, Saul began compromising. He justified his actions, shifted blame, and refused to take ownership for what he allowed the people under his leadership to do. Even when confronted, Saul minimized his disobedience and became more concerned with appearances than true repentance. His denial blinded him to the condition of his heart and ultimately affected his relationship with God. In this episode, I specifically speak to leaders, pastors, preachers, ministers, and those entrusted with the care of others. What happens when we turn a blind eye to sin, compromise, and behaviors that go against God? What happens when we allow people under our leadership to continue in destructive patterns instead of lovingly leading them toward truth and repentance? Sometimes self-deception does not look like open rebellion—it looks like excuses, justification, partial obedience, people-pleasing, or protecting our image while ignoring what God is trying to confront in us. We can become so comfortable with compromise that we normalize what God has called us to address. God does not call leaders to simply maintain crowds; He calls us to shepherd hearts with truth, love, accountability, and integrity. Grace was never meant to make us comfortable in sin. Grace was meant to transform us, convict us, and draw us deeper into intimacy and obedience to God. Jesus died for sin, and when we excuse, ignore, or normalize what separates us from God, we have to honestly ask ourselves: What are we saying to Him through our disobedience? What are we modeling for the people entrusted to our care? This episode is a call to self-examination, humility, repentance, and awakening. My prayer is that it challenges every listener—especially those in leadership—to confront areas of denial, take responsibility before God, and return to a posture of wholehearted obedience and intimacy with Him. 💛 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/support] Thank you for listening, and please subscribe and share.   Also, subscribe to and share my YouTube Channel.  If you like what you hear, follow us on the following social media platforms: IG- @love.abundantlycounselingmin Tiktok- @loveabundantlycouns.min FB- @Love Abundantly Ministry Patreon-  patreon.com/lovemessages Email us at loveabundantlyministry@gmail.com if you are interested in more information about our Growing Deeper in Intimacy Coaching Program.

Denial and Self-Deception Part 1

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/fan_mail/new] In this episode, “Denial and Self-Deception,” I talk about the dangerous ways we can normalize sin when we are in denial about how it is affecting our relationship with God. Sometimes we become so comfortable with certain behaviors, mindsets, and compromises that we stop seeing them the way God sees them. We can misinterpret grace and begin taking it for granted, using it as permission to stay the same instead of allowing it to transform us. But grace was never meant to make us comfortable in sin—it was meant to lead us into repentance, healing, and deeper intimacy with God. Jesus died for our sins, and when we constantly excuse, justify, or ignore the things separating us from God, we have to ask ourselves: What are we saying to Him? What are we saying about His sacrifice? This episode is a call to self-examination, honesty, repentance, and awakening. My prayer is that it challenges you to open your eyes, confront the areas where denial may exist in your life, and draw closer to the heart of God. 💛! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/support] Thank you for listening, and please subscribe and share.   Also, subscribe to and share my YouTube Channel.  If you like what you hear, follow us on the following social media platforms: IG- @love.abundantlycounselingmin Tiktok- @loveabundantlycouns.min FB- @Love Abundantly Ministry Patreon-  patreon.com/lovemessages Email us at loveabundantlyministry@gmail.com if you are interested in more information about our Growing Deeper in Intimacy Coaching Program.

Denial: Walking in Fire Without Knowing It

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/fan_mail/new] In the next episode, 'Denial: Walking in the Fire Without Even Knowing It,' I dive into the hidden danger of denial—how, when we’re in denial, our eyes stay closed, and we walk right into harm without realizing it. I share parts of my own story—how I ignored the signs and stayed comfortable in trauma and complacency, even when it was harming me. But the point of this episode is more than just my story—it’s a call for you to examine yourself. As I reflect on where I was, I pray this awakens you to do the same—to honestly assess where you are, and to see if denial has kept you distant from God. My hope is that, as you listen, you begin to awaken—so you can confess, repent, and draw closer to God, stepping into the deep intimacy He longs to have with you. I Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508570/support] Thank you for listening, and please subscribe and share.   Also, subscribe to and share my YouTube Channel.  If you like what you hear, follow us on the following social media platforms: IG- @love.abundantlycounselingmin Tiktok- @loveabundantlycouns.min FB- @Love Abundantly Ministry Patreon-  patreon.com/lovemessages Email us at loveabundantlyministry@gmail.com if you are interested in more information about our Growing Deeper in Intimacy Coaching Program.