Reforming (phase 1), Our Personal History of Salvation (step 5), session 1

“Mind-fasting” is the central technique of the Christotherapy together with the complementary “spirit-feasting.” - Tyrrell, Christotherapy as quoted by Step-by-Step Retreats

I first read this and cringed. It was not the first part of this step's overview that provoked this response in me. I find the idea of revisiting what God has delivered me from intimidating, especially in my current emotional dynamic. But I am going to trust that God will continue to supply my every need, including not letting me get bogged down in an unhealthy place.

But when I first read this, I thought of mind-fasting vs. spirit feasting as something that was likely to be utterly beyond me. My mind chews on things incessantly; I know I am more introspective and analytical than is likely good for me. Then I read on:

It means an emptying the mind from the thoughts, attitudes and desires discerned as harmful, a letting go of the destructive tendencies by the help of the Holy Spirit and sort of replacing it with authentic, life-giving inspirations and feelings. - ibid.

and I realized that I have already begun this process. We'll see where the Lord takes it.

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. - Rom 7, 13

I had to fight against misunderstanding this when I was going through (and putting our family through) our personal tribulation. It was not the good thing that I had done that was causing the terrible circumstances we were experiencing. Rather, these were the result of the wrong I'd done, the brokenness in me that needed to be made whole. I was not being punished for confronting my sin, but the nature of confronting my sin meant dealing with things that had been previously swept under the rug to putrify.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Rom 7, 34-35a

Thanks be to God indeed, that as I read verse 34a I am not overwhelmed by it as I have so often and so long been.