How Christians Grieve WellНамуна

How to Transform Religious Parts

Before your religious part can be transformed, we have to first find it. You can do so by calling to mind the loss in your life and its significance. Then, ask inside: Is there any part that thinks I might be displeasing God by grieving? Please come forward so we can discuss it.

Wait for what unfolds.

Once your religious part shows up—whether visually, so you can see it in your mind’s eye; auditorily, in that you can “hear” its strong Scriptural stance on the inside; or by some other way that makes you know that you are, indeed, talking to your religious part—check how you feel toward it. If you feel open-hearted, curious, or compassionate toward the part, share this with your part.

Ask your part the following:

- What do you do for me in general?

- What about in the context of my grief?

- If you think I might displease God, please tell me why.

Let your part answer each question naturally. You do not have to think up anything yourself.

Thank your part if its responses help you understand it more. If the part is open to communing with you, ask your part if it has been carrying a burden. Maybe this burden was passed down by your parents, pastors, or church. A yes deserves a follow up; ask if it would like to release this burden if it knows it won’t displease God by doing so. (If your part is hesitant, remind it we have a standing invitation to cast our burdens to God, according to Matthew 11:28 and Psalm 55:22).

If your part warms up to the idea, ask it to release this inherited burden to God.

Does your part like to replace the burden with any positive quality? It can be spiritual in nature (like the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23) or otherwise (such as “a trusting disposition”). Ask the Lord to give your part these qualities.

God has crafted an exquisite plan that will satisfy each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). However, our parts can unknowingly sabotage the process by, for instance, forbidding us from grieving. Let’s pray that as time goes on, our religious parts will continue to seek Jesus’ life-changing love—allowing us to fully step into his destiny for us.

Was this Plan helpful? We adapted this Plan from Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soul by Audrey Davidheiser. For more information, visit: https://www.ivpress.com/grieving-wholeheartedly