Is It Good For You?

This is a post I've taken from one of the writers of "Time's Up!" Tanya Warrington. It comes from her blog, "Dazzling Wings." Her words always move me.

Is it good for you? A short question with huge ramifications.

As former victims, we are more likely to base decisions on unconscious questions such as "Will the other person be mad if I say I don't want to do this?" or "I can survive a little more; what difference will it really make?" or "Will my doing this help this other person out?"

I am learning that this other-focused way of making decisions is insidious and well ingrained. It may have helped me in the past. Perhaps caring more about the other's reaction or needs, rather than evaluating my own condition and needs at least gave me some illusion of power in situations of powerlessness.

But now that I am free from abuse and establishing a more healthy lifestyle, I need to know how decisions will affect me. I need to know if a food choice, medicine choice, or relationship choice is good for me. It turns out that I have a starring role in being responsible for my own health choices. Will I spend time with someone who drains me? Will I do something I do not want to do, because somebody important to me thinks that I should? Will I eat a food that has no nutrient value? Will I alternate sitting and standing throughout the day to respect my physical limitations?

How about you? Do you need to think about whether choices are good for you? The good news is we make many decisions daily so there is plenty of turf on which to practice. Start asking yourself, "Is this good for me?"

If we don't know whether or not something is good for us, we can ask the God who has promised to give wisdom to all who ask.

God, bless our minds with your wisdom, our hearts with receptiveness to the truth, and our wills ready to act in line with Your will. Amen.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 (NIV)

The Susan Murphy Milano Show: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 3:00PM Central Time

Controversy was abuzz when Pastor Rick Warren made the statement that he counsels women to stay in an abusive marriage and try to work things out with their abuser rather than seek divorce. On this show we will hear from a former victim of abuse and a pastor who counsels women and men in troubled relationships. We will discuss how God intervenes to rescue and heal victims and how churches are advising victims to safely resolve the issues of violence in their families.

Tine In: 3:00Pm Central Standard Time 4:00PM Eastern Standard Time

Today's Guests:
Tanya Warrington is a freelance writer with over 50 publications in magazines and anthologies. She was formerly a victim of incest, teenage date rape, spousal abuse, and the mother of children who were assaulted by a pedophile. Her life used to be just about surviving and keeping her emotions as numb as possible, until God rescued her and began healing her. Now Tanya inspires other victims and former victims to pursue living, not just surviving. Her blog, DazzlingWings.blogspot.com, is a warm and encouraging place where wounded hearts can learn and grow as they share their journeys of healing. She is the author of two booklets: How to Help Her: A Guide for Family and Friends of Abused Wives and Girlfriends and Shining the Light: How Pastors and Church Leaders Can Help Abused Wives.

Neil Schori serves as lead pastor of Naperville Christian Church. Neil has a Master of Arts in counseling from Lincoln Christian Seminary. Over the past 10 years, Neil has served full-time in several pastoral roles ranging from family care and counseling to community groups and assimilation. Just months before her disappearance, Stacy Peterson, called Pastor Schori for an individual appointment. Shortly after she went missing, Pastor Shori courageously stepped forward with information that Stacy confided in him about her knowledge of her husband, Drew Peterson's involvement with the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. We will learn what advice and methods are used in his sessions and how he believes God and the church works with these women during their journey. http://resurrectedheart.com/http://www.napervillechristian.org/

Go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanmurphymilano and listen for your computer live. Or listen later in the week via podcast.