Mark, my brother from another mother. There are truly not enough words to express what a blessing your channel has been. I began my healing journey about a year and a half ago and I'm still going through the refining process. The Lord revealed to me that I struggle with perfectionism, codependency, self loathing, and people pleasing. It wasn't until I decided to go no contact with one of my toxic parent's that I've discovered all of this. Like many, I grew up in a toxic and dysfunctional upbringing. I've been dealing with complex trauma for most of my life and I'm still dealing with the effects today. This particular video truly resonated with me, especially the last twenty minutes. You were describing me to a tee. I also suffer with religious OCD and carry a lot of guilt and shame. Your message was not only relatable, but it also makes me feel that I'm not alone. Thank you for being obedient in what God has called you to do in bringing awareness of mental health and shedding some light on your own personal journey of what you've endured and also learned in your healing so you can help others experience the same freedom as you have through Christ. Continue to be a beacon of light!

I come to a realization in my life lately that God endowed us as humans with his ability to create. And one of the biggest parts of our purpose is humans is to create and bring things to life. To build things, materialize things, take our ideas and make them tangible. I used to have this OCD relationship with God where I would constantly be seeking to hear his voice about things because I can't see him or touch him. But the thing is is that our father in Heaven is always there. And it's like he gives us space to do the things that are on our heart to do! As long as it's not in violation of his commands, we have freedom to do a lot of different things! So lately I have been focusing on channeling all of my energy into the act of creating pretty much anything that is on my heart create each day. Whether it's relationships, philosophizing, music, a product to sell, systems, good interactions, Etc. And lately I got to say it has really diminished my depression and anxiety and it has really helped me stop being bullied by all of these negative emotions that always make me feel like I'm not doing enough for God or I'm not doing God's will. We have a lot more freedom to do things and explore things in this world than we realize

Amen brother Mark. Preach! I am going through a real life crisis right now and I've made myself sick trying to do the "right thing." Enough. I can't help anyone right now let alone myself.

Jesus died so we can be free ❤ Each day we can ask God to show us where we need to grow in the Fruits of the Spirit. Is there a person in my life that I need to show love and forgiveness to instead of bitterness.. ? Do I gripe and complain at my job instead of asking God to help me handle the stress- a daily battle for me But- I’m getting better at it each day! But I remember- God sees my heart and knows I’m trying! Thank you Mark!,

Dude you have NO IDEA what your videos have done to my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my brother from another mother with the same father 💙💙 Greetings from Croatia!!

mark you have no idea how much i needed this!! this is perhaps my biggest theme with my scrupulousity. i have always been so afraid and overwhelmed at the thought of disobeying God. my church influence growing up would often make me afraid to mess up. there was not really much talk of grace or mercy. i also viewed God as very contrarian because i’d always hear messages from people who said, “i had my dream job but then i got hurt/God called me away and at first i didn’t want to but i had to obey God” this lead me to believing God didn’t care about or desire any of the things i desired. when i graduated high school i was so tormented about my future and getting it “wrong”. i was so scared God would call me away to foreign missions and I’d never see my family again. and i always attribute disturbances in my spirit to God’s voice telling me “no don’t do that” or vice versa. it’s so exhausting but this is so helpful!

Oh my. The buying and returning. Been there. Done that.

This hits the nail in the head. Thanks for helping me unwind decades of bad thinking. I wish I heard this in my early 20s

I’m in a season now where God has me healing and He revealed some things to me that weren’t actually a sin like I thought it was. It blew my mind because when I finally sat down with God and asked Him, He told me and confirmed that those things wasn’t Him. I also had that same relationship that Mark described where I would be afraid to go to the store and buy things because I felt like maybe God didn’t want me to have it. The anxiety that I dealt with back then because of the religious cult that I was in, and then me watching more people just like that after they discarded me added on a bunch of anxiety, depression and trauma. I wish more people would come forward and talk about just how painful, heartbreaking and gut wrenching it is to be taught that God is a certain way, all of these check lists and checking yourself, hard core holiness preachings and striving, killing your self and giving up everything to prove that your on fire for God and willing, and the list could go on and go. It feels like I spiritually died but I know that God has been bringing me up. Lord knows how many times I’ve cried, even the crying is so so painful, I never experienced something like this in my entire life. I feel like for the first time I’m actually having room to live, breathe, and just BE. I don’t know how to explain this feeling but its like God is removing this hardcore, fire and brimstone, striving so hard to do mentality, and because He’s removing that I no longer have that to be my zeal and fire for loving God, it’s like I now have the choice to love God without all that. It feels very uncomfortable because there’s freedom and choice now. I realized that without that I never truly loved God, but it was just pressure and mislead zeal under all of that fire and brimestone and checklists. Maybe I’m wrong but this is the best way I can describe it. I’ve been comparing myself, I know that God has called me to be a prophetess and so I’ve been also trying to live up to this prophet standard that I’ve seen online so much. I’ve been feeling so much pressure to perform and hear from God because a prophet is supposed to hear from God and tell you directly what God has said, and don’t get me wrong I actually desired that, before I even knew I was a prophet I’ve always wanted to hear Gods voice and be super close to Him so much so that my heart ached, literally, but I just want to learn who I am a child of God and focus on bearing His fruit and characteristics. Cause there’s too many prophets that I’ve watched and learned under over the years who can hear Him, get all these prophetic dreams, knowledge and insight but still don’t have the love and character of Christ.

Mark, this video has described the war In my mind and you really put word to what I've been thinking. I can't thank you enough for your teaching. God bless you!

Welcome back! 🎉

Truthfully, after watching some of these videos and examining the things talked about in these videos, i feel more free, and i’m starting to see my anxiety for what it is. *On the other hand,* going back to the old videos i watched for christian studies and similar things like this channel, i see a lot more pressure being applied. not only that but a few of these videos seem to be less logical and fear based than i have ever seen.

this video was a breath of relief!

I'd like to give an example of how the truth of this message has worked in my life: I had a LONG season of anger and rebellion toward God, due to several traumas I endured. When I began feeling Him call me back to Him, I was terrified. I wanted to come back, but I was so afraid He would just rip everything out from under me, namely the relationship with my then boyfriend of three years. The only step toward God I was able to take at the time was to watch these videos from Mark, and write down my prayers and thoughts. I began feeling this incredibly powerful drawing to the verse, "there is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear. Fear has to do with punishment; The one who fears has not been made perfect in love". This verse used to scare me, because I was reading it through the lens of condemnation. I was afraid, so I felt I was being punished for being afraid, and then I despaired. This time, it was different. This time, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit casting down...NOT me, but the FEAR. Repeatedly, I'd feel this fear coming on when I went to talk to God, and then I'd remember this power to condemn the fear. I'd say out loud, "fear, you have no place here in Jesus' Name. You have to go!" I knew the heart of the Father toward me, to dispel the fear, and to provide for every need of mine perfectly. My life with God has never been the same, since. My brothers and sisters need to know that the Word of God is not a weapon against US; it is a weapon against the lies of the enemy. ❤

Mark, today im struggle about this and now i know God already open the prison

This message is really helpful. It got me cry at the moment I hear the opening of the video. I guess that's because I know how hard it is to living in heavy spiritual burdern. I wonder how many church on earth is preaching the real truth, truth that set people free rather than putting on more and more weigh on people's shoulder's. I just don't understand why it is so hard to hear the real voice of God, in my 10 years of life in church, I've never heard such a word"religous ocd", but the moment I heard it here, I suddenly understand what has been torturing me in my spiritual life so long. I just don't understand the legalistic church leaders, are they really ever taste what freedom and love is, if so, why can't they just stop the manipulative moves and words. Legalism is plagued in churches. I prayed that Jesus prospers more wise fighters like this to protect the lambs that really loves him, because they are extra vulnerable. I know one day I'll be one, too. Dear brother, thanks for your faith in Christ, your messages really encouraged me.

Mark, this has been a blessing. I was JUST talking to a friend about this topic. Your videos are such a space for people with scrupulosity, when the reality is that almost EVERY video on this platform regarding Christianity is triggering even five-seconds into watching. I'm going to watch and rewatch this broadcast. The concept of oBEdience is such a paradigm shift. Praise GOD!

This video gave me some of the only mental clarity I have had all day. I always feel like the Prince in the Solver Chair by C.S. Lewis when I wake up from this nightmare and want to just serve Christ with all I have, and then I fall asleep again. Just like waking up after surgery and the anestesia puts you right back under But in my right mind this reminds me of what Paul says; “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Thank you for being a teacher to us who fall into the waves of OCD lies and teaching us to know and follow Christ, Mark. I do have one comment about the false teachers, something that might be helpful, if I understand it, (because I started to spin out about loosing salvation and I’ve thought about that verse a lot) is that God said He never knew those people, so it makes me think they never had a real relationship with Him. And another thing that makes me kinda confirm this in my head is that there’s a lot of people that I have noticed fake casting out demons, you can just tell it’s fake and manipulative because it doesn’t make sense in terms of Scripture and they make it all about the preacher and attention on them and it’s all about emotions and manipulation. Again, I know God can even use people who don’t really follow Him to speak to others, almost like the High Priest during the time Jesus was on earth, that prophesied but didn’t believe Jesus was God and didn’t understand the prophecy but I am reminded of how fake people are and also (in my right mind) I believe that if we have any true faith at all, God will make it grow, (John 15:2-3) and those warning passages almost weed out the sheep and the goats, but I also know they can have smaller level application as well and I personally cannot read them most the time because I will go crazy because I can’t interpret it properly because I feel condemned so easily. 😂😭 anyhow, hope this helps someone and thank you again, Mark

Thank you so much!! Mireille, from Montreal

A friend told me to follow you and get your book! I’m struggling with depression and anxiety very bad! Lots of trauma in my life and I’m so ready to walk in freedom

Hope you had a great vaca glade your back !!!

We missed you, Mark! ❤ can't wait for more content!

This video reminds me about CS Lewis’s essay the Weight of Glory, “If you asked twenty good men to-day what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you asked almost any of the great Christians of old he would have replied, Love.” He remarks that Christians have replaced a negative for the positive. I think that’s what’s happens with obedience teachings and obsessions. We focus so much more on the doing and giving up things than the love we are supposed to cultivate and demonstrate. In the same essay he said something that really spoke to me. He was describing something you do just to get a reward or satisfy the expectations of others (mercenary) and that being the first step to life long passion. First comes law (condemnation, rule following, sin conscience) the mercenary position then comes grace (the freedom and passion of God’s love) obedience is the stepping stone to God’s love not end all be all. Jesus told many parables of the chains of rule following and freedom of grace in Mary and Martha, the prodigal son and his brother, and so on. Mind blown

Welcome baaacckk!! This is a big spinny topic for me so thank you!

Thankyou so much for your perspective, and helpful insight, you’ve been so helpful to my wife and I both in our journey’s

Yes, I will be listening to this a second time. This presentation brought me both much confirmation and illumination. Thank you and God bless you in Jesus name!

Im tired of being anxious.

I just started watching this video, and already I feel lighter. I've heard alot of Christians say to Be Obedient to what God tells you or you're going to lose your Blessing. For those who struggle with guilt, any thoughts of what God MIGHT be saying at any given moment can mess you up. Sometimes, I as a Christian, don't like listening to Christians. Alot of them seem to offer more bondage. I have to wonder how well they follow their own advice. Not sure how many other people feel this way. What you said about not wanting to listen on this topic... Had I not heard you in one of your previous videos, I would've scrolled past this thinking it would be condemning. I'm Enjoying the video so far.

I am a 78 year old widow. In live in South Africa. I just recently found you on uTube. It is turning my life for the better as I discover the truth of what God says about me and as I follow all your videos, I am gaining a fresh revelation of why I am a people pleaser by looking back into my own childhood and discover that it is a learned behaviour. Now that I know that , I can let go of being a hireling of the devil and know that I am a daughter of the Most High God! Thankyou Mark, your thoughts and teachings are an eye opener! May GOD richly bless you for bringing these teachings to souls that have been walking around with all these different problems! May God’s favour rest upon you and supply all your needs! Blessings. Lenora.

Thank you Thank you. Thank you, Mark. You really had me at 38:04. I've never heard such a great explanation of the commands in 1 Jn. I "LOVED" it!!! ❤️

Welcome back brotha❗️

This is the first message I've heard in a while, that makes me really just _want_ to sit down and get back into the Word, and be among my brothers/sisters, and just rest in Him. Thank you brother. Much love ♥️

Welcome Back brother from another mother!! Yay ❤️

This is so, so, SO helpful, Mark! I avoided watching this for the exact reasons you mentioned, but feeling the fear and doing it anyway, I decided to watch it today, and for that, I'm super grateful. It has helped to relieve tension and given me things to meditate on while I read the word. Thank you so much!🥰 BTW, I dream of ending up on a similar path as yours (i.e., blending Christianity and mental, emotional, and "physical" health), so if you're open to it, please do a video on how you got started in terms of business, education, etc. Otherwise, wishing you much peace, one love, and ALL the good stuff! 💯❤‍🔥🙏🏾

Great stuff! So freeing! THANK YOU!

When I see follow the commandments I always see the 10 commandments even though I know it is old law. My OCD and I beat myself up badly.

Thanks! Many blessings to you.❤

lol, I almost did not want to watch it because of the title!!!!!

doing Gods work thank you for your videos man they’re such a blessing

Hey Mark! Could you do a video on lukewarmness and what that ACTUALLY means Biblically, as well as how guilt/condemnation distorts it? Thank you!

13:24 wow... i literally went through this, i like drawing, this is actually literally exactly me,

Just so on point!

Thanks for these great insights

Thank you brother Mark my mind has been all tangle up in intrusive thoughts, feeling unworthy, feeling condemned this is sooo true some teaching puts yokes on bondages but this message has brought some enlightenment on this subject. i need to receive the love of God for myself and know how much he loves me this is freeing me up to see how God sees me.

This is soooo helpful! Would you consider making a video on possessions/stewardship and not loving the things of this world? I often struggle and overthink, with that same contrarian view about material things. I've even given away tons of stuff that I now realize I could've kept, because I assumed God didn't want me to have it. There was a sermon at my church about it, but I would love to hear what you have to say, especially since God knows I'm struggling in this area, and understands that I truly don't want to love possessions. It would def help a lot of people, thanks!

God tell me what to do: I got to a point where I thought God was telling me no secular music of any kind and no movies with any cussing or blasphemy at all, which then turned into about 7 different things I wasn’t supposed to do before I realized it wasn’t God, which I still deal with today. Consequently for almost 10 years now I have intense headaches whenever I’m triggered by one of those “don’ts” if I listen to/or watch whether I meant to or not to the point where my whole life has been affected. It seems my conscience has now become set in this pattern and nothing has been able to change it. It’s been especially hard because all I just wanted to do was please God.

My goodness… I’ve totally been 9:13 there

❤❤❤

Coming from a charismatic background, I remember sermons where the preacher would essentially say “thousands of people are depending on your obedience” and that our refusal to be obedient means that their blood will be on our hands, of course this was a recipe for a record breaking amount of mental pressure

13:11 I remember vividly being tortured in my heart and mind over marrying my wife… I was so stressed over the idea that I might be in some kind of disobedience that I broke up with her. I'll always remember my friend asking me after we had talked it out in length saying, “so, you're going to do the thing you don't want to do just to prove to God that you would?”

Hi Mark. I’ve been watching your videos for the past few days because I have been spiraling for the first time. Though, while watching your videos, I realize that I’ve always had OCD tendencies. I’m surprised that I didn’t spiral sooner. It started when I tried to observe Passover this year. In studying Passover, I got into studying the sabbath which led to the question “what is considered work?”. Searching the internet for answers and sorting through many man made rules, I was quickly exhausted in every way. My anxiety got worse because we are commanded to live each day in joy of the Lord and take rest in Him but I simply could not rest. Day after day was full of tears and burdening my family with questions. I am beginning to understand that I need to accept Gods love and grace that He has freely given me. My question to you is, do you believe that the law is still relevant? What sent me spiraling was “is sabbath relevant?” “Well we are under a new covenant” “But why would Jesus declare Himself Lord over sabbath if He was just going to abolish it?” This is my train of thought about everything and has spiraled into other aspect of the law like diet restrictions

Mark, I have a question and I don't know what to do. Let me start off with my latest obsession. I am obsessing about the fact that I might go to hell one day. I am free grace, and I believe in the annihilation view of hell for background. I obsess constantly about maybe not having believed the right things to be saved. And I don't wanna say the sinners prayer 1000 times, because I feel that would cause some faith based trauma and push me further from God. So I was just trying to enjoy life in healthy ways more to obtain a zeal for life and God, and gain a healthy belief. But then, I got an obsession. "If you never get saved, there's no point in living for God." And I responded "Well even if I go to hell, at least my life was less miserable than if I went on a sin bender until I died." And my brain responded "There's no point to lacking misery if you'll just cease to exist in the end anyways." And since then, I've been spiraling. And I wonder, if I still end up in hell after seeking God, is there any silver lining? But now I'm wondering, can I even imagine having a healthy faith or pursuit of God with OCD? Am I always gonna be sad? Advice?

Thank you. I shouldnt have to google "can christians meditate" or can christians do this or that. That just shows you I'm still kind of under this fear based living. Unrelated but can you make a video discussing Depersonalization Derealization disorder? (DPDR) I feel it would benefit many.

Okay so I have a question 😂 I understand everything you’re saying but how then do we know when God truly is telling us to do something or not to do something. As far a TRUE conviction and not just our mind saying it’s wrong. Personal example : when watching a show, if it has anything immoral in it we filter it all through VidAngel. We cut out all cussing, bad gestures, nudity and so on. Well at first it was okay because we literally saw nothing or heard nothing bad. Well after going to a recent church service it was preached on how we aren’t going to let something like a phone or tv control us. Then I started thinking “hmmm, maybe I’m letting this show control my thoughts.” My mind was telling me even though I didn’t hear the bad words sometimes I could see them mouthing it and it is still getting into my brain, therefore God can’t be pleased with it and I shouldn’t be watching it. Is that me being crazy or is that truly from God? Even after trying to watch the show after that service I feel very convicted or like God SERIOUSLY doesn’t want me to watch it 😂😂😂I think of the scripture that says “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”