The contrarian God is the image I have 90% of my Christian walk. That got very distorted. I am not able to connect with his love and I am not able to experience nurture bis his spirit. No wonder when my soul carries that kind of images of him. I am also very performance based and fear driven. I want to experience change. Please pray for me guys. I would appreciate that. And thanks mark for bringing so much clarity and for being a testimony of Gods love and Grace❤️

That "whatever you want ,you feel like God wants something opposite" i have felt that as a Muslim facing religious ocd. I mean this is soooo on point.

how many lives have been destroyed by someone using God told me.

This is so good and I think all of these distractions are what I deal with. When other believers say " just ask the Holy Spirit what he is saying" puts alot of pressure

I have a punishment relationship because I sinned against Him foolishly and knowingly. All the rejection scriptures haunt my mind over and over. They bury me in a pit of hopelessness, anxiety, fear, condemnation, and torment. When I go to be with Him all this comes up and then I avoid and run from Him until it all calms down. Then I feel guilty because I ran from Him.

From experience I've learned that the moment I stop trying to hear from God to tell me what to do, then he responds. And starts to works in me the most and his signature is always on it. Yet I still try to wait for him to tell me everything to do.

Thank you Pastor Mark. You are teaching me so much about God. I appreciate all your work and research 🙏🏾

Boy , this relieves a lot pressure off of me.....I was the pressure 😊

God’s will obsessor 🙋🏻‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️ me for years! You’re the first person I’ve ever heard even speak about this.

Thank You Almighty GOD in Heaven for everything that You do for us thank You also GOD for brother mark and videos and counseling. ❤️🙏

May God bless ur socks off today..... Because that is what u are doing for me today! Thank you SO MUCH!!

This is the video every Christian college needs to hear. I have been influenced by so many unhealthy ways of interacting with God, especially in college…we need this message more in the church but unfortunately these unhealthy ways of relating to God seep into our churches and cause hurt and brokenness to many…thanks Mark for putting words to such a difficult thing to explain…your videos bring my heart so many peace. God bless

Goodness, the timing of your broadcasts is always phenomenal. I was begging God to speak to me today...and through you, He has...and apparently my whole way of hearing Him speak needs gracious renovation. Thanks, brother

Oh my tatertots!!! "If I follow Your will that means nothing bad's gonna happen" - THIS. WAS. ME. Especially in college and post college! All of the categories he listed was me in college, but especially God's will obsessor. I had two traumatic experiences - both in college. One with my high school best friend, I became a Christian right before college and wanted to take Jesus' command to share the gospel seriously (now I look back, and it was kinda motivated by fear), but I didn't know how. So I ended up pushing her away, something similar with my roommate in college, but with an intrusive thought. I thought the thought was from God. God ended up working it out in the end, but it was the most stressful time in my life - I couldn't eat or relax. I also felt like I was more of a liability to God and the gospel because I messed up so badly. I already struggle with getting deeply embarrassed before, but now it grew even more. I became super careful, not wanting to make mistakes, not wanting to be a mistake. God is slowly helping me through this, but it takes exposure to the fear over and over again. I get so scared, but when I do it, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I've been trying to calm down during those moments to show myself it's ok, and God's with me.

Every Charismatic Pastor needs to watch this video...

In my journey I've noticed one of the main ways God brings me through a breakthrough is by doing something that scares me. Theres something about confronting and overcoming your fears that make the chains of bondage fall away.

I never thought I could find a podcast like this.. Your videos are speaking about my exact struggles, and it's wonderful.

thank you. i will be re-visiting this video when i start to fall into these traps🙏🏽

I’ve certainly been one of these people who has said “God told me” and I’ve seen the error of those ways. God does talk to people, even today, but the still small voice doesn’t speak up as often as we think. That, and I think to clearly hear the Father we need to be patient and still so that we can avoid being deceived. We also need to test what we think we hear to avoid deception as well. Thanks Mark!

Love you brother, you speak to my heart! May God bless you greatly for your work.

Thank You Mark..... this really set me free from not feeling like I was a good Christian because I could not hear from God like everyone else!!! Your amazing!!!!

this is so beautiful; im so overwhelmed by your content (in the best way possible) i feel so heard!! you’re speaking things i couldn’t express so eloquently with such a grace and education! especially the past trauma and neglect part. thank you so so much, your videos are more than helpful.✨

A friend of my husband told me that I am spiritually dead since I don't hear from God. You can imagine how devastated I was when I heard this. What he said affects me to this day. Whenever I hear Christians say "God told me this" or "God told me that", I cringe and feel that God rejects me. I so much wish that I could believe that God loves me. I especially need Him because my own parents were so dysfunctional.

God is so ❤ amazing, i thought he absolutely hated me, the. He showed me his absolute proof of personal love for me last night ❤ wouldn't trade that for anything, life or death i love you father of Immanuel ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I am getting so much healing from your teaching through your journey with Christ.

As always you hit on some powerful nuances regarding relationships with God

This is landing on my ears at the exact right moment in my life. I am spiraling (typical for me) but I see that being so worried about the 'what ifs' is really making me miss the 'right now'. I live worried that if I don't obey, I'm going to miss something instead of trusting that God's path for my life is not going to be revoked if I mess up somehow. Mark, your work is so valuable. I thank you for all that you do.

I've always been afraid that my issues cause me to think I have salvation but that I have deluded myself or may be missing something. It's agonizing because I want to be secure in my salvation.

What you said about God I don’t know who you are as Father…….. I really relate to that. I feel like that gave me permission to ask Him “hey what is a loving father who actually enjoys being around me because I’m his kid like?”

Talk about God's timing. This was really educational 🙌🏽

It's me that your brother from another mother it's an honor to hear these words from this crazy person of God

I definatley (especially with the situation I am in now} relate to the piece about what you are "hearing" not lining up with counsel. I have this fear of listening to others because I think "they are going to lead me astray!!!" Then I get into the "looking for disturbance" category where I start checking and looking for things that align with I think I am hearing and it only leads to confusion and torment

Churches/ ppl that were “more Christian” than myself- I listened , and began following what they said. This messed me UP!!! Their walk was their walk and always would say how “the Lord” would /wasn’t speaking and what I should do- This was extremely difficult esp when these people talked to my daughter. They were always right(bc God told them) And some are putting themselves on a pedestal that was not about them but how we all relate to God differently. Whoaaaa!!! He doesn’t have ANYONE TO BRING SHAME SADNESS COFUSION, etc>> these ppl need to relax

I have never heard from God and I don't know how to relate to Him. Granted I've lived most my life in the gutter and I didn't expect Him to be there, but coming our and trying to live life as I should, I could never connect to Him. YES I WANT TO KNOW!!!

Absolutely inspiring and impactful words. Thank you

I only started watching your videos a few weeks ago and I am amazed at how much I feel understood, comforted, and at peace with my life's journey. You are the perfect combination of balanced Christian counselor, mental health therapist, and understanding friend who is not only compassionate with their words but who also has walked in our shoes. I'm very thankful that God has put you and your channel in my life : ) Any chance that you can do a deep dive video specifically about the "Rescue Me God" example and what healing from past neglect/trauma looks like?

Fantastic, Mark. Thank you, as always! 🌹Cracking up at your "impressions" toward the last third..... Omgoodness.... you are awesome. 😅😂 So good.

Yeah, this was good. Thanks Mark. I must say, for having being in extreme charismatic side, that hearing from God biblically speaking is not hearing His audible voice or a thought in our heads. When Jesus, for one, talked about His sheep hearing His voice in John 10 He was using that as a parable. It literally says so in verse 6. You ocd and anxiety sufferers should read it. Hearing from God is heart's faith in Him, that His own live with Him according to His Word, and yes, they all stumble and fall but our Good Shepherd, Jesus, brings us up on our feet again. I wanted to point this thihg out here because charismatic and pentecostal teaching on hearing from God is miles away from Bible. Even in Bible times God was not making miracles and talking to people audibly all of the time. There were these specific times God did so such as with Moses and Isaiah. May God bless y'all week ahead

Mark, this has been exactly what I have been working through, and has been a real area where my OCD has been working. The specificity with which I can relate to so much of what you say has poked so many holes in the scary loneliness that rises up regarding not hearing from God. And how confusing it can be to hear about "hearing God" etc. Even the bible does that, so it must not be wrong; I just think it is great to hear you talk about it from a humble, learning standpoint. And based on the other comments, I apparently am not alone! Thanks Pastor Mark!

As someone who recently broke free from the hyper charismatic community (was involved in new age occult prior) I am starting to see how distorted my view of God and myself and other Christians has been.. honestly, a lot of that charismatic community is super similar to the new age cult I was in. I also was diagnosed with bipolar 2 at age 18 and suffered from the full range of eating disorders since 13 and that charismatic community just thought all of that was demonic and neglected the soul wounds I needed to nurture and process through.

This one was amazing. Than You Mark for your work.

always a blessing.

Wow....Thank you

Excellent...❤❤❤thankyou

I’m dealing with the “Gods will” obsessor and so many other points I’m shipwrecked by how this has led me. I’m not in the moment I’m ruining my marriage. I’m not present with people and my family. I’m scared to pursue change and a new career to better myself for my family and be a better provider because I’m scared of being outside his will.

This was very helpful thank you!

❤

Well that sounds a lot like me 😭😭 thanks mark! Praise God bc ik this isn’t from him & that this is a journey!

Thank you! Thank you! For another great teaching - your vulnerable, biblical, and applicable insights minister to me deeply! Wow! You have a powerful ministry! May God continue to give you anointed words and open doors. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” I Pet. 5:7 🥰

Thank you Mark for making the video I asked for 😊

The comment before I meant it in a good way his funny joking ways his wonderful Ministry God blessing

Wow Mark, what if you struggle with almost all of these 😫 The neglect trauma response you mentioned hit the nail on the head for me. But it’s so hard to know what exactly i’m doing wrong, certainly just viewing my relationship with him wrong. Thanks for the content!

Who is the pleasure listen to you Pastor Mark I remember my younger days. Walking into crossroads. When you let the music and the choir wondering what your life has been to. I’ve been listening to you. I connected with your dad. He gave me the website. Your father, blessed, blessing as well.

I have everyone

Thanks!

Love it

There is such a thing as a gut feeling/intuition which I would say is worth following. Not blindly or without discernment, and not as an absolutist, commanding and fear-inducing voice telling us what to do as if I have no choice in the matter, but as a helpful, loving guide in life. As inspiration. We can't really access that from a dysregulated nervous system with the sense of urgency to 'get it right'. When traumatized, our ability to discern intuition/guidance from fear-based, intrusive thoughts can be compromized. Learnt the difference the hard way. Great channel, thank you so much!

Scripture twisting Yezzzzzzz!!!! Hello daughter 💖🌹

A Contrarian God. Had to.laugh. So true.

Bro!😮 I don't even know how to respond. Thank you Mark.just, thank you.

When it comes to the fruits, I'm better with others

I know emotions are natural but I'm just not good with them. Mark you have very good information it's just that frustration sets in when listening to you. I've run on self-will for so long I don't know how to get out of my own way. I feel I need to know how to and if I don't I can't get there. Yes I need a route to follow and your way seems impossible.

I need to be FIXED or HEALED!!!

I’m so burnt out on dominionism that is taught in new apostolic reformation there always waring and if your not prospering that means you have an evil spirit and need deliverance. Bottom line is your never doing enough! Done with legalism

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Afraid of missing out….yeah sounds familiar

"MARK, I'M TELLING YOU THIS!!!" lololololololol

What if you seek Godly counsel and it is said that if you dont have peace about something, it isn't God's will or direction for your life.

I'm a Muslim. Can I feel the same thing? I've religious ocd. And I feel like the thing I want to do is actually bad and Allah is constantly trying to change me through this ocd. But deep down I don't want to change and it also feels like I'm trying to live on my own rather than listening to Allah and it gives me more pain. But I just don't want to change. And surprisingly I've lived my whole life the way I'm and I was always okay with Allah about this but now I'm just not

I've always wondered what does God's voice sound like?

Mark: What does it mean to look at yourself with love and to love others out of that. *Mark imitating us: "Yea but Mark I got to know if im in God's will" Bruh why did i think exactly that... seems like I am chasing disturbance.

so how do we know if God is leading or saying smth to us?

Is it normal to relate to 95% of these 😂😅😭

Do people with religious OCD also struggle with other mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder? Or could they be misdiagnosed?

hey, if possible - please pray for me concerning diabetes. i'm going through a really hard time and coincidentally i believe i need to hear from God in order take steps forward because i don't have the proper resources available to me. i just pray for healing 🙏.

Greetings Mark I am concerned you are not getting my emails. Been going through a lot and need some guidance. My name is Adrienne. You do not need to read the previous ones. Could you read just the recent one I sent from my email and respond? I do not know what your usual response time is I just know 4 weeks have gone by and no response for my first one. I also want to see if you are getting them. I do not see how you cannot be but maybe it is in your junk mail?

I met highly spiritual people that you mentioned. It is annoying.

… hide it under a bushel ….. NO 🌟☺️ many ARE the afflictions of the righteous…. HE walks with me & talks with me …. ((( I found this message “ beneficial “ tho - I don’t know everything;)

That "whatever you want ,you feel like God wants something opposite" i have felt that as a Muslim facing religious ocd. I mean this is soooo on point.