Author: Dave Dunham

Thinking Carefully About “Identity in Christ”

Many people come to counseling with “identity issues.” As biblical counselors, it is not uncommon for us to turn attention to a believer’s identity in Christ and encourage change through a greater recognition of this dynamic. “Identity in Christ” is, however, a problematic phrase. We need to make sure that we use it carefully. By exploring the concept through the lenses of its historical context, theological context, and therapeutic context, we can see both the trouble and the benefit of identity language. Continue Reading →

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Making God’s Voice Louder

To varying degrees, we all struggle with deceptive self-talk. We all have that inner dialogue with ourselves, tempting us to justify sin, believe falsehoods, self-condemn, or doubt God. Some, however, have an inner voice that is louder than everyone else, making it very difficult not to listen. God’s voice speaks to us, and His sheep hear His voice. For those who find it difficult to hear the Lord, we can do several key things to make God’s voice louder in our minds and hearts. Continue Reading →

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God Knows Our Doubts

Insecurity in our relationship with God is a fairly common experience. While many of us can be reassured of God’s love fairly easily, for some individuals, anxiety over their salvation can be so intense that no amount of reassurance can provide comfort. In such cases, our greatest hope is to turn to the God of comfort who anticipated that we would have these doubts about Him. God describes our doubt in His Word in order to draw us closer to Him. Continue Reading →

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Using Books in Counseling

It is an exciting time to be a biblical counselor. The movement is continuing to grow and develop in profoundly important ways. In particular, we have more resources than ever before and on a wide array of topics. There is, it seems, a book or booklet on nearly every subject. Yet, we must be careful that we use these resources wisely. Before you give a counselee a book, it’s important to consider your purpose behind using this resource. Continue Reading →

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Stewarding Our Doubts

Doubt is a normal Christian experience. Those who say they have never had any doubts are possibly lying or simply not being very thoughtful. The Psalms are full of questions that the author asks God—questions that reveal discouragement, confusion, and even doubt. While doubt is distressing, it can serve good purposes if we know how to steward those doubts well. When stewarded properly, doubt can actually be used to deepen our relationship with God. Continue Reading →

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