Faith as a Positive Cognitive Therapy Model

Faith as a Positive Cognitive Therapy Model

prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW
www.empathyforu.com
(scripture references are from the New International Version, Zondervan)

Faith can be approached as a positive cognitive therapy model in which positive things are believed as well as many positive
virtues such as love, generosity, compassion, and nonviolence and an atoning Saviour Messiah, promises of forgiveness and
eternal life, and a message of hope of a returning Messiah and resurrection to support coping with suffering and death. If you
are someone struggling in faith, just think of Christian faith as good mental health. If you don’t like any versions of faith you
see, read the Bible and make up your own version with the goal of believing and doing all God requires.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these
things. – Philippians 4:7-8
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall
live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are
many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
– John 14:1
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But
take heart! I have overcome the world.– John 16:33
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any
common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being
likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. – Philippians 2:1-2
Let your gentleness be obvious to everyone. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:5-7 I
consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
– Romans 8:18
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are
considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Roman 8:35-39
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him
and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the
salvation of your souls.

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- 1 Peter 1:8-9
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those
who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. - Luke 6:27-28
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”– John 11:25-26
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the
right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now
hidden with Christ in God.- Colossians 3:1-3
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.- Colossians 3:12
And yet I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom
all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am
nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not
have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It
does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be
stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when
completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we
see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these
is love.
- 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of
you
.– 2 Thessalonians 3:16
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