THE SOUL ROOTS OF SICKNESS – Part Three

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

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Last week, we discussed the results of Adam and Eve’s sin on the human soul. We considered the three parts of the soul—the mind, the will, and the emotions—and the function of each part. In this week’s post, we’ll be exploring some different kinds of soul sickness, focusing particularly on “soul fragmentation.” 

What is soul fragmentation? Soul fragmentation is simply another term for the tearing apart of the soul. This tearing apart occurs during times of trauma. 

When we experience a traumatic event, we cope with the trauma by placing the intense emotion and memory caused by the trauma in a special part of our soul and walling it off from the rest of our soul. Depending on the severity of the trauma, if we didn’t wall it off, we would likely not be able to go on with life. These parts that are walled off are called fragments.

All of us experience soul wounds during our lives. Many of these wounds begin in the womb and in early infancy and childhood. Others result from our own sin. Unless dealt with, these wounds last a lifetime, affecting our relationships and every aspect of our lives. 

Every time the soul is wounded, it is fragmented in some way. The Bible describes this fragmentation in several different terms:

  1. A tearing apart or rending: “Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver” (Psalm 7: 2);
  2. A destruction: “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul” (Psalm 6: 32);
  3. A disturbance or an unsettling:–“Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls….” (Acts 15: 24);
  4. A defilement or a polluting:–“Then said I, ‘Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth;'” 
  5. A cutting off from a group:–“Therefore every one that eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people” (Leviticus 19: 8);
  6. An imprisonment:–“Free my soul from prison that I may praise Your name” (Psalm 142: 7).
  7. Double-Mindedness.–“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1: 8).

Sometimes, the soul can be so badly fragmented as to result in severe mental illness.

God designed the spirit and the soul to communicate with each other. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, this line of communication was severed. So, before we are born again, the spirit and the soul are separated from each other. But when we are born again, the communication between the spirit and the soul is restored. 

“Sometimes, the soul can be so badly fragmented as to result in severe mental illness.”

The soul, however, is not saved when we are born again in the same way that the spirit is saved. When we are born again, we are given a new spirit that is perfect, but we are not given a new soul. The soul still suffers the vestiges of Satan’s attacks upon it and must be renewed by the Word of God (Romans 12: 2). These vestiges often require deliverance ministry in order to be completely removed. Deliverance severs communication between the demonic realm and the soul and results in the soul’s restoration to wholeness by the power of God.

In addition to wrongs that are done to us, our own sin greatly damages our souls. Peter wrote this: Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls” (1 Peter 2: 11). Sexual sin, especially, has grave and deleterious effects on the soul (See my post titled “Sex and Soul Ties”). 

How the Soul Is Fragmented

1–Involvement in witchcraft. Witchcraft opens the door to soul fragmentation. Any time a demon is allowed to gain control over the soul, fragmentation and bondage occur. Note Ezekiel 13: 20: “Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the souls you have ensnared.'” 

2–Abuse, physical or verbal. Abuse can cause some of the worst kinds of soul fragmentation. When a soul is severely fragmented, it can result in what psychiatrists call “multiple personality disorder.” Years ago, I went with a team from my church to minister at a local mental institution. My heart grieved as I saw that many of the patients there suffered from multiple personality disorder and other types of soul fragmentation, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They lived in another world mentally and had been severed from truth.

Self-abuse, in the form of drug addiction, alcoholism, gluttony, Satanic music, participation in New Age practices and in false religions, also severely fragments the soul. 

Soul fragmentation as expressed in mental disorders often does not respond to therapy and medication because such modalities do not address the real issue: demonic infiltration, oppression, and even possession.  These can be dealt with only by the power of Jesus Christ administered through Christ-Followers trained in deliverance ministry.

3–Making vows to false gods or to occult or Satanic organizations of any kind; for example, the Masons or the Rosicrucians.  Making such vows imprisons the soul and ties it to the organization or false god to which the vow was made. 

If you think you are suffering from soul sickness, there is hope for you!  In my next and last post on soul sickness, I will discuss alters, which are similar to fragments but more severe than fragments. We will also discuss the wonderful news that your soul can be fully restored by the power and blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord!  Don’t miss this last post of the series!

My Prayer for Us Today: “Father, we come to You in the Name of Jesus, thanking You for Your mercy and grace. We receive Your healing power to restore our souls. What Satan meant for evil, we trust You to turn to our good. We trust that You will take our ‘mess’ and turn it into our ‘message.’ In Jesus’ name. so be it!”

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Are you beginning to see that your sickness may be due to diseases in your soul? If so, you are experiencing a revelation from God because he deeply loves you.  Please leave your valued comment in the box below. 

NOTE: If you think you are in need of deliverance ministry, please write to me at info@maryanndiorio.com. I will be happy to pray for you. 

TWEETABLE:  “THE SOUL ROOTS OF SICKNESS-Part Three” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (CLICK TO TWEET).

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“The Soul Roots of Sickness – Part One”

“The Soul Roots of Sickness – Part Two”

“Sex and Soul Ties” 

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

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Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

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WHEN ALL HOPE SEEMS GONE

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Your Virtual Life Coach

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4: 23
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Facebook or would prefer to subscribe via a different venue, please check the sidebar
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Wherever I turn, I find people who feel hopeless. Be it a teenager whose parents just divorced or an elderly person without a family, people everywhere struggle with despair.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is currently the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. On average, 121 people kill themselves every single day. That is 121 too many!

But suicide isn’t the only epidemic in the United States. Millions of people suffer from depression and depression-related disorders, like anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar disorder, and phobias. This should not be. Yet it is.

But why is it?

I would posit that many of these problems stem from a loss of hope, and a loss of hope stems from the lack of a deep, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 6: 19 that hope is “an anchor for the soul.” In other words, hope keeps us stable and positive in the midst of obstacles. Hope keeps us looking ahead toward a better tomorrow. Toward the day when Christ will return and usher us into the eternal realm where all suffering will cease.

But while we are here on this earth, God wants us not only to survive, but also to thrive. And in order to do so, we must have hope. But our hope must be in the right place.

The only right place for our hope is in Jesus Christ. To hope in anything outside of Christ is to hope in vain, for only Christ is the Solid Rock on which hope can stand.

Much of our disappointment in life comes from the fact that we have hoped in the wrong thing or the wrong person. Perhaps we have placed our hope in a spouse or a child only to be disappointed in that spouse or that child. Perhaps we have placed our hope in a job or a career, only to be disappointed in that job or that career. Perhaps we have placed our hope in a friend who has betrayed us or a parent who has let us down.

Whatever the case, when we place our hope in imperfect human beings or in imperfect human situations, our hope will falter. But when we place our hope in the Perfect God, our hope will never fail.

In Psalm 39: 7, King David asks this question: “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?” David answers his own question when he says: “My only hope is in You.”

David knew that the only safe repository of his hope was God. The same is true for us. When we place our hope in God, we will never be disappointed.

Perhaps you are listening today and you are feeling hopeless. Perhaps your life has crumbled and you don’t know where to turn. Perhaps you have even contemplated suicide or have already made arrangements to kill yourself. If I am talking to you, then I urge you to give yourself another chance.

You see, Satan wants to destroy you because you have a great purpose in God’s plan, and Satan wants to keep you from fulfilling that purpose. If you were not important to God, Satan would have no need to get you to feel hopeless or to kill yourself. But you are a threat to Satan, so he wants to eliminate you—to take you out of the picture. He does this by stealing your hope.

Without hope, we see no reason to go on. So, if Satan can steal your hope, he can steal your life and your blessings.

God, on the other hand, wants to give you life not steal it from you. He wants to give you hope and peace and every good thing. But in order to receive the hope that God wants to give you, you must receive it from His hand. You must, in short, come to Him.

God is waiting for you to do that now.

Today, if you are feeling hopeless, I urge you to turn to Jesus Christ. He is waiting with open arms for you to turn to Him. He wants to be your Hope. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, I invite you to do so now. Just pray this simple prayer after me:

Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I admit that I am a sinner in need of Your mercy and grace. I acknowledge that You are the Son of God, that You died for me to pay the penalty for my sin, and that You rose from the dead. I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Make of me all that You created me to be. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, you are now a born-again child of God and follower of Jesus Christ. Place your hope in Him. I promise you that you will never be disappointed.

For more information to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus, I invite you to visit my website at maryanndiorio.com.

Now, it’s your turn! Do you ever feel hopeless? If so, what do you do to combat hopelessness?

Please share your insights in the box below. Thanks!

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend or relative. Thank you!

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right.

Some of our most popular posts:

How to Handle Frustration

Horoscopes? Ouija Boards? Séances? Are They Really Harmless?

Are You Afraid of Confrontation?

Sex and Soul Ties

How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit


For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers


Please tell your family and friends about this blog and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Copyright 2000-2017 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Matters of the Heart is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to discover what is in your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog via Facebook, click here. If you are not on Facebook or would prefer to subscribe via a different venue, please check the sidebar to the right for subscription options. Thank you!


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Copyright 2001-2017 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA.  All Rights Reserved.