Have you ever been defeated by negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, inferiority, condemnation or depression? Have you tried to fight them off unsuccessfully? Is there an answer that is deeper than simply trying to mentally reason yourself out of these emotions? Is there a way that Jesus can speak a word of life into the depths of your emotional despair and bring healing on a deep level? Is there a form of Christian counseling that begins and ends with the movement of Christ within your heart, rather than simply with the words of man?

Yes, there is! It is built on your ability to commune with God and to receive a freshly spoken word from the Holy Spirit within your heart. This book will show you the way to emotional wholeness through personal interaction with Almighty God within your spirit, as it is recorded in your journal.

Your Heart Can Be Healed Through Direct Interaction with the Holy Spirit

A genuine word from the Lord heals the broken-hearted. All the “how to” books can never do what a rhema word from God can do for the inner man. You will learn to let God speak to your heart and counsel you about the basic emotional pressures of life such as anger, doubt, depression, condemnation and inferiority. You will learn to let God replace these with His opposites, as His voice releases His grace within your heart. Those whom the Son sets free are free indeed!

"His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor." (Isa. 9:6)

"The words that I (Jesus) have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (Jn. 6:63)

What Makes Counseled by God a Life-Changing Experience?

How to Get the Most Out of This Teaching

The Videos and Audios correspond with the Counseled by God book and LEARN Counseled By God notebook. For maximum growth and internalization, we recommend utilizing them both along with either the audio or video set. The LEARN notebook provides an outline to follow as you watch the videos or listen to the audios. Also included are application exercises and classroom activities, making them ideal for personal use as well as in small and large group settings.

Testimonies from Those Who Have Been Counseled by God

Dr. John Arnott, a CLU graduate

Founding Pastor of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship

"The course, 'Pure in Heart' (former title of 'Counseled by God') is worth a million dollars to me. It moved the issues of life from the theoretical and theological right down into the heart. In the second chapter Mark made this outrageous statement that every accusative thought is of the Accuser, and every positive, life-giving, up-building thought is from the Holy Spirit, the giver of life. I realized that 80 percent of my own thinking was negative. It so smote me in my heart. I prayed, 'God, this is completely unacceptable - completely! I cannot go through my life with 80 percent of my mind yielded to the enemy, to the Accuser!' ... I remember responding, 'Oh, God, You know I need You to help me with this one, I need You to give me a jab every time my mind starts to be negative and critical about people because I don't want to do this, Lord.' I knew I didn't have the resources and the self-discipline to get on top of it. I was afraid to promise Him that I would stop. I needed a miracle that would transform my heart and thinking, so my thoughts could be positive and life-giving." (from "The Importance of Forgiveness" pages 7,8)

Connect with Simon on Koinonia Network

“Counseled by God has played a huge role in cementing my healing from depression in the autumn of 2009. This book has provided a stream of hope, confidence, passion and love, which has led me to marriage, to paid employment, to voluntary activities and to a greater-than-ever love of God and of people, including myself. To me, this book has been a miraculous and supernatural study guide. I am so grateful to God for His inspiring the creation of this book.  I so want to promote this book to friends as ‘the best thing since sliced bread’. ” Simon John Townend

“Thank you! I am amazed at all God is doing in my life through the Counseled by God course. I wonder why no one has ever taught in this depth before. I had to say thanks.”
Margaret Golden, a CLU Student

The "Counseled by God" Course Brought Deliverance with Assurance
by Camille Stevens, a CLU student

Do you feel like no matter how much you serve God, you really should be doing more? Do you ever wonder if the more time you give to “ministry”, the more God will love you? Do you think you just might earn extra points with Him based on the number of hours you spend in church a week? Do you feel guilty saying “no”?

If so, read this. Camille shares her journey of being counseled by God through condemnation, anger and more with refreshing openness and honesty, in a way we all can relate to. Click here for her story. You’ll feel better just for reading it!

How the “Counseled by God” course affected my life!
Julie Anderson, a CLU student

"Before taking this course, I had feelings of depression, anger, fear and guilt. As I went through the course, God spoke to me time and time again about what I needed to do to overcome these emotions. By the end of the course, I had such peace like I never had before in my life. I’d recommend this course to anyone who is struggling in these areas. If applied, it can make a difference." Click here for her story.   

“Abandon Yourself to My Love”– Two-Way Journaling from Pastor Vince Rizzo
My son, I love you with an everlasting love. I desire for you to seek Me with your whole heart. My plans to use you are immense, however you will need to walk closer to Me in order to fulfill all that I have planned for you.

You are so busy with many things - some that I have called you to take on and some that I haven’t. Learn of Me and learn of the rest and peace that I offer. Learn to enter into My rest, and when you have mastered this you will find true peace and happiness and you will find that I can still accomplish much through you without the pressures you sometimes feel.

You are on the beginning phase of a new journey that I am taking you on. You are learning new skills from obtaining intimacy with Me and you will take these truths and teach others. Don’t feel like you have to learn everything overnight. I know that you are excited but just take it one day at a time and we will do it together.

Intimacy with Me is developed over time and stillness is a gift. And it is My gift to you as you don’t think that you can remain still with all of the energy and a million things to do and to think about; however, with My help it is possible. As I have said in My Word, learn of Me and I will give you rest. Many are unwilling to sit at My feet. If you are willing, you will be amazed at what we can do together throughout each and every day. The gifts that I have given you can only be learned and mastered through your intimacy with Me. Knowing Me in an intimate way is the only way to truly imitate Me and to walk out My life through you.

You are an expression of Me only when you are walking closely with Me. I am the vine and you are a branch grafted into Me. You must stay attached to Me in order to grow and blossom into all that I have for you. Ease yourself of all pressures as I’m with you and will go before you to make you a success.

You have a great amount of passion within you and know that it was placed there by Me. This passion will be contagious to others and they will see your spiritual hunger and they will become hungry, too, by being around you. You soak up knowledge like a sponge soaks up water. When pressed upon, that which is in you flows out in abundance. Keep soaking, My son, and keep overflowing to all that you come in contact with.

From here on in I’m calling you to a closer walk. I have called you as a prophetic seer and a dreamer of many dreams. Learn of My ways in this area and as you press in with your faith, you will begin to see more and more clearly.

Like all gifts, your sight must be developed and your faith strengthened by constant and consistent use. Up to this point you have only tasted a small portion of what I have for you in this area. You have always heard My voice and have dreamed dreams; however, now you are going to gain the tools necessary to develop them for My glory and kingdom. Free yourself of all hindrances and abandon yourself to My love.

Take It to the Next Level

To ensure that this message transforms your life, we offer you four options. Any of these choices will assist you in internalizing this teaching, helping you to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:22) and allowing you to produce a bountiful harvest in your life.

Opportunity 1 – Host a home or church group

This home group in Slovakia shows the excitement of learning to hear God's voice together!

We learn more quickly if we are surrounded by others who are seeking to master the same skill. Pray and ask God who you know who might want to grow in this truth also and open your home to them for 10-12 weekly sessions (or host a small group in your church). We provide several resources to help you present this powerfully and effectively in a group setting, including DVDs and application activities. Experience the joy of cultivating skills together with a group of friends! Discover how to create and post your group…

Opportunity 2 – Hire a Personal Spiritual Trainer to coach you

Coaching or discipling is the method Jesus used to train the twelve disciples.

When you team up with someone ahead of you in an area to mentor you, and you share your questions and steps of growth with them, receiving their counsel in return, you ascend more quickly into mastery in that area. We have trained coaches who have mastered this topic who will commit to working with you for a 90-day period.

• The name of this PST Training Module is: Counseled by God
• Discover how to hire a PST for $1 a day to coach you in this training experience
• Click here for the steps to sign up for a Personal Spiritual Trainer module

Opportunity 3 – Take this as a college course from home

Earn college credit while being apprenticed to mastery in this area! This topic is available as a course which you can take from your home through the distance learning program offered at Christian Leadership University. You may enroll in this course as a lifelong learner or apply it toward an Associate, Bachelor, Master or Doctoral degree.

• The name of this CLU college course is: COU202 Counseled by God
• Learn how you can take CLU courses from your home
• Click here for the steps to enroll in the corresponding CLU course

Opportunity 4 – Host a seminar for your community

Transform your church and region by hosting a weekend seminar with an anointed trainer, where an impartation is released by the Holy Spirit into your community. Mark Virkler and others are available to be scheduled.

• Discover how to host a weekend seminar with Mark Virkler
• Locate a Certified CWG Facilitator near you