ABUNDANT LIFE 2
OK, as I said, I'm going to be honest because how can one receive healing if you don't tell the truth about the problem? God knows EVERYTHING about me but by my denying (lying) the truth, He can't help me. Satan is the father of all lies and if I am acting like Satan and lying to my Heavenly Father, how can He help me? God's word tells us to ASK and we will receive. It's not that God is clueless to our need. He knows our every need before we ever know we will have a need! But, it is an act of trust, an act of love, an act of being in relationship to ask. God plainly tells us that He will supply all our needs according to HIS riches in glory. Therefore, He has no shortage...nothing too big or small He can't take care of. With this in mind, I will list again MY areas which need healing and go from there.
**5-ANGER **11-HATING THE PHYSICAL BODY **15-LACK OF FORGIVENESS **16-LACK OF IDENTITY - Is there a private self & a public self? Do you wear a "mask"? **19-LOSSES **20-LOST JOY of CHRISTIAN LIFE **21-LOW SELF ESTEEM
Can you see how each one builds another link in a chain of bondage? First Anger leads to Lack of Forgiveness which causes you to Hate Yourself which causes you to Wear a Mask so no one will know which causes you to avoid people (Losses) because you don't want them to know the truth you're hiding which leads to Lost Joy in Christian Life because none of this is Christ like and finally, you end up with Low Self Esteem because you know that you know you are so wrong in how you are living and you aren't good enough/perfect.
These chains are bondage and go directly against God's word which states "Whom the Son has set free is free indeed." So, why do we insist on carrying these chains of bondage?
Let's look at King David. Now, he wasn't perfect. Committed adultery, murder, lied, etc. YET, the Bible states he was a man after God's own heart. How's that possible? Well, because David's heart's desire was to DO RIGHT even though he botched in physically. The Bible says in Psalms 37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security. Seems simple enough, doesn't it?
Let's go back to my list. ANGER. Why does that always seem to be at the root of so many problems in humanity? It really is the core reason we get jealous, lie, gossip, etc. Anger is one major emotion. However, the word of God tells us "to be angry and sin not." The Bible also warns us to "not let the sun set on our anger." See, ANGER isn't the problem, it's what we do with it. God's giving us the guidelines here to a lot of our problems STARTING.
My anger, well, most humans would say, "Hey, you got a right to be mad!" Well, maybe in human terms, I do. I was not treated fairly, was done wrong by the very ones I trusted, etc. So, do I have the right to be mad? Sure. BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY MAD! There is righteous indignation, and that is good anger. That's the kind of anger that makes us stop someone beating up another human. However, my anger leads me to choose...will I stay angry or will I forgive?
YES, I said it. The Big F word....FORGIVE THOSE WHO WRONGED ME HORRIBLY. Not just once, not just twice but for years and some who continue to wrong me regularly & willfully. Now, at this point, you may be shaking your head, but let me ask you, one person who wronged me horribly is dead and I still am angry. Is it hurting that person? I don't think so. Is it hurting me? DEFINITELY. So, who is paying for the unforgiveness and anger? It ain't the one who did the wrong and 1 more time, they are causing me more hurt on top of the original hurt. Is this the cycle I want to live? Not is it only against what Jesus said to do (The Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.") but it is TRULY mentally, physically, and emotionally HARMFUL TO MY BODY.
Anger & unforgiveness have been linked to high blood pressure, cancer (YES CANCER), heart attacks, asthma, arthritis, headaches, TMJ, and the list goes on. Do you want that person or situation CONTROLLING YOU? NO? THEN FORGIVE.
Now, forgiveness is NOT an emotion, that comes later. Forgiveness isn't even a 1 time thing (Matt 18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!) I must CHOOSE to forgive each and every time the incident comes to mind. When I CHOOSE, God is right there beside me empowering me with His Holy Spirit to do so and live free.
Odd about the passage above with Peter. Jewish tradition taught by the Rabbis was that 3 x was sufficient to forgive someone. Peter thought he was being soooo generous. LOL Then Jesus basically tells ole Pete, forgiveness is a WAY OF LIVING FREE. No counting. No record.
This doesn't mean we are stupid. What this does mean is if someone hurts me, I am required to forgive and let go of the anger. It may no occur instantly but it may require me to work at it daily for weeks, months, or years! That does not mean I must be in relationship with them especially in my situation where there is potential harm.
RELATIONSHIP is not the same as FORGIVENESS. Forgiveness is turning them over to God KNOWING He will repay and you don't need to fret about them getting by with whatever....they won't. RELATIONSHIP means I allow you into my life. I hope you understand the difference. If not, just say so. You MUST FORGIVE, but you are not required to be in RELATIONSHIP, especially if it's dangerous, harmful, hurtful, etc.
OK, my peeps. That's the first "healing step" and I keep you informed. Think on these things. Let them change your heart & mind so you may too be free.
HUGS!
**5-ANGER **11-HATING THE PHYSICAL BODY **15-LACK OF FORGIVENESS **16-LACK OF IDENTITY - Is there a private self & a public self? Do you wear a "mask"? **19-LOSSES **20-LOST JOY of CHRISTIAN LIFE **21-LOW SELF ESTEEM
Can you see how each one builds another link in a chain of bondage? First Anger leads to Lack of Forgiveness which causes you to Hate Yourself which causes you to Wear a Mask so no one will know which causes you to avoid people (Losses) because you don't want them to know the truth you're hiding which leads to Lost Joy in Christian Life because none of this is Christ like and finally, you end up with Low Self Esteem because you know that you know you are so wrong in how you are living and you aren't good enough/perfect.
These chains are bondage and go directly against God's word which states "Whom the Son has set free is free indeed." So, why do we insist on carrying these chains of bondage?
Let's look at King David. Now, he wasn't perfect. Committed adultery, murder, lied, etc. YET, the Bible states he was a man after God's own heart. How's that possible? Well, because David's heart's desire was to DO RIGHT even though he botched in physically. The Bible says in Psalms 37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security. Seems simple enough, doesn't it?
Let's go back to my list. ANGER. Why does that always seem to be at the root of so many problems in humanity? It really is the core reason we get jealous, lie, gossip, etc. Anger is one major emotion. However, the word of God tells us "to be angry and sin not." The Bible also warns us to "not let the sun set on our anger." See, ANGER isn't the problem, it's what we do with it. God's giving us the guidelines here to a lot of our problems STARTING.
My anger, well, most humans would say, "Hey, you got a right to be mad!" Well, maybe in human terms, I do. I was not treated fairly, was done wrong by the very ones I trusted, etc. So, do I have the right to be mad? Sure. BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY MAD! There is righteous indignation, and that is good anger. That's the kind of anger that makes us stop someone beating up another human. However, my anger leads me to choose...will I stay angry or will I forgive?
YES, I said it. The Big F word....FORGIVE THOSE WHO WRONGED ME HORRIBLY. Not just once, not just twice but for years and some who continue to wrong me regularly & willfully. Now, at this point, you may be shaking your head, but let me ask you, one person who wronged me horribly is dead and I still am angry. Is it hurting that person? I don't think so. Is it hurting me? DEFINITELY. So, who is paying for the unforgiveness and anger? It ain't the one who did the wrong and 1 more time, they are causing me more hurt on top of the original hurt. Is this the cycle I want to live? Not is it only against what Jesus said to do (The Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.") but it is TRULY mentally, physically, and emotionally HARMFUL TO MY BODY.
Anger & unforgiveness have been linked to high blood pressure, cancer (YES CANCER), heart attacks, asthma, arthritis, headaches, TMJ, and the list goes on. Do you want that person or situation CONTROLLING YOU? NO? THEN FORGIVE.
Now, forgiveness is NOT an emotion, that comes later. Forgiveness isn't even a 1 time thing (Matt 18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!) I must CHOOSE to forgive each and every time the incident comes to mind. When I CHOOSE, God is right there beside me empowering me with His Holy Spirit to do so and live free.
Odd about the passage above with Peter. Jewish tradition taught by the Rabbis was that 3 x was sufficient to forgive someone. Peter thought he was being soooo generous. LOL Then Jesus basically tells ole Pete, forgiveness is a WAY OF LIVING FREE. No counting. No record.
This doesn't mean we are stupid. What this does mean is if someone hurts me, I am required to forgive and let go of the anger. It may no occur instantly but it may require me to work at it daily for weeks, months, or years! That does not mean I must be in relationship with them especially in my situation where there is potential harm.
RELATIONSHIP is not the same as FORGIVENESS. Forgiveness is turning them over to God KNOWING He will repay and you don't need to fret about them getting by with whatever....they won't. RELATIONSHIP means I allow you into my life. I hope you understand the difference. If not, just say so. You MUST FORGIVE, but you are not required to be in RELATIONSHIP, especially if it's dangerous, harmful, hurtful, etc.
OK, my peeps. That's the first "healing step" and I keep you informed. Think on these things. Let them change your heart & mind so you may too be free.
HUGS!
Replies
Sounds like you are onto God\'s own muscle relaxant!