2020-04-26
Mark 11:25 NIV
When someone hurts us, our natural response is to either hurt them back or hope they will suffer for what they’ve done. But as children of God who have been forgiven and saved, we know this is the wrong response. Forgiving someone doesn’t come naturally or easily; it requires supernatural grace on our part. And we get that through prayer. Jesus said, ‘When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’ When we remember how God has shown grace toward us, we realise that we need to show that same grace to those who have hurt us. Sometimes we can feel that we have a right to hold on to unforgiveness, or that if we forgive people we’re letting them get away with what they did to us. But actually if we don’t forgive people, we’re keeping ourselves tied to the hurt and the person who caused it. Bitterness and unforgiveness actually hurt us more in the long run. And the people who have hurt us will be judged by God. He calls us to forgive people, just as He has forgiven us. Jesus told a story about a servant who couldn’t pay his debt. He begged his master to take the debt away, and he did. But then someone owed that servant money, and he refused to take their debt away (you can read this story in Matthew 18). The servant had been shown kindness and grace, but refused to show the same kindness and grace to the person who owed him money. And the same is true when we don’t forgive people. So, before we go to God, let’s make sure we’ve shown the same grace to those who have hurt us as He’s shown to us.
Matt 5:8; Ps 24:3-6; 2 Pet 3:3-14; Ps 51:10
2020-01-31
1 John 1:9 AMPC
In spite of our best intentions and efforts, we all “fall short” of God’s requirements (Romans 3:23 NKJV). So what’s the answer? “If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]” (1 John 1:8-9 AMPC). When it comes to God’s forgiveness, knowing is better than feeling. Here’s how God’s forgiveness works: Consciousness of sin leads to conviction of sin, and conviction of sin leads to confession of sin, and confession of sin leads to cleansing of sin, and cleansing of sin leads to confidence before God (See 1 John 3:21-22). You say, “I don’t feel worthy of God’s forgiveness.” You will never be worthy of it! God’s forgiveness is not based on your worthiness, but on Christ’s! Furthermore, God is not like your parents; He doesn’t insist you squirm and be miserable for a few days so that you will “learn your lesson” before He forgives you. That would mean you play a part in earning His forgiveness. It’s by grace, and grace alone (See Ephesians 2:8-9)! “Grace” means “undeserved favour.” So when God forgives you, honor Him by forgiving yourself and moving on.
Soul food: Isa 26-29; Matt 11:10-19; Ps 107:17-22; Prov 3:21-24
2020-01-25
Psalm 34:18 NLT
When someone has broken your heart. When somebody you love breaks your heart and betrays your trust, you’re in a vulnerable place. And the Enemy will use the experience to get you to do four things that will hurt you even more, derail you spiritually, and rob you of God’s blessing: (1) Isolate yourself, alienate and avoid others. (2) Lose your sense of trust, and suspect the motives of everyone you meet. (3) Cause a root of bitterness to spring up that will impact your relationship with your family and those in your circle of influence (See Hebrews 12:15). (4) Make you strike back and get even, rendering evil for evil (See 1 Thessalonians 5:15). Don’t do it! Instead, stand on God’s Word: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” “I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing” (Jeremiah 31:13 NLT). “The Spirit of the Lord…has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…heal the brokenhearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJV). “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT). Has someone done you wrong? Forgive them – and keep on forgiving them until you’re free in your mind. It’s a daily walk that sometimes feels like three steps forward and two back. But if you keep your eyes on Jesus – you’ll get there.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
Psalm 34:18 NIVUK
When we’re broken-hearted. When somebody breaks our heart and betrays our trust, we’re in a vulnerable place. And the enemy will use the experience to get us to do four things that will hurt us, make us doubt our faith, and rob us of God’s blessing: 1) Isolate ourselves. 2) Lose our sense of trust so we suspect the motives of everyone we meet. 3) Cause bitterness to be deeply rooted in our hearts which impacts our relationships with our family and friends (take a look at Hebrews 12:15). 4) Make us want to get even by seeking revenge (have a read of 1 Thessalonians 5:15). But this doesn’t have to be what happens. Instead, we can stand on verses such as: ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed’; ‘I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing’ (Jeremiah 31:13 NLTUK); ‘The Spirit of the Lord…has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…heal the broken-hearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed’ (Luke 4:18 NKJV)’ ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLTUK). If someone has hurt us and broken our hearts, we need to forgive them. It’s often not just a one-time thing. We need to keep on forgiving them until we’re free in our mind. Forgiveness is a challenge, especially when we’re hurting. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we’ll get there.
Isa 4-7; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
2020-01-10
Isaiah 26:14 NKJV
Psychologists tell us that one out of three people has experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Most are ashamed to talk about it! They walk around filled with resentment, thinking not only about the offender, but also the people who should have protected them and didn’t. The truth is, if they don’t get help, the memory of what was perpetrated against them can end up hurting them more than the event that actually happened. If you’re a victim of abuse, here are some Scriptures you need to read, stand on, and turn into a prayer: “I cried out to You, O Lord…’You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors [memories], for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison [the past], that I may praise Your name'” (Psalm 142:5-7 NKJV). “O Lord…masters besides You have had dominion over us; but by You only we make mention of Your name. They are dead, they will not live; they are deceased, they will not rise…You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish” (Isaiah 26:13-14 NKJV). Now, by an act of your will (not your emotions), forgive your offender and their power over you will be broken! Once you’ve done that, place them in God’s hands and allow Him to deal with them. Refuse to remain a victim. Instead of continuing to live in secret shame, start testifying to others about the power of God that can “[heal] the brokenhearted and [bind] up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 7-9; Matt 5:38-48; Ps 46; Prov 1:32-33
