Relationships – Chapter 12

Reconciliation – Part

What About Memories, Scars, Etc.?

 

In dealing with relationships one thing that comes up is: What about the memories, hurts, scars (emotional as well as physical)?  Because of broken relationships a lot of people do get abused and emotionally scarred.

 

Often these people have heard or have been counseled that when we forgive, we forget. So when they cannot forget (what has been done to them) they begin to question their forgiveness as well as their own spiritual life.

 

I would venture to say that there are some things that we will never forget because the memories, scars and hurts are too deep, but this does not mean that the person has not forgiven. But we need to think about what do we do with the memories, hurts and scars?

 

There are several things that I would like to address.

 

We need to keep in mind that we cannot immediately forget and that some wounds we will never forget because they are too deep.  Keeping this in mind we should not feel guilty if we find ourselves not forgetting.  Often this is where Satan whispers in our ears that we have not really forgiven because we still remember and we find ourselves reliving the incident again in our mind.

 

Because we relive these things over in our mind we find that this is where the real battle takes place.  We allow the offense to come into our mind and we find ourselves replaying the ordeal over and over. To help us in this area we should not brood over the offense. This is where the renewing of our mind comes in and we begin to saturate ourselves with the Word of God.  Remember that “we cannot keep the birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building a nest on our heads.”  So it is with these thoughts as well.  We might find them constantly coming to us, but we do not need to allow them to stay; we do not need to brood over them.

 

To help keep from brooding over hurts we should not raise the issue again.  Yes, we have forgiven, but we have not so easily forgotten because the hurt is so very deep, therefore we must decide as an act of our will NOT to raise the issue again.

 

To not raise the issue again also means that we do not indiscriminately share it with others.  But, it might be necessary to go to someone trustworthy and discriminately share, not only to get it off your chest, but for praying with someone about as well. Remember: Satan is the one who is trying to defeat us in this area with clever schemes, which I will be sharing about later on in this series on relationships.

 

One positive step that we can take is to learn to praise the Lord.  On this side of eternity we will not understand everything, but we know that He does all things well and we can lift up our hearts to Him in praise and adoration.  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8 that we will often be “perplexed, but not in despair.”

 

We can thank Him for what He has done in our own lives, that even through this experience we have learned a new level of love.  God is love and He manufactures nothing else. 

 

I said in a previous chapter that when a broken relationship is handled correctly it can result in spiritual growth.  The same thing applies here.  God can take something that is ugly and make something beautiful out of it.  God does all things well.  Amen?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Devotional

Son, I want to give all My children a grand entrance into My eternal Kingdom. Just like David when he came back from battle, celebration songs were sung and there was joyful dancing in the streets. Why? Because of the mighty battles he had won. These children of Mine when they walk through the gates will enter My celebration over life’s battles they have won by remaining faithful to Me.

 

Lord, I am tormented by the wickedness that is thrown in my face day after day. Every place I look – it is there with greater and greater pressure. If I say anything I am called hateful and intolerant. These people are proud and arrogant of their lifestyles, mocking the truth and following their own evil desires.

 

Son, remember what I told you that in the last days people will mock anyone who stands up for the truth. When you stand up for truth it will remind them of the terrible day ahead they face; the day of the LORD! It is a day of gloom and utter despair for these people. I will especially be hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desires – forcing it upon others; those that so arrogantly despised My authority and messengers. This Day of Judgment is coming; so do not give up, or give in.

 

My children must keep looking forward to the new heavens and new earth that I promised; a new world filled with My righteousness and peace Therefore, do not love this world or the things it offers you; for when you love the world, you will have no room for My love. The only thing this world offers is for physical pleasures, a lusting after what you see in this temporal physical life. This is not from Me! Remember, anyone who does what pleases Me will have a grand entrance into My kingdom!

 

Lord, how frail humanity is! How short our life is, and so full of trouble! Every day I call to You, every night I lift my voice to You. I was placed into Your arms at birth by my parents. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Help me to experience that grand entrance into Your kingdom!

Daily Devotional

Son, in the days ahead how will you counsel people who will be going through a very difficult time? Would you say? “My experience tells me,” or “I have studied life and found this about life; so listen to my counsel and apply it to yourself.”

 

Son, don’t speak impulsively, because man’s wisdom is as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring, but when the heat of summer comes, the water dries up. The brook vanishes. Those who counted on it are disappointed and are worse off; their hopes are dashed. Do not think man’s words will help anyone unless his words come from Me.

 

No person can define or prove the worth of another person; only I can do that. My counsel to people who are hurting would be to tell them, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you; instead pay them back with a blessing. Be ready to suffer in this life, and arm yourself with the Word of God. Don’t be surprised at any trial you are going through as if something strange were happening to you. There is no shame in suffering. So if you are suffering, do it in a way that pleases Him. Keep on doing what is right in His eyes, and trust your life to the One who created you. He will never fail those that humble themselves under My mighty power. So be strong in your faith. Remember that all over the world My children are suffering. This will encourage you to endure it by faith in His promises. Be assured that you will experience God’s mighty grace for you. For, God’s way is perfect and those who understand this and rest in this will see His promises proven true. So stand firm in the grace of God. He will be your shield of protection; He will pay back those who speak against you and harm you.  Be faithful to Him, and keep your integrity in all situations. Be blameless in your ways with people, and be pure in your heart; for God sees your motive and true desires. You are the light of Christ to those around you because the Spirit of Christ lives in you. Then when those around you see your life they will ask what is this hope you have as a follower of Jesus Christ.”

 

Lord, help me to be ready to explain what it means to be a Christian. What a privilege it is to be called into fellowship with You; to receive the blessing and honor of being called by Your Name!

Daily Devotional

Lord, why did you give life to those who have no future with You? The life they have chosen has no peace, no quietness, no rest; only trouble.

 

Son, they brought all this on themselves when they turned their back to Me. They must bear the consequence of their own choices, and I will have no pity on them. They will be judged on the basis of their choice and sins. They will groan when they stand before Me, and realize all of the evil they have done. Their error was to reject My Word, and so they will meet the fate planned for them.

 

My pronounced judgment should be a warning not to turn their backs to Me. Because what they fear will happen; what they dread will come true. The time is coming when they will not be able to change their destiny, and I won’t hold back My wrath on all rebellion, nor will I change My mind.

 

Lord, You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from You. You show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. It is by Your great mercy that I have been born again by Your Spirit. There is wonderful joy ahead for Your children, even though I must endure for a little while longer, many trials and trouble in this life.

 

Son, godly people are the true heroes. So prepare your mind with the truth, so that when you act it will be right and bold actions. Exercise self-control daily and keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very soul. Patiently endure unjust treatment for doing the good work of My kingdom. I AM your Shepherd, the true and faithful Guardian of your eternal soul.

 

Relationships – Chapter 11

Reconciliation – Part 4 – Forgiveness Must Come In

 

Ephesians 4:30-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

 

When we consider reconciliation we must keep in mind that there must be forgiveness. When there are conflicts what often happens is that bitterness comes in.  The writer of the Hebrews explicitly tells us that we should not fail the grace of God by allowing a root of bitterness to spring up.  The reason why is because bitterness to the soul or spirit is like poison to the body.  It will kill us.  How many churches have been split, ministries stopped and people of God hindered because of bitterness of spirit?

 

The only antidote to this poison is forgiveness.  Yet, if we are honest, the one thing that we do not want to do is to forgive.  Somehow we sense a kind of morbid pleasure and satisfaction by having bitterness towards the one who offended us, we do not feel like forgiving that person.  How often our emotions have played a major role in our Christian life in what we do or not do.

 

One thing that we must understand at the outset is that forgiveness is not based upon how we feel, but on being obedient to the Lord.  We are commanded to forgive. 

 

In Matthew 18: 21-35 Jesus talks about perpetual forgiveness.  Peter asked the question: “How many times must I forgive my brother, seven times?”

 

Jesus responded and said, “Seventy times seven.” In other words, we need to have perpetual forgiveness, and yet so often we do not feel like forgiving.

 

In Luke 17 Jesus brings some additional teaching to Matthew 18 with something similar to contemplate. He told the disciples that if a brother comes seven times in a day and asks your forgiveness – to forgive him. I am sure that we would not feel like doing so, question it, as we would probably wonder how genuine his asking for forgiveness really is. However, that is not for us to judge. We are simply to forgive, and entrust it all to God. 

 

It was at this point the disciples said: “Lord increase our faith.”  It would seem that the disciples thought that what they needed was more faith, but that wasn’t it at all.  What they needed was obedience. They were to forgive. It is through obedience that our faith grows.

 

Then Jesus went on to tell a parable about a servant who was out in the field all day working, sweating, thirsty and tired.  When he came back home what did the master do?  He told the servant that before he eats, drinks and takes it easy that he was to fulfill his duties to the master.  Does his master thank him?  No, because we are told that this was the servant’s duty.  This is what he should be doing.

 

However, the point is this: I am sure that the servant did not feel like taking care of his master after having worked in the field all day.  He was tired and hungry and he wanted to rest.  This is what he felt, but what he had to do was another thing.  He had to prepare for the master. He had to obey!

 

It is in this context that Jesus is talking about forgiving our brother.  But, we say, we do not feel like it. Forgiveness is not based on how we feel, but upon obedience to our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is an act of our will.

 

When we obey the Lord, whether we feel like it or not, we will find that ‘in time’ our feelings will catch up to the Lord.  The problem in the Christian life is that so much of what we do, or do not do, is based upon how we feel.  We cannot allow feelings to lead us; instead we must be led by our ‘will’ to obey the Lord. Genuine forgiveness means several things.

 

It means that I will not raise the issue again; whatever the issue or the thing is that I am to forgive. We may say we forgive, but we are constantly raising the same issues again and again. 

 

When we forgive it means that we will not tell a third party. Yet, often this is what takes place.  We say that we forgive, but then we are constantly repeating it to a third party.

 

When we forgive it also means that we will not dwell on the issue.  This is where the battle is; it’s in our minds.  When the issues do come back into our minds then we need to deal with them quickly and severely, to make them obedient to the words of Christ. After a time we will find that they do not come back.

 

The Lord is our example. When it is hard to forgive, just take a look at the cross and see how much the Lord forgave us.  When He forgives – He does not bring it back up to us, but removes it as far as the East is from the West.  He forgets about it.  Let us do the same.  Life is too short for anything less.  May God work in us all.

 

Daily Devotional

Son, people with integrity will be revealed in the coming days when things become hard and difficult. To be a person of integrity will require them to understand My ways. They prove it with the humility of living before Me with honorable moral lives that are filled with the good works I’ve prepared for them to do. People with real integrity stay close to Me with faithfulness, and are wise and patient as they truthfully wait for My return. These people consider their hardships a reason to rejoice as they pray and praise Me. They know that the prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

 

You will not find these qualities where there is envy and jealousy of selfish ambition. When selfish ambition controls your life you have disorder, quarrels and hatred. You want more and more because you are not content with what you have; so you scheme, lie and deceive as you work to get what you want more and more of. You will not have a prayer life with Me because you know your motives are wrong; for you want what only gives you pleasure in life. Your loyalty to Me vanishes as your eyes are on the things of this world.

 

Son, I am about to unsheath My sword on the righteous and wicked alike. When it begins, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will become as weak as water. It is coming! It’s on its way! For people don’t even try to hide what they are doing today! Everything they do is obvious for all to see. The family unit is treated with contempt, and people despise My Holy Word. People accuse others falsely, worshiping the things of this world, and then do obscene things while calling it all good and noble. Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims, and actually destroy people’s lives for money!

 

Son, remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. I am looking for people, that will stand up and rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards your land. I am searching for My children to stand in the gap of the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land. Will I find enough of them?

 

Lord, everything I have comes from You, and I am content in my old age. If it should be taken from me, help me not to fight against You, but let it have its work in me. Should I not accept the good things from Your hand, and never anything bad? I know I will continue to learn this till the day I die.

Daily Devotional

Lord, the foundations of law and order have collapsed in California. The wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout our state. What can Your children do? Help us, for it seems that Your children are disappearing! Our leaders consistently tell us, “You can’t stop us!”

 

Son, as the judgment begins in California tell My children it will be a time of great opportunity, and great joy. I will bless those who patiently endure and stay faithful. Tell My children to get rid of all the filth and evil in their lives, and humbly accept My Word that is in their hearts. In the coming days My Word will be what they will need for instruction and encouragement. My children must not just listen or read My Word, but do what it says.

 

Son, here is what I have told the leaders of California through My prophets, “How dare you come to ask Me for help? I will tell you nothing because you have rebelled against Me and would not listen when I came to you!  I told you that I would pour out My fury on California if you continue in your own direction, but you refuse to listen. You even pollute yourselves with the very gifts I had given you!”

 

They tell Me that My ways are not the ways they want to follow, and shout out to everyone, “We want to be like everyone else around us.” I have examined these leaders very carefully and will hold them accountable for what is coming. Tell them that fires are coming! I will set California on fire. These terrible flames will not be quenched and will scorch everything from south to north. And everyone in the world will see that I, the LORD, have set this fire, and it will not be put out.

Daily Devotional

Son, don’t think for a moment that because you live in America, that you can keep quiet at a time like this, and not be affected. All of My children living on the earth today were made for such a time as this. If My children think that they will not be noticed – keeping to themselves, it will not happen!

 

When My Spirit is living in My children they will think and live differently than the world today. They live by My laws, not by the laws of the land today that oppose My laws. When My children refuse to obey the laws of the land they will be noticed and will suffer persecution. Because My children refuse to bow down to these wicked leaders and to do what they demand, these leaders will be filled with rage.

 

My children must remain faithful no matter what; for I will give them strength to endure.  I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away from Me. In the days ahead some of you will be exposed to public ridicule, but I will honor them. Some will be thrown into jail, but I will fellowship there with them. Some will have everything they own taken from them, but I restore to them even more. So do not throw away your confidence in Me; but trust in My love and promises. Patient endurance is what you need, and you will receive all that I have promised. Remember that better things are ahead for My children, and it will last forever.

 

My deliverance and relief will come to My children, for they can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus Christ. They can come into My presence with sincere hearts and fully trusting Me. I can be trusted to keep every promise I’ve made. Test Me in this!

 

So instead of being fearful – think of ways to help one another and motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Do not neglect meeting together, for this will be your encouragement during your days of hardships. This is the time to be bold and courageous.

 

Lord, when I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers with the moon and the stars that you set in place; what are mere mortals that you should think about them the way You do; human beings that reject You – that you should care for them like You do? You look deep within the mind and heart of Your children, and still You do not hold anything against us. I am perfectly secure in You Lord; what have I to fear, but You.

 

Daily Devotional

Son, think carefully about who I am, and when you hear My voice – don’t harden your heart. Do not allow your heart to turn away from Me by refusing to do what I tell you. When you refuse to do what I ask, you will not remember all that I have done for you in the past, and you will grow fat by hoarding for yourself – all the blessings I give you.

 

When My children hoard they will become fearful, proud and stubborn; they give little to no attention to My Word. They are disobedient to Me when they turn their backs on My Word day to day, and then refuse to listen to My prophets that I have sent to warn them. They will never enter My place of rest, and then wonder why they feel the way they do and have the problems they have.

 

Son, My promise of entering My rest still stands, but My children must want it. They must understand that My Word is alive and powerful in their time, as it is for all time.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes your innermost thoughts and desires. When My children believe My words, confess their sins, and start to obey Me – they can come boldly to My throne of grace, and will receive My peace. When My children have My grace and peace, it will strengthen and help them live their lives.

 

Lord, we Your children need to get right with You, then stand up and shout that we are children of the King! We need to praise Your Holy Name all over this country; the One who is from everlasting to everlasting! You alone are God, and there is no other. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all. You have done what You promised; for You see every promise that You have made – all done and finished. You are true to Your everlasting Word. My security comes from this truth. Thank You Lord!

Daily Devotional

Son, tell My children that in the coming days they need to listen very carefully to the truth of My Word, or they will drift away from it. For My word is absolute truth; they can trust My Word; for it has always proven itself trustworthy. My Word will give them the signs of things to come that they need to be prepared for.

 

My Word tells you about the wonderful gift of My Holy Spirit that sets you free from the bondage of sin and of this world. My Word is able to help you through every time of testing. My Word tells you there is great joy ahead so you will not become discouraged and hopeless.

 

In these days My children must not follow the advice of the wicked, or associate with people who reject and mock My Word. My children must know My Word by meditating on it day and night.

 

Tell My children, “Don’t be afraid and sad because of what is coming, but celebrate instead; for it is a sacred day, the Day when truth wins! I will be their joy and strength. When they know and understand My Word, they will only need to ask Me, and I will give to them.”

 

Ask those people who refuse My word, “What makes you think you can escape what is coming?”  Tell them, “When you refuse My word, there is only one path left, and it leads to destruction.” For I have only one path that leads to the Truth.

 

Son, do you see the detestable things people do to drive Me away? Do you see what the leaders of America are doing? They are leading this whole nation into violence. They shout to everyone, “Let us be free from the bondage of the Word of God. Let’s break the chains of His words and completely remove every word of His from our land.”

 

Tell these leaders and those who follow them, “The end is here, and your vain hope won’t help or save you.”

 

How foolish they are to hope for something that will not come about!  What fools they are; they do not know how to solve the problems they have created themselves! I will now call them to account for all their rebellion and detestable sins. Therefore, disaster after disaster is coming! The day of destruction is dawning. Shouts of anguish will be heard throughout the land because the wickedness that is taking place has blossomed to full flower. Soon people will throw their money in the streets, tossing it out like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t save them on the Day of My anger. None of their plans will succeed. They will look for peace but not find it because they have refused My way of peace.

 

Lord, help me to understand that this is a great day of celebration, and not to be afraid of what You have said is coming. It is when I meditate on Your words that I will know that this is the beginning of Your Rule, and I will no longer am bound with a sinful nature. Oh how thankful I am to You for setting me free with Your truth and love, and giving me the only hope that won’t disappoint me in the end.