Forgiveness isn’t easy. That’s because there’s a spiritual battle going on in our mind. The battle comes from the anger, shame, embarrassment, disappointment resulting from the betrayal or whatever was done, said, (or not done or said) to hurt us.
But, you can win that battle. You can chose what you think about.
Stop focusing on what they did to hurt you, and think about they ways they have shown love to you…
…every time those painful thoughts enter you mind. When you find yourself thinking about the ‘unforgivable’ things they said, think about how they comforted you in the past when you were down. Think about the good times you’ve had with them.
Remember, you control your thoughts…
Philippians 4:8-9 (CJB)
8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.
It’s undeniable that sincere, devoted Christians don’t always agree on the interpretation and application of God’s word…the bible.
How many times have you been in a discussion and someone uses scripture to support ‘their’ point and you think to yourself, “Ummm, that’s not what that means.
One of the main reasons that there are so many different groups or denominations within Christianity is because sincere Christians don’t agree on what was meant by what God said in His inspired word.
“Once Saved Always Saved”
No music instrumental music in worship service
Speaking in Tongues
Proper dress for men or women
Female ministers and pastors
Proper day to worship
Should we celebrate holidays
Tithing
Clean and unclean foods
Should there be priest in church
Is it a sin to drink alcohol
These are just a few of the points in which sincere Christians disagree, unfortunately sometimes to the point of contention. Whether it be huge doctrinal issues or individual disagreements in navigating ‘real life’ situations, too many times Christians are at odds when the word of God clearly said…
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Jesus Christ Himself was continually called a devil because He challenged how the religious elite interpreted and viewed the scriptures.
So, how do you know who is right and who is wrong? NO ONE!
It’s not about US being right or wrong, but who is in harmony with God’s truth. We must be careful not to fall into the mindset of trying to prove we are right. We didn’t create the world. We didn’t die on the cross. We have no authority to be ‘RIGHT’.
So our goal isn’t to be right, but to be in agreement with God’s truth. We can only have unity in the body of Christ when we adopt this mindset. Here are a few ways to tell who is in harmony with God’s truth.
Those who are willing to…
ACCEPT NO GROUP HAS IT ALL RIGHT
It’s interesting how groups and denomonations are so different, but each thinks they are ‘the closet to the truth’. As we grow in our faith, we realize that God doesn’t change, but our theology evolves and changes. That’s what Jesus did. He challenged their theology. Look at some of Jesus’ statement I Matthew 5…
Matthew 5:17(NKJV)
17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill…”
27 “You have heard it said…”
31 “Furthermore it has been said…”
33 Again you have heard it was said to those of old…”
We have to mature and secure enough to realize that we can challenge our theology, grow and change our thinking without implying that the word or God has changed. Every group, just as the religious leaders in the New Testament has to be willing to accept that they are currently believing and practicing some things that ARE NOT in harmony with God’s truth.
God intends for marriage to be a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, no matter how much our modern society makes and accepts excuses to ‘get out of it’. Especially what we call ‘irreconcilable differences’ or ‘we’re just growing apart’.
Malachi 2:16 (NKJV)
16 “For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
Matthew 19:4-8 (NKJV)
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who [a]made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.”7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
God knows that no matter how much you love one another, that no two people will be the same after 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 plus years of marriage. It’s impossible. Yes, you will grow apart in some areas of your lives. But, that doesn’t have to come between you.
Think about this. If God expected the arranged marriages to last in the bible days, He expects us to stay with the spouse that we choose.
How can we be ministers of reconciliation for God’s Kingdom if we can’t even reconcile the differences in our homes?
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
In the words of Al Green, “Let’s stay together”
Here are a few more of my articles on Godly Marriage:
Unfortunately Father’s Day is a sad day for some fathers because their child or children didn’t acknowledge them or took them for granted.
It could be because the father made mistakes.
It could be because the child is estranged and holding animosity in his or her heart.
It could be the father is very stern.
It could be the child is spoiled and the father just isn’t appreciated.
The father watched his phone all day long, but no call. He walked around his house all day long, waiting to hear those words, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, but they were never spoken.
No matter what the reason, I know it hurts but let me hopefully comfort you with a quick reminder…
God has created countless children in His image who never acknowledge Him.
Even SOME of those children who acknowledge Him only use Him.
SOME only talk to Him when they want something. They may often complain about what He provides.
SOME walk on His earth (His house) full of evidence He lives, they breathe His air, eat His food, receive light from His sun ( and Son) yet claim He doesn’t exists.
But, God still has mercy on them and shows them kindness and love.
So, if you have a child who is not showing you love on Father’s Day, or any other day, think about the way God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ feels.
Then stop and ask yourself are you showing God the love He deserves.
Finally, make up your mind to be a the minister of reconciliation He has called us to be, and work hard to reconcile as many of God’s children back to Him.
Maybe, God will do the same for you.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18 Now all things are of God, (A)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that (B)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are (C)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
“THERE IS NO ‘U’ IN FOOLISHNESS. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY” BEBLESSTIFIED.COM
There’s nothing wrong with a good laugh. We need laughter to provide balance to the emotional rollercoaster life. In fact, even the Word of God says…
Proverbs 17:22New King James Version (NKJV)
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a]
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
But where do we draw the line between good humor and foolishness? We have all laughed and found amusement in things that are displeasing to God.
Jokes that are crude, lewd, insulting, demeaning, disrespectful, blasphemous and intentionally or unintentionally unholy.
Look at how the bible defines a ‘fool’…
Psalm 14:1 (NKJV)
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
Psalm 53:1(NKJV)
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.
Anything that ‘denies’ not only denies God’s existence, but His holiness, His truth, His integrity, His sovereignty.
Any thing that denies godly character or the character of those made in His image, the fruit of His Spirit, as I said earlier…that is blasphemous and foolish.
That doesn’t mean that you have to be serious all the time or even totally avoid the humor in sex, and other taboo topics in life. We just have to be careful with how we share them.
“THERE IS NO ‘U’ IN FOOLISHNESS. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY.”
Pure love is supposed to be unconditional and priceless.
It is.
The problem is that none of us have achieved pure love. We haven’t perfected our ability to love.
Too many times we’re putting conditions and ‘price tags’ on the love we have for those who are closest to us. We all do it sometimes. Why? Because none of us have perfected love.
When we judge and measure by things that HAVE A PRICE we’re diminishing love. Never base your love on:
How much $ they spend on you.
Base love on…
How much FORGIVENE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.
How much KINDNE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.
How much GOODNE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.
How much FAITHFULNE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.
How much GENTLENE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.
How much $ELF-CONTROL they ‘spend’ on you.
Base it on how much JOY they give you for just being in your life, even if you have NOTHING.
And remember, when we fall short, it’s not because LOVE isn’t there, it just means our love isn’t perfect.
Only God’s is.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Let’s pray that God helps us to love one another like He loves us, through peace.
“For those who overcame their darkest days without turning to darkness.”
There are countless people who have used drugs, alcohol and other forms of personal abuse to help them cope and ‘escape’ from the severe storms of life. And, we find ourselves often celebrating those who have climbed out of the abyss of personal abuse successfully…as we should. Doing so is a great accomplishment.
Disappointment…
Depression…
Betrayal…
Loneliness…
Chronic Pain…
Abuse…
There are countless factors that have led people to turn to drugs and alcohol to both confront and avoid the demons that are attacking them emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
This piece is not meant to belittle or diminish those who have conquered their drug and alcohol demons, but to ALSO celebrate those who have gone through life’s darkest days without turning to drugs or alcohol.
Do you know anyone like that? Has it been you? Is that you now?
Rather than turning to drugs or alcohol, many have turned to the therapy of…
Good memories…
Good music…
Creativity…
Family…
Friends…
And of course their faith in God through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
It’s easy to say, “Just give it to God”, but how do you do that?
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Part of growing in relationship with God is learning to…
1. First tell Him, “I can’t handle this alone, please help me!”
2. Pray for the strength to carry the emotional, physical and spiritual load that God has assigned to you.
3. Realize that you may never truly have ‘closure’. Accept that you will have to deal with the physical and emotional pain for the rest of your life.
4. Accept that some thoughts will never stop making you feel horrible, even decades in the future.
5. And most of all realize that your real battle isn’t physical. It’s bigger than the disappointments, depression, betrayal, loneliness, abuse, and sometimes chronic pain. Those demons aren’t just figurative, but literal…
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Sometimes we find ourselves trying to have closure… trying to get past ‘it’… trying to erase the memories and pain…
When we should be asking God for the strength to deal with those dark moments.
Is it easy? No!
Has everyone mastered it? Of course not. Even many of the ‘spiritually mature’ haven’t.
But, to those who have decided that they would not succumb to the temptation of drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, or other forms of personal abuse to deal with their personal ‘hell’…
You lay awake at night…
You cried tears that no one saw…
You went to work…
You cooked dinner…
You smiled through your pain…
You ignored phone calls…
You put one foot in front of the other…
You prayed…
You studied His word…
You cried out to Him…
You trusted Him more than yourself…
You discovered what, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” really means.
If that’s you…
WE CELEBRATE YOU!
Please share this with someone you know who has overcome their dark days without turning to darkness.
BE BLESSTIFIED! 