Dear Friends, 2/8/08 DEALING WITH YOUR HURTS.
When someone says or does something to hurt us, it often seems so hard to get over. We want that person to know we were hurt. We also want to have it made up to us. We want to tell someone of our hurt and want sympathy, someone to nurture us with caring words, telling us that we are ok. Hurtful words are often carelessly thrown around, with no thought of the effects. We may do this ourselves to the offender. But this is not what God wants us to do.
Mr 11:25 -
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Our human nature does not want to forgive. And the devil does not want us to forget. The devil brings this offense to our mind to keep us from doing God’s will. It makes us feel miserable, and we are more upset than the offender. Often the hurt was not even intentional. But we do not want to let it go. Our human nature demands payment for the offense. But we forget that Jesus has already paid the debt.
1 John 2:1-2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: - And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Our feelings are affected by what we think. I was offended by something my daughter said about me. The next morning I was remembering each and every hurt she had done to me. But God interrupted by bringing to my mind the good things she had done. I suddenly realized in a very real way the meaning of this verse:
Php 4:8 -
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The next morning I awoke with thoughts of gratitude for the fact that God loves me. That God looks on my heart, not on my failures, nor on my past. In thinking of my own past and need for forgiveness, it was so wonderful to feel God’s unconditional love for me. And yet as soon as I went down stairs, the battle was on again. Again I failed to hold my tongue, and I was tempted to despair. A roller coaster of emotions, just what Paul spoke of:
Ro 7:19 -
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
God has a wonderful way of teaching us by allowing us to experience things. In order to handle our hurts, we must do it God’s way. We need to take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
2Co 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Our feelings are the result of how we think. Our thoughts are influenced by the things we expose ourselves to. If we spend time watching TV, we are influenced by it. If we read the Bible and spend time in prayer, we are influenced by God. We have to chose what we imput into our mind. This also means when we are offended. We may not feel like forgiving, but we are commanded to do so. But what God tells us to do is for our good. If we dwell on hurts, we may allow that root of bitterness into our lives.
Heb 12:15 - Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
But when we read God’s word, we have the sword of the Spirit to remind ourselves of what God wants of us.
Heb 11:6 -
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Jer 29:13 - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Daily, we should go through the routine of putting on our armor, to remind ourselves of God’s protection for us, when we are tempted, when we are hurt. When we do not want to forgive hurts. The more time we spend in God’s word, and in prayer, the more we will see that God gives us what we need to overcome these temptations.
Eph 6:11 -
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Jesus tells us that we will always have offenses.
Lu 17:1 -Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Joh 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We need to abide in God to make it, because we cannot do these things in our own strength.
Joh 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
There is only one way to overcome hurts. We need to do things God’s way. We need to read and pray and then obey the B-I-B-L-E!