PM#0227 Forgiveness Heals

PM#0227

Forgiveness Heals

Matthew 6: 12.

Matthew 11:29 & 30

“Time will heal all wounds”.  Have you ever heard that statement?

Many of us have, and I must confess that I even have believed it.  The truth is that it is God who is in the healing business.  Not time.  And He has given a way to us that let’s Him work.   What is that way?  It is forgiveness.  Christ instructed us to forgive.  It‘s found in the prayer that He taught His disciples, which we call the Lord’s Prayer.  You can see that in Matthew 6:12.

When I don’t forgive, sin builds up and weighs me down.  Christ said to take His yoke, it is light.  He said that in Matthew 11:29 & 30.  He wants to take our burdens and free us.  When I forgive, Christ takes the heavy weight from me.

Father, you have taught us to forgive.  May we start today to forgive others.  In Jesus’ Name.

Reflection:

Why do we fall back on the phrase-“Time will heal all wounds”?

Why does Christ say to forgive?  See Matthew 6:12

When Christ said to forgive, did he say forgive by letting time heal all wounds?  Letting time heal wounds – how would you describe this action in other words: ______________.

If we do not forgive but try to let time heal, is that unforgiveness weighing us down?

How does obedience to Christ by forgiving lighten our burden?

Note:  In defense of time—it is true that flared emotions do need some time, but forgiveness removes the root of what flared those emotions, and through forgiveness we have the help of Christ because of obedience to His Word to forgive.

PM#0495 Blessing Others

PM#0495

Blessing Others

                                                  

If you had the opportunity to do something to help someone else and yourself, would you do it?  Most likely you would.  What action would help someone else and yourself?  It is simply the Biblical principle of blessing the other person. 

Not only is just blessing the other person helpful, but it also encourages a deeper spiritual walk and relationship with the Lord.   Blessing, especially Biblical Blessings found in God’s word, brings life in to our being and situations.    God’s word is light and life.   When we grumble, judge, fail to bless or encourage, we are actually hindering the work of God’s word in someone else, and that action or lack of action, as it really may be, also effects us and hinders our relationship with the Lord.

Consider this prayer:  Father, help me to bless others with your words, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:

Though we have the opportunity by choice to bless, what do most of us do?  We grumble.  IE a beautiful sunny day may be too hot.  

Can you think of a scripture which encourages us to encourage someone daily?  Hint—it is in Hebrews

Has someone blessed you—not only did it affect you feelings positively—did that blessing make a difference?

Why does the Lord want us to bless others?

PM#0541 Unite Our Country’s Heart

PM#0541

Unite Our Country’s Heart

Psalms 86:11-12

There is a saying that goes, There is a saying that goes--'United We Stand, Divided We Fall'

In Psalms 86:11, the Psalmist asked the Lord to unite his heart.  That was the Lord moving him to pray that his heart would be united.

Hearts can be divided.  The heart of our country right now is seriously divided.  Perhaps we should consider doing as the Psalmist did, and ask the Lord to unite the heart of our country.  Such a request takes humility on our part, and it also begins with asking the Lord to unite our personal heart.

Here is a prayer to consider:  Father, we humbly come to you asking that you help unite the heart of our country, beginning with my heart.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Why is humility important in our requests to the Lord?

Can Man fix the divided heart of our country?

In the Early days of our Nation, did leaders ask the Lord’s help when serious problems arose?  If so, what was the result?

Why should we ask the Lord to unite our personal heart, at the same time we ask Him to help unite the heart of our country.

©2013 Lewis Turner

PM#447 Reactions, is God's Word in Our Hearts?

PM#00447

Ps 119:11

Reactions, is God’s word in Our Hearts?

There are times we react often with a judgmental reaction and comments.  We want issues to belong to the other party and not ourselves.

Often those reactions are emotional reactions.  And to carry it further, emotions often reflect judgments.  Good issues bring good pleasant emotions.  Bad issues bring reactionary judgment.  Both men and women reaction in one way or another. 

Reactions founded on God’s principles of helping someone are not against His will and word.  Those not based on God’s word may lead us away from God.   That leads to the question: ‘What should we do?

We need to get to know God’s word and pray, asking God to be involved with us daily.  Consider this prayer:  ‘Father help me to study your word and hide it in my heart that my reaction to issues would be from the word.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (see Ps 119:11)

Reflections:

Why are reactions often emotional reactions?  What do emotional reactions that tell us about our ‘Self’ nature?

How does God react?  --perhaps our answer might be from what we sere taught about God.  –Take a moment and reflect on I John 4: 8 and reflect on how emotions motivated by love react, vs our ‘Self’ Nature. 

Here is something to meditate on:  To know God’s Love is strong motivation to study His word.