Inner Healing

 

You know where the lie is

Deep within my soul

Though I never knew it was buried

All these things You know

 

You removed the scabs that covered

The pain that needed to be revealed

What I thought I had forgotten

Was never truly healed

 

It’s not Your will for partial healing

But to make me completely whole

Father, do what it is You have to do

To bring completeness to my soul

 

These hindrances You want to erase

So I can be all You’ve called me to be

I have to admit it’s not easy, Lord

I need You to carry me

 

I start in Your arms, but You urge me to crawl

And then You lift me upon my feet

You don’t want me to just get through life

You haven’t ordained a life of defeat

 

You press me on and encourage me

To count it all joy in this time

Though it’s not easy, and the pain is strong

You remind me that victory’s mine

 

The way to my healing is in Your name

By no other can I be set free

You’re a faithful God…I will not doubt

I know You will heal me…

 

Freedom in Our Praise

 

Most of the Psalms were written during wilderness times; the Epistles,  in prison.  We can take comfort in knowing that when we are in the fire, God is about to use us in a mighty way. 

"About Midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God..." In their darkest hour, they didn't forget God nor grow angry with Him.   They knew from Whom their help came from and they knew their freedom was in their praise. 

The rest of that Scripture states, "And the other prisoners were listening to them." Others are watching us as we endure life's storms.

"Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the foundations of the jail.  All the doors  immediately flew open, and everyone's chains came off. "

May we be like Paul and Silas, confident that God will never  forsake us even in the toughest of times.  Our continual worship of Him will invoke His presence into our lives. Not only will it bring our freedom, but an open door to share the Gospel message to those who have watched our calm endurance. 

(Acts 16:25-26, Philippians 4:4-7, 1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 13:15)

Do You Love Me?

 

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

It's an amazing concept that whatever we do to others, good or bad, we are doing to Jesus Himself.  Verbal confession of our love for God is not a true measure of our relationship with Him.  Our level of love and commitment are equivalent in how we treat others!   

Are we kind or sharp tongued?  Do we use our words to build up or tear down?  Do we take time to listen to others or do we tune them out if we deem it irrelevant?  Do we lay down our agenda to help or do we find that doing for others is an interruption to our lives?  Do we have a cheerful heart when we serve or do we grumble and complain when it’s not accompanied with recognition?  Are we quick to give when there is a need or do we hoard what we have?  Do we understand that God blessed us in order to get His blessing to others or do we see it as our hard work and accomplishments for only us to enjoy?  Are we selfless or selfish? 

The Scriptures are clear that God takes an account of everything - down to EVERY idle word we speak!  Is our day filled with encouraging words?  We have only so much time in a day; only so many breaths before our lives on earth are over.  What are we doing with them?  How are we using our numbered breaths that we are so fortunate to still have?

We are expected to exercise self control even when we are offended or irritated by another's actions.  Why?   Because we have to, in order to be effective lights for Jesus in a dark world.  We ultimately misrepresent and bring shame to His name when we choose unkindness and mistreatment of others.  It's the love of God that leads men to repentance.  If we can't love others with God's love, we cannot reach them for Christ.   

I think it’s also important to remember, this doesn’t just apply to how we interact with our neighbors, co-workers, fellow church goers, or family we see on occasion.  If we have any dose of  self-control at all, that can be fairly simple.  For those who are closest to us, it may not be as easy. However, the reality that how we treat them is how we are treating Jesus is still the same.  The way we treat those living under the same roof affects them greatly.  Our homes should be a safe haven of edification and peace.  A place where our children, when they are grown, can look back and say, “That is my goal for my family.”  Don’t create a life for them that leaves them with years of unraveling what childhood did to them.  We as parents will give account one day for this.  Did our actions draw our children to the hands of the Father or did their embittered spirits cause them to resist Him?  We have to remember, our actions bring the reactions in our children, not our words.  If our words and actions line up, this is healthy soil for our children to thrive.  If we are telling them to love God and love others and our actions are not so, our actions trump our words.  Woe to us who would cause them to stumble. Very scary thought, really.

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love You.”  “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him.  Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love You.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”  Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep." 

Our actions mirror our hearts.   Is there enough evidence in how we treat others to convict us of being true lovers of Jesus?  Jesus is asking us the same thing, "Do you love Me?"

(Matthew 25:31-45, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 9:42, Genesis 12:1-3, 2 Cor. 9:8-12, 1 Cor. 13, Prov. 12:25, Prov. 19:17, Prov. 25:11, Eph. 4:32)

Pride

 

 

What is one thing that we rarely see in ourselves, but it is clearly seen by others?

Pride.

It takes a really hard look and a sincere asking of God to shine a light on it (just like He had to do with Paul on the Road to Damascus). It's a painful experience falling off of a "high horse" and being blinded by the very light that frees us, but the outcome far outweighs the temporal pain because...

  …pride destroys.

Pride is a repellant for a healthy relationship. Its very presence shuts those around us down. It sprays out unspoken venom that says "You're inadequate and will never measure up to my perfection. Your opinion does not matter. You will always be a little lower than me. Don’t oppose my thoughts or I will reject or withhold from you.”

Prideful people won't admit it, but they don't want to hear about someone else's success. It repulses them. They choke on seeing anyone else succeed or possibly stand out brighter than themselves. They can frequently talk about themselves and their accomplishments but if someone else does "they are too into themselves." When sharing about yourself or another person, one with pride often will overtake the conversation by "one-upping" or somehow turning the conversation back to themselves where the initial subject matter somehow vanishes. When others fail or struggle, pride is relentless and does not hold back its spear of judgement.

 

Prideful people belittle, argue, always have an opposing argument (not allowing others the right to their own opinions without snide remarks or looks of disgust), cause dissensions, make light of other's pain, lack compassion, struggle with sincere apologies, always an excuse for their wrongdoing, and silence is a rare act. (1Timothy 6:4, Proverbs 11:12)

Let's see what the Bible says:

1. It is an abomination to God; will not go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5)
 
2. It is deceiving (Galatians 6:3)
 

3. More hope for a fool (Proverbs 26:12)

 

4. Brings destruction (Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 29:23, Psalm 31:23)

5. God Himself opposes us (James 4:6)

6. Lack understanding, unteachable (2 Corinthians 10:12, Proverbs 15:12)

7. Not approved of God (2 Corinthians 10:18)

8. Lacks love (1 Corinthians 13:4)

9. Clean in their own eyes, but not God's (Proverbs 30:12)

10. Become fools (Romans 1:22)

For the sake of your reading time, I will stop there, but the Scriptures are seemingly endless on the subject. Fact of the matter is, if we don't pay close attention and deal with the pride in our lives, God will. Rather than having the very One we need on our side, we place ourselves on His opposing team. Remember Lucifer? He was cast out of God's presence because of what? His pride. God resists the proud. I don't know about you, but I do not want Him pushing me but rather pulling me to Himself.

 

This unapproachable, unteachable bubble we are encompassed in will ultimately kill everything around us. The very one we exalted above others and their feelings will be all we are left with (Proverbs 12:9). It's scriptural and it's no joking matter. Better to humble ourselves than to be humbled by God. (Luke 14:11)

Father, our pride keeps us from hearing You. It keeps us from learning. It keeps us from healthy relationships. It shuts others out. It causes us to ignore the needs of others and become calloused to their pains.  It blinds us from seeing others as You do. It makes us zero in on their wrongdoings and have a “they deserve it” mentality. We fail to realize that we too deserve nothing in and of ourselves, but because of Your mercy, you have blessed us anyway.

We choose today to humble ourselves, to compare ourselves to Your perfection rather than to the accomplishments or lack thereof of others.  We want a true change in our hearts, Lord… not a false humility where we get in the “ditch” and go the other direction with a “Woe is me. I’m a worthless sinner.” We know that is not Your will either. We can be confident in You and what You do through us as long as it is never at the expense of hurting others or making light of what You are doing in them as well. We need Your help, Lord. We submit to Your ways and ask You to reveal to us when pride rears its ugly head. We want it completely eradicated from our lives in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

"A person of humility willfully washes the feet of those who chose the muddy path – remembering that they too have been washed." ~ets