Forgiveness: The Eraser of Anger

   Forgiveness really is the eraser of guilt and anger. It is the key that unlocks the shackles of the past and permits us to move forward with our life in a freer, far lighter way. Once we understand this we can start the process of healing that we deserve.

    "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted yo us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil" (Luke 11:4).

    "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15). --KJV.

Forgiveness: how vital it is?

Bear these strategies in mind as you reflect and move along on your journey of forgiveness:

-- Your main goal is to release the hurt and the anger that is feeding the pain. Just as you can heal from a painful thorn in your foot by pulling it out, so you can recover from any painful experience by moving forward. Once it doesn't have a place deep in your heart and mind, it can no longer trouble, and the harm can at last come to a stop. Choosing to forgive means you allow those bad feelings to leave your life once and for all.

-- It's essential to replace negative feelings with neutral ones. When the facts remain unchanged, but those facts no longer have the ability to damage, then you are free of the past. You can change from being a victim to the victor. You are human, and so you can be hurt. Human beings really are resilient, and because you are human you can heal - from a love betrayal or awful, unfair experiences in your life. If you're still reacting, then you're still stuck in some kind of emotional mud. With forgiveness you can be free of those toxic reactions.

-- Humor is a wonderful agent of healing. If you are able to smile about the love that once hurt you, or joke about the years you fought with a sibling, family member, or lover then you trade pain for a different emotion. That heavy load is shifted, substituted by a much lighter newfound feeling that can even put a spring in your step. The healing power of forgiveness comes from our ability to let go of our anger and resentment. These emotions don't really hurt those who have hurt us, but they certainly do hurt us. When we forgive we're actually protecting ourselves; we unburden our mind, our emotions, and a great deal of our time. Putting focus on more empowering and positive areas frees and moves away from the event or person who has hurt us.

   Forgiveness keeps us from harm's way. As far as we continue to dwell on and concentrate on hurt in the past, continually reacting to the pain someone has caused, we remain emotionally stuck with that person and with what they have done. Forgiveness breaks the chains that lock. With it we take a gigantic step forward with our lives, disengaging the negativity and shielding ourself from harmful emotional involvement.

-- Constantly going over a hurtful experience over and again keeps it fresh in the mind, creating mental and emotional upset. Should the topic arise in conversation, it's much wiser to respond with: 'I've decided not to focus on that experience. I'm allowing it to fade from my life, and I'm moving on to better things.'

-- One of the most important aspects of the emotional recovery process is our own self-talk. What we say to ourself is the strongest driving force. Choosing words that feel authentic, we may say: 'I choose to feel good today. Regardless what others say or do, my happiness comes from within through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. I alone determine how I feel by the love of Jesus Christ ruling in my. No place for the devil to make me feel lonely.'

   Statements such as: 'I am now nurturing the child within, and I am doing a really good job. I alone have direct control over my psychological wellbeing. I look at the positive things in life. I get up every day and focus on what's beautiful and what's right.'

   Once we at last come to see that our anger hurts only ourselves, then we are able to arrive at that state where forgiveness becomes reality. With forgiveness we draw that line under the past and allow ourselves to move on with our life.

   In this freer state, we can finally let go of the past, and at last begin to live the life with which we have been gifted through the help and strength of God. Remember, when you forgive; you're the one winning and also on a safe side.

God bless you.

Resolving Conflict

   All of us, whether young or young at heart, married or single, mother or not, will encounter conflict in our lives. The way we handle conflict becomes either an amazing opportunity to give God glory in how it is resolved, or a thorn in our side that we struggle to get right.

Many of the hurts of my past resulted in a great deal of conflict in my life. And all of you have had events in your life, both negative and positive, that have shaped your ability to resolve conflict and more importantly, your willingness to do so.

Proverbs 11:2 says Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

What are some of the things in our lives that cause conflict?  There are many, but here are just a few:

• Insecurity – (Whether our own insecurity or someone else’s, it can cause major problems.)
• Misunderstanding  - (Sometimes we simply misunderstand someone’s intention.)
• Satan’s plan of division – (Why wouldn’t he cause conflict & division? He’s masterful at it).
• Exhaustion – (When we are doing too much, too often, and not resting, conflict arises.)

 All of us will face misunderstandings or exhaustion and many have dealt with insecurity, so, what do we do to resolve these conflicts well?

Issue grace.  – Most of us would rather receive grace than issue it. It’s easier for us to see all the reasons why God should give us grace, because our heart is good and we’re good people and we didn’t mean to fail Him – than it is for us to see the good in others and just give them a break.  Maybe they are completely unreasonable. And maybe you are completely right. But it’s so important for us to look at how we can maintain and mend relationships than how we can be right.  (Ephesians 4:3 – Make every effort to keep yourselves united in Spirit, binding yourselves together in peace.)

Take your offense directly to the person. (See Matthew 18:15.) Friends, it is unfair to assume others in our lives know what we are hurt about, when we don’t talk to them about it. And it is even more unfair to discuss it with others when you haven’t discussed it with them. And we do both. Don’t gossip about it. Don’t fester about it. Take it to them in love. And when you take it to them, take it to them in hopes of resolution with a pure heart - not in hopes that you can convince them how right you are.

Speak life over the situation. The power of life and death are in the tongue. (Prov. 18:21)  Most of us are church girls/boys, men/women. We get it. We understand about keeping our tongue in line with God’s word. Yet, we struggle to do so. When we want to resolve conflict, we must speak honor over those we are in relationship with. If you think you can speak negatively about your friend, your brother, your sister, your pastor, your boss, your Bible study leader, and NOT grow division in your heart, you are wrong.  Wouldn’t our lives be so much better if we could just watch our mouths?  Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you have said. (Ecclesiastes 10:20)

Battle your thoughts.  Philippians 4:8 says to fix our thoughts on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.  You cannot keep playing in your mind over and over and over what they said, what they did, an expect resolution. You cannot keep negative thoughts from coming into your mind. But it is your choice what you do with them, when they get there.

Friends, we are all armor bearers of something. Whether it’s your spouse, a friendship, your pastor, your boss, a ministry you are passionate about, your kids --- you are championing the cause for something and someone. And as such, you must begin to see yourself as mightily carrying the armor for someone else in your life to complete their mission – just as there are those in your life bearing armor for you.

What’s at stake if we don’t battle well? Rest assured, the conflict will grow. It becomes bigger than it ever needed to be. It shapes us. We become bitter, anger, and offended and no one can stand to be around us, instead of humble and graceful and strong. And we will also be so distracted with the conflict that we don’t focus on fulfilling our purpose. How could we be busy about our Father’s business, when we’re telling anyone who will listen about our conflict?

Let’s decide today that we are going to be problem solvers, not problem seekers. And when conflict does seek us out, we’ll be strong women/men of God who see it for what it is and determine in our hearts that we’ll overcome it with God’s help.

God bless you.

Encountering Misguided Prophecies: When to Say No to a Thus Saith The Lord

Twenty-three-year-old George Whitefield sat on a ship ready to sail for America from the port of Deal, located approximately 70 miles southeast of London. For some time, he had experienced a compelling call to preach the gospel to colonial America and now the day for his departure had finally arrived. His heart was filled with gratitude, excitement and expectation.

As he waited for the ship's crew to hoist anchor and sail, a letter was delivered to him from John Wesley who had just returned from a failed mission to Georgia. He opened the letter and was stunned by what he read. Wesley wrote that when he saw that the same wind that brought him in was taking Whitefield out, he inquired of the Lord about Whitefield's journey. Wesley emphatically stated that the word God gave him for Whitefield was, "Let him return to London."

Whitefield was shocked and momentarily confused. Wesley was 10 years his senior and had been a mentor to him. He held the Wesley brothers, John and Charles, in very high esteem. However, this word from John contradicted everything he believed about his call to America.

Whitefield went to prayer, and as he prayed, there came to his mind a story from the Old Testament about a "man of God" who lost his life because he listened to the words of an "old prophet" instead of diligently adhering to what God had instructed him.

I Kings 13 tells this story of the unnamed "man of God" whom God instructed to go to Bethel and prophesy against the idolatrous altars that had been established there by King Jeroboam. God also instructed him not to stop to eat or drink but to return directly home to Judah when he had completed his assignment.

Based on this directive from the Lord, he went to Bethel. As he prophesied against the idolatrous altars, they miraculously split apart, and the ashes were poured out on the ground. As he departed Bethel according to the Lord's instructions, an "old prophet," who heard of what had happened, saddled his donkey, caught up with the "man of God" and invited him to his home to eat and drink.

When the "man of God" recounted to the "old prophet" what the Lord had instructed him, the "old prophet" said, "'I am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house so that he may eat bread and drink water'" (1 Kings 13:18). The "old prophet," however, was lying.

The "man of God" went back with the "old prophet" in contradiction to the instructions the Lord had given him; and as a result of his disobedience, he lost his life and was not buried in the burial ground of his ancestors.

With this story so vividly impressed on his mind, Whitefield knew what he must do. He sent back a reply to Wesley in which he said, "I cannot return to London." Whitefield said no to Wesley's "thus saith the Lord."

History has demonstrated that Whitefield made the correct decision, for he became the major figure in the Great Awakening that rocked Colonial America and prepared her for statehood. Everywhere he went, great revival followed his preaching.

Because of God's blessing on his labors, he became the most recognizable person in colonial America and Thomas S. Kidd, who teaches history at Baylor University, calls him "America's Spiritual Founding Father."

We can all be thankful that Whitefield said no to Wesley's "thus saith the Lord."
I pray that God will helps us to always take the right decision[s] at all time in Jesus name. Amen...! 

Pasted from: Charisma Magazine.

God bless you.