Scriptural Foundation:
1 Timothy 6:11-16 New International Version (NIV)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 New International Version (NIV)
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Reflection:
It took me a long time to utter these words out loud of my mouth: “I am ok with me”. It wasn’t in a moment where I felt the most accomplished; but in the midst of a horrendous situation and at a point of complete brokenness. It was in that moment, re-playing the situation for the millionth time in my mind, I felt the peace of the Lord fill me. I heard a Pastor once say, “Your reason, will be your reward.” Rewards are good, right? Not necessarily, have you ever watched a debrief of any Hollywood awards show? You will always hear who was the best dress and the worst dressed. Looking back my reason in that terrible situation was not a positive one. My intent was good, I did everything in the name of love, but my reason, my actions, were not. My actions were motivated by fear. I experienced the fear of abandonment each time I came in contact with this certain individual. My fear ultimately provided my reward…that person eventually abandoning me.
The good news is, I have a soul scar, from that situation. A soul scar represents a healed situation (a testimony). Since then, I have approached all my relationships the same (Romans 2:11). We are instructed in one of our foundational scriptures to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Everyone is responsible for their actions. As Believers, we are set apart to talk and act differently than the world.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. – Romans 12:17-19
Ah, Beloved I can hear you now, “what if the person that hurt you was a Believer?” You are in good company then. Paul speaks a lot about relational disappointments in the ministry and Jesus had one of his closest friends betray Him. The closer the person is to you, the deeper the wound, but God can heal all wounds in time.
As a solider in the Army of the Living God, it is your mission to ensure that your soul wounds are cleansed in praise and wrapped in the anointing of prayer. We don’t have the luxury of staying wounded…yeah I know those things are polar opposites. A luxury is something of pleasure and a wound is something of pain – this the definition a stronghold, my friend! As Believers, we don’t have the “pleasure” of staying in pain like the rest of the world, because we have the One that is reconciling us to Himself daily. It is truly our choice to remain a wounded soldier, but where is the joy and testimony for the Lord in that?
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- Are you in a situation today that is causing you both pleasure and pain?’
- Describe the situation in detail
- List the things that cause you the most pleasure
- List the things that cause you the most pain
- Set it aside for a few days.
- Re-visit your lists during your devotional time with the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit for direction as to how to deal with this soul wound.
- Write down what the Lord reveals to you. (Spoiler alert to your current mindset, it will be a challenge.)
- Say out of your mouth that you “receive the answer” the Lord has provided to you.
- Date your page and close your notebook
Change will not come overnight, if anything it will become harder before it becomes better (the devils MO to discourage you from the healing process). If you consistently renew your mind daily in the Word of God, change will come…not by your might, but by the power of the Lord within you. Remember the Lord is with you in every trial/storm and you will get to the other side*.
We love hearing testimonies! If you need prayer or would like to brag on God a little, give us a shout! – Prayer Requests/Testimonies