Daily Devotional: Tuesday, Sept 15

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Negativity

Weekend Music links on iTunes:  Glorious One by Marcus Jones; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; From the Inside Out by Hillsong United; The Stand by Hillsong United. 

Read: Matthew 7: 9-12;  Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32; Mark 11: 22-25;

Think: Forgiveness. No sweeter word may exist in the vocabulary. It can, and will free the soul for God's real purpose for your life. Pastor Ben spoke this weekend about Unhealed Hurts and how those can lead us down a path of negativity. 

Several times in my life I have let Unhealed Hurts fester far too long, hoping and expecting that they would be healed by the perpetrator. I suppose it is possible that those who may have hurt us come back and ask us for forgiveness, and I am sure that each of us may have examples which can provide testimony to such. But I would venture to say that a majority of the time we are left to administer aid to ourselves and fall short of true healing. We hope for redemption, but seek it through earthly measures. When those tactics don't succeed, our anger, resentment, and frustration grow. While most often our ire is directed at those that hurt us, what is worse, is that it spills into other areas of life leaving a wake of collateral damage. Not a pretty picture! I am sorry to say it has been true in my life and maybe yours too.

Before you wallow in despair (and I hope you keep reading) it is right here that God performs miracles daily! Remember first and foremost that He has forgiven me, and you, for our sins and transgressions (Colossians 3:13 and Ephesians 4:32). He does that every single second, every single hour, of every single day...see what I mean about a daily miracle!!

I am amazed at God's grace and wisdom. The grace of forgiveness and the wisdom to command us to do so.  (Matthew 7: 9-12). He knows it is good for us and frees us from the chains of bitterness. 

Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust said:  "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you."

Lastly we need to pray to our Father in Heaven and ask him to help us forgive (Mark 11: 22-25). It is a conscious choice that requires heavenly help.

Do: Is their something in your life that you have held on to for far too long, maybe a hurt, a wound, or a grudge against someone?  Is their something you need to confess to your Father in heaven?  Choose this day, this moment to seek God's help in freeing you from your unhealed hurts.

Pray: Father God I have held on to pain and bitterness far too long. I need you help to forgive. I give to you this day my hurts and my pain. I need to forgive (name whomever or whatever you need to forgive) and I ask for your help to soften my heart and let go of the hurt. I seek the freedom that only You can give. Thank you that You have first forgiven me. In Jesus name I pray.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org