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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, Sept 22
 Speaker: Paul Diaz Theme: Unforgiveness - a BIG bag! Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Glory by Hillsong United; Mighty to Save by Hillsong. Read: Ephesians 4:17-29, Matthew 18:34, 1 John 1:9 Think: 30 years ago I was granted a divorce. I had been married for seven years to the girl who I first dated in 8th grade. Over all those years there were so many things that hurt and disappointed. By the time we finally separated and divorced those hurts and disappointments were as Pastor Paul said this last weekend in his sermon on unforgiveness, well rehearsed. I would wake up every morning with sadness then try to get as busy as possible to keep from going crazy. I could forget for a while but by evening the pain, anger and doubt were crushing me again.I think divorce and the painful end to long-term relationships are some of the greatest opportunities to apply this teaching on forgiveness. I contributed to this mess I had to forgive myself. Without forgiving myself I would continually doubt if I could ever make marriage work again. I had to forgive my spouse or risk hating and mistrusting all women. I had to forgive the others involved or risk the bitterness that poisons a life. Ephesians 4:17 -29 tells us we must not darken our understanding, harden our hearts and lose our sensitivity. With every rehearsal I was building a bigger wall and hardening my heart to keep from getting hurt like that ever again. Pastor Paul told us that unforgiveness holds us in bondage. In Matthew 18:34 the "prison" and "torture" that the servant who wouldn't forgive experienced was very much my experience. I had to learn from my mistakes or risk repeating them but I also needed to open the self imposed prison doors by asking for and receiving God's forgiveness and then asking for His forgiveness to flow through me to everyone else involved. God answered this prayer for me. He is faithful 1 John 1:9. If you ask He will answer you too. Do: Examine your relationships past and present and ask, "Are there any negative changes in my life that I carry as a result of that relationship?" Write it down and pray to be released from the bondage. Pray: Father, I know you walk with me and have through my life. Thank you. Forgive me for any unforgiveness I harbor against those I have been in relationship. Help me recognize them, forgive them and break any bondage.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
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Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org | ||||||
