Theme: Beyond: Next Level Living, Week One - Anger
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. Several times in my life I have let anger and hurt fester far too long. That's never good... It is so good when those who 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 what about the times in anger we hurt others and require their forgiveness?
We hope for justice, redemption, but often seek it through earthly measures. When it doesn'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 despair (and I hope you keep reading) it is right here that God performs miracles daily! Remember first and foremost that He has forgiven us for our sins (Colossians 3:13 and Ephesians 4:32). He does that every single second, every single hour, of everyday...see what I mean about a daily miracle! We then in turn are commanded to seek it from others by confessing our sin against them...
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.
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 seek forgiveness and also extend forgiveness when needed (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 there something you need to confess to your Father in heaven and seek forgiveness from another because you've sinned against them in your anger? Choose this day, this moment to seek God's help to do what needs to be done!
Pray: Father God I need your help to seek the forgiveness of those I've hurt or in anger have damaged. Give me the right words and the right opportunity to come clean. At the same time, I give to you 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.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.