Christ Will Rescue You: September 2024

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Unresolved Hurt

After a recent conversation with a woman about her fiancé, she realized she’s carrying a load of unresolved pain from her past relationship. It’s been nearly a decade since Sherry divorced her ex, and she’s been with her fiancé for the last two years. Despite her desire to enter her second marriage free from past wounds, her pride is blocking her from confronting the lingering anger and bitterness she still feels from her previous marriage.

Proverbs 18:12 (NLT) warns us, “Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.” This timeless truth speaks directly to our struggles, showing us that while the human soul can be deeply wounded, dealing with those wounds isn’t easy. Yet, it’s in humility where God’s love truly shines. Humility opens the door to surrendering to God, guiding us on the path to reclaim what’s been lost. Pride, on the other hand, is a major stumbling block. It clouds our vision, making it hard to see the corrections we need or the guidance available to us, and often leads us to missed chances and poor decisions. When pride takes the wheel, all we see is ourselves, and that narrow view can steer us off course.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” When it comes to confronting resentment, bitterness, and pride, many of us hesitate to embrace the humility God requires and yield to Him. Instead, we let these burdens continue weighing us down. This fear of letting go is not of God—it’s rooted in darkness. Deliverance for believers happens when we face our deepest fears head-on. From personal experience, confronting past pain can be eye-opening, but it’s also where true healing begins, and a fresh start is possible.

If you’re stuck in pride, you might find yourself stumbling repeatedly before you recognize the bruises or realize you’ve strayed off course. Proverbs 16:18 (NLT) warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” These struggles indicate that you’ve drifted too far from God’s plan for your life. It’s up to you to make things right, knowing that God has empowered you to do so. Galatians 5:16 (NLT) tells us, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” As we yield to God, we can be confident that each day offers an opportunity to be guided by His Holy Spirit and to live powerfully through him.

The emotions we experience when someone significant causes us heartbreak and disappointment can turn toxic if we hold onto them. They can disrupt our relationship with God by pulling us away from the person He has called us to be. Philippians 2:5 (NIV) instructs us: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” In every relationship and circumstance, God calls us to embody the attitude of Jesus, which is marked by humility, forgiveness, compassion, and love. We are to navigate our interactions with others by clinging to his example of love. This means letting go of resentment and embracing a spirit of compassion and understanding, reflecting the mindset Christ has set for us.

We can’t carry unresolved hurt and pain into our new relationships. Doing so would set us up for failure and steer us away from God’s plan for our lives. To avoid this, we need to release this pain, allowing our hearts to be light with God’s love and grace. We can confident that unity with Him through Christ ensures that every Child of God achieves their full potential. Through His Holy Spirit, our Heavenly Father has equipped us with the ability to recognize when something is off in our souls. We have the spiritual capacity to make necessary shifts and corrections that align us with God’s Will, enabling us to reflect His goodness in everything we do.

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT) says, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” Living by God’s power is a deliberate choice, just as choosing to cling to past hurts is. For Sherry, the challenge wasn’t about closing herself off to love, but rather avoiding the painful task of confronting old wounds. Her pride led her to believe that with the love of the new man in her life, there was no need to let go of bitterness and resentment towards her ex-husband. She convinced herself that addressing her deeper emotional pain with God’s love wasn’t necessary. However, this is never the case. Pride can deceive us into prioritizing personal happiness over our responsibility to walk in God’s love and seek His approval. While maintaining a positive self-view is important, it should not come at the cost of rejecting God’s transformative love. True fulfillment comes when we open our hearts fully to His healing power, allowing His grace to renew and restore us.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Your Actions - His Response

I don’t know about you, but while growing up, I heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words” countless times from my grandmother. I was quite the chatterbox in school, frequently receiving notes from teachers about talking too much in class, and I had a habit of dragging my feet when it came to chores. I often made promises to improve, but my grandmother would remind me, in no uncertain terms, that words alone meant nothing without action. As a child, I didn’t fully grasp the wisdom in her words and tended to overlook them. However, as an adult, I’ve come to understand that this old adage is not just a piece of advice but a profound truth. In both relationships and life, the principle that actions speak louder than words reveals itself as a guiding beacon, showing that the depth and sincerity of our commitments are truly measured by what we do, not just by what we say.

In relationships, hearing the words "I love you" from someone special can be deeply reassuring. For many of us, those words are enough to dive in heart-first, ramping up our emotional investment and often leading us into a physical relationship prematurely. However, it's crucial to remember Proverbs 19:2 (NLT), which says, "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." This verse highlights the danger of rushing into a relationship full force without seeking God's guidance and green light, and without waiting to see if this person’s actions match their promises. This impulsive approach can leave us vulnerable if their commitment isn't supported by consistent, loving actions.

The reality is that someone can profess their love to you from sunup to sundown, but if their actions don’t align with their words, their love might not be as deep or committed as you deserve. This truth also puts a beaming spotlight on our own commitment to God and its impact on our relationships. We often overlook the reality that our relationships are a reflection of our commitment to our Heavenly Father. He blesses us with marriages and connections that support and uplift us, but the care we demonstrate in stewarding and nurturing our relationship with Him plays a crucial role in this as well.

Many of us may profess our love for God, but if our actions don’t mirror the depth of intimacy and commitment He deserves and desires from us, our relationship with Him is not where it needs to be. Just as we seek genuine, action-backed love from others, God also calls us to demonstrate our love for Him through our actions and devotion. Having a hunger to know more about our Heavenly Father through His Word, praying often, and spending more time with Him by meditating on His Word are practices that convey our honor and devotion to God. As James 2:26 (NLT) states, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” Our actions must align with our professed love, reflecting the true depth of our commitment to both God and our relationships.

A relationship with someone special is a treasure, but it must be a part of our God’s plan and purpose for our individual lives. Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) tells us, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” This verse points out that while we may have our own visions for our relationships, it is ultimately God’s purpose that will stand. His plan is designed to lead us closer to Him as we follow the example of Christ and grow stronger in faith.

However, we have a subtle and cunning enemy, Satan, who seeks to use our relationships to distance us from God. The enemy understands how significant and cherished these connections are and will attempt to exploit them to further his own agenda. It is crucial for us to be vigilant and make it a priority to seek God's guidance in our relationships. By ensuring that our connections align with His purpose and are nurtured in faith, we protect ourselves from the enemy’s schemes. This discernment helps us confirm that the person in our lives is truly sent by God and is part of His divine plan for our growth and well-being.

We cannot afford to be lax in our responsibility to seek God’s Will and to ensure that our actions align with it. James 2:26 reminds us that faith demands not just any action, but the right kind of action—the kind that clearly demonstrates our commitment to God and to being led by His Spirit. It requires us to be diligent in aligning our desires and decisions with God’s guidance, ensuring that our relationships reflect His purpose and bring us closer to Him rather than pulling us away. Our actions should consistently show that we are dedicated to following His plan, reinforcing that our most cherished relationships are indeed part of His divine purpose for our lives.

Galatians 6:7 (NLT) tells us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” Our actions, whether good or bad, lead to consequences, affirming that the events and outcomes in our lives are directly influenced by what we sow through our behaviors and decisions. Life’s occurrences are a reflection of the choices we make. The encounters, occurrences, and events we experience are responding to the seeds we have planted.

In this way, our most cherished relationships reveal the quality of our spiritual investment and commitment. They mirror the depth of our faith and the alignment of our actions with God’s Will. The love, support, and challenges we experience in our relationships are all part of the harvest of what we have sown. So, let’s be dedicated to sowing actions of love, honor, and obedience towards God. When we live a life that honors Him and aligns with His purpose, we cultivate relationships that reflect His blessings and fulfill His desires for our lives. ■

“Your Actions - His Response”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.