Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A Vicious Cycle of Pain

If you've lived anytime here on this earth, you have learned this lesson, probably the hard way...

Hurting people hurt people

It doesn't matter if they're in your family, school, work place,  church, or some of your closest friends...people get hurt.

Most of the time it comes through misunderstandings or miscommunication.

However, part of the problem is when people have been hurt before and instead of receiving healing, they carry their offense with them. Eventually it becomes a part of their character. They might even think "this is just the way I am" or "God made me this way".

The truth is...your pain made you that way.

Here are some patterns that often develop in wounded people:

  • They appear to want friends, but often pull away. Loneliness adds to their feelings of rejection.

  • They have a victim mentality - everything is always someone else's fault (they were hurt, they were treated unfairly, etc.)

  • The same scenario plays out over and over again - different people, same circumstances - adding more wounds to their already broken heart.

  • They are often unteachable - they only want to serve, not receive. If they were to receive, it would be from a distance (preachers, teachers, tv evangelists, etc.) Not those who are close enough to speak to them directly.

  • Under the disguise of "freedom", they reject the idea and practice of accountability.

  • While many look at the following list as "feelings" - they are the "fruit" of demonic spirits that are drawn to wounded people:
    • insecurity
    • inferiority
    • rejection
    • fear, anxiety, worry
    • jealousy/envy
    • competition/comparison
    • bitterness (a strongman developed from an unforgiving heart)

How do you break the vicious cycle? By exercising the most "Christ-like"behavior a person can portray...

Forgiveness

  • Walking in forgiveness - this means not picking up offense in the first place!
  • Letting go of every hurt that's been committed against you
  • Understanding when someone does something to hurt you that they are doing it either out of ignorance, or their own wounded heart.
  • Choosing to see the good in others, despite their feelings or actions toward you
  • Loving your enemies, blessing those who persecute you
* None of this is easy, all of it requires making a choice to do what is right, following the words of Jesus "forgiving others even as He forgives you", and you have to rely on the Holy Spirit!*

If the pain caused by another is particularly hurtful, spiteful, or heinous, you will definitely need the Holy Spirit's guidance on how to release it. You may also need to go to a Christian counselor who can walk with you through the journey.

However, most offenses start out rather small...they only turn into a HUGE problem when we refuse to deal with it!  Little offenses are like blisters, that if not dealt with, can fester and grow into a wound. The quicker we deal with hurtful situations, the least chance it has to get out of control. If you ignore it, push it down and try to pretend it never happened...it's still there, just waiting for the next offense, and then the next, until you have a gaping hole inside!

Most importantly - Pray for others!
  • Pray for those who hurt you
  • Pray for their healing and freedom
  • Pray that the person's eyes will be open to the truth
  • Pray blessings on them
  • Pray that God gives you a heavenly perspective to see what's really going on
  • Pray that He'll show you how to love them the way He loves them
  • Pray that no bitterness or unforgiveness remains in your heart toward that person

If we walk in forgiveness and not allow a foothold to the enemy, not only will we remain FREE, but we will stay open to minister that freedom to others.

...and we won't be continuing this vicious cycle

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Do You Know Your A,B,C's?

Because Jesus is my Lord and Savior…I am:
Accepted                                                                         
Blessed                                                                             
Called                                                                                 
Delivered                                                                         
Equipped                                                                          
Filled
Generous                                                        
Hopeful                                                                            
Inspiring                                                                             
Joyous                                                                                
Kind                                                                                    
Loving                                                                                
Merciful                                                           
Noble
Overcomer
Peaceful
Qualified
Righteous
Sanctified
Thankful
Unique
Victorious
Wise
Xtraordinary (ok, I cheated on this one)
Yahweh’s Daughter
Zealous

Now I know my A,B, C’s – won’t you confess them along with me?


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Standing on the Promises

My husband and I have been contending for specific promises that God laid on our hearts for some time now. 

We've prayed, fasted, cried out, taken a step forward, only to take two steps back, had a pity party, cried, repented from having a pity party, prayed some more, thanked God, praised God, declared, decreed, rebuked, bound the enemy, confessed any sin, broken all generational curses, forgiven any offenses...then sat still and waited on the Lord . . .

and we're still waiting -

            and we're still believing -

                    and we're still standing on the promises of God!

At times I want to sulk - I must confess my mood has been up and down lately - it's only through getting in God's presence through praise and worship that the heaviness lifts, the fear and anxiety leave, and I feel like I can stand once again. Waiting on the promises of God is no easy task. One thing I have to trust in, is the goodness of the Lord! He is faithful.

I receive the "Spirit of Prophesy Bulletin" by Bill and Marsha Burns every weekday - The one I got earlier this week hit me like a brick upside my hard head and was my wake-up call.

"The stand that you have taken against the enemy is being challenged. Now you must decide what to do about that. Will you just sit down in defeat because your ground is too hard to hold? Or, will you rise up in faith and authority to re-establish and maintain your victory? The choice is yours, but I am with you and behind you to gain and keep the victory, says the Lord." 
Then they ended the Bulletin with this Scripture and it really ministered me:
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith." - 1 John 5:4

We often hear/read this Scripture and focus on the end - we make it all about "our faith". This time when I read it, I really saw the first part "whatever is born of God overcomes the world" - I thought, if my plans, dreams, and desires are really "born of God" - come from His heart and His will...they will overcome the world - guaranteed!

If God is for us - nothing can stop us!

           If God is with us, who can be against us?

                       Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain.