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Monday, November 13, 2017
Page #8
Letting go of hatred and unforgiveness our soul hostage to contempt. Sadly, many would rather live in agony, brooding thoughts of hostility instead of releasing them to God and allowing Him to execute justice His way. I was called to pray for an elderly gentleman the other day that was near death. He was barely able to understand or communicate because of the heavy doses of morphine. His son was sitting next to the bed and after a while he started to talk about his dad. They were not close and he began to describe a man that was not only Dr. Billy Holland harsh and uncaring but actually abusive. I could sense the deep emotional pain as he revealed the How much grace does it take to sad story of a disappointed and love our enemies? Well, that is a wounded family. The son was a good question. Tragedies are Christian and had been dealing happening all around us and it’s with resentment for years and as he true we are very heart-broken and continued to share about alarmed, but what if one day our forgiveness, amazingly I could see family is harmed? I admit that I do the love and peace of God in his not always have the character of countenance. This type of Christ when I’m being threatened emotional pain is truly a heavy or provoked to anger. Many times, burden, but If we sincerely ask the my first reaction is to retaliate Lord to step into our situation, He because that’s a strong part of our is the only one who can bring inner human nature. I realize that people healing to our heart and mind. need to be punished for their terrible acts of violence but the If you watch a toddler you will problem within our soul is the notice they react to basic temptation to hold unforgiveness experiences of hunger, affection, against them. Life is filled with disappointment, happiness and challenges and situations that anger but have not yet learned the attempt to lure us into bad attitudes dangers of being offended. but for the serious Christian, it’s Resentment is one of many the forgiveness of Christ that can attitudes we naturally develop as teach us and lead us into the peace we grow older and it’s only that passes all understanding. through inviting Christ to become our Lord and allowing His Word to When we fall into a negative transform our mind that we can be mind-set, our joy (which is our molded into His way of merciful spiritual strength), evaporates and thinking. God wants us to be open we become weak and discouraged. and honest with Him and not Anger and the desire for revenge suppress these ugly imaginations can emotionally, mentally and which can damage our personal spiritually hold us in the bondage relationship with Him. The of misery. If we allow Ourselves to opportunity to call on Christ is become weighed down with always available as Psalm 46:1 animosity, our relationship with declares, “God is our refuge and God suffers which is why it’s so strength, a very present help in important to not become entangled trouble.” Holding on to these with resentment and hatred. To negative attitudes becomes like a those around us, everything may growing infection that can also seem fine but inside we are full of desensitize us from having anger and contempt. The battle we sympathy about other people’s choose to fight in our conscience is pain and caring about their needs. something we want to do because This is a very serious problem we feel we are justified in our because it involves the Christian’s hatred. However, if we continue to most precious asset – our love. The embrace the desire for vengeance enemy of our soul will use we are allowing the darkness of sin anything he can to hinder our love to control our thoughts and hold and discourage us from praying for
others. May we never lose our focus to humbly serve and obey Christ because we are blinded by our own misery. Whatever someone has done to hurt us, may we remember that living in the peace of God’s love and forgiveness is possible. Some may say they will not or cannot forgive
but the Bible reminds us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me.” To read more articles and stories please visit: billyhollandministries.com
Feed My Sheep October Howe's Feed My Sheep organization totaled number of 71 families that were served during the month of October (not including supplemental snacks)
The total number of clients fit into the following age groups Children (17 & under): 82 Adults (18-59): 97 Seniors (60+): 48
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