His word is the light unto our path. Our “old” self fades and our “new” self, the Christ centered self, emerges. The repentant, forgiven self. Our new life in Christ means we change some things.
God’s word advises us to be careful that we don’t let anger control us. Don’t let the sun go down with unresolved anger.
When we speak, our words need to be good, helpful and a source of encouragement.
To do less will bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit. That is serious business. The Holy Spirit is that part of God that resides with us.
God’s word gets pretty specific. The nuts and bolts of a life lived for Christ.
Get rid of ALL bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, along with every other type of evil behavior. What will replace those gigantic voids? Kindness, a tender heart, forgiving one another and behaving in this life, just as Christ. That behavior brings the light to the life, of a child of the Father.
~Thought For Today~
My father and I kept each other at a distance for many years, because of things in our past. We really didn’t voice the pain of such a situation to each other. Nope! That would have been much too easy. Had we talked to each other, instead of years, resolution could have come in days and months. We chose the hard path. We just didn’t communicate. We loved each other. But we were stubborn. We shared a difficult history. Months would pass without communication.
Problem with that? We cannot “clear the air” and forgive each other and get back to living again, if we refuse to talk to each other. Our life becomes stagnate with the”issue” always present. We become stifled and morose. We miss all the other blessings in our life because we camp out with the “old” things. The trouble, that it seems, will never change. God does not allow us to roll back time and redo a misstep, take back angry words, or undo painful memories. They are a part of our history. It may be impossible for us to forget the historical happenings in our life but we have complete control of forgiving.
This is a topic very near and dear to my heart. My father and I had to work our way back to neutral ground. We chose to stop thinking and talking about yesterday and start talking about the beauty of a tomorrow, reconciled. A day to start over. A day to set the burden down and walk free.
God blessed us with about three years of very blessed “new” time together. I thank God for that time of healing. New memories replaced those we forgave. Love won. Anger, bitterness and unforgiveness lost.
The advice of our Father in Heaven would be to let it go. Let joy refill the voids left in a broken heart. Everyday people are hurt and we hurt others. We stay in a pitiful existence of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and yes, slander. There can be no light of Christ in that life, shrouded in bitterness.
~Scripture For Today~
Ephesians 4:26-32
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Oh the pain that lives in the heart of so many. Father, we pray that we forgive and move on to the blessings and joy You desire for us. We pray for all those who are suffering under the burdens of unforgiveness. We pray for the those who suffer because the one they cannot forgive is themself. We pray that You forgive us of our sins and that we are able to forgive others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.