As
children, we have no idea how to handle negative words and behavior from our
caregivers and other people. We tend to believe what they say to us and about
us. Even our siblings and friends wound us. These people are hurting, so they
cause hurt in others.
Old
wounds prevent us from walking in health in our body, soul and spirit. We
develop fear, insecurities and health issues that hound us all the days of our
life; some of which are subconscious, but affect us just the same. We live in a
downward spiral.
Only
God has the power to completely heal these injuries. Our physical scars have a
tendency to cause pain of various degrees, and some will even adhere to places
in our body in which they do not belong. Scars in our soul - our thoughts and
emotions - do the same thing.
The
sanctification process of God's Holy Spirit includes healing these deep-seated
impairments, and removing their impact on other areas of our life. God uses
these devastating experiences in our testimony of His grace and comfort in our
life in order to set others free.
Scars
also prove our need to depend on God, and they increase our compassion for
others, and our intimacy with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered in life in
every capacity that we all suffer. He is now our advocate, pleading our case
and lifting us up in our afflictions.
That
is why it is so important for us to lay down the bondage of burdens, which we
accepted all of our life, and to take Jesus' yoke upon our shoulders instead.
His yoke is easy and light (Matthew 11:28-30), because He is harnessed with us,
and we are following His lead throughout life.
Prayer:
Father
God, teach us that yoking up with Jesus removes the power of our emotional scars
to cause us pain, focuses our obedience on Your direction of our life, and
increases our faith in Your faithfulness. Help us to break free of bondage to
fear, and to step into the realm of freedom in Christ; so that we can walk in
Your Spirit each moment of our day. Our life flows so much easier that way, and
we encounter diving appointments more frequently.
Remind
us that we cannot protect our self from the pain of life; but in living for
You, we can walk in freedom, and rejoice in our light and momentary affliction
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18). You are our righteous judge, and we trust only in You.
Thank You for Jesus' atoning sacrifice that paid for our sins through His
blood, thank You for Your mercy and patience, and thank You for Your justice
and justification of those who believe in You (Romans 3:25-26).
Thought
for the Day:
Negative
experiences drive us deeper under the shadow of God's wings (Psalm 91), improve
our friendship with God (John 1:15), open our eyes to the miracles He performs
for us each day of our life (Philippians 4:19), prove to us the validity of His
promises (2 Corinthians 1:20-22), teach us to rejoice evermore (1 Thessalonians
5:16-18), and encourage us to run to the shelter of our church family for
prayer and comfort.
