Living Beyond Violence

Saturday May 28, 2022

Recovery

God hates violence and His heart is grieved by the things humans do to one another. God's desire is that we live our lives without violence and do all we can to limit the spread of it.

The Lord examines those who are good and those who are wicked; he hates those who enjoy hurting others. (Psalm 11:5 ERV)

Most of us who have come out of a destructive lifestyle have needed (or still need) forgiveness for the way we acted abusively or violently towards others, their property, and their person. The list of ways we were violent with our words or our actions brings remorse as we make our inventories and realize how much harm we have caused. God is able and willing to forgive us and one of the best ways to stop ongoing violence is to let God heal our woundedness, so we live in His peace rather than in the darkness of our own heart.

Jesus said, “The things that make people wrong are the things that come from the inside. All these bad things begin inside a person, in the mind: bad thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, doing bad things to people, lying, doing things that are morally wrong, jealousy, insulting people, proud talking, and foolish living.” (Mark 7:20-22 ERV)

We are wounded people mingling with other wounded people. The result is spiteful attitudes, words, and actions. While we don’t want to condone violence in any way and need to set whatever healthy boundaries are necessary, we also need to humble ourselves and let God teach us about overcoming evil with good, rather than letting another’s evil and violence draw a similar response from us.

Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay back evil with kind words. This is what you have been chosen to do. You will receive a blessing by doing this. (1 Peter 3:9 NIRV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have shown me Your way of love and blessing in the face of violence. Help me to receive Your forgiveness for my own failings and live in the power of Your Spirit, so I can bless others rather than respond to evil with further evil. Amen

More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

Living Beyond Violence

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