Keeping a record of wrongs often leads to the winding path of relapse and active addiction. When someone harmed us in the past, we may have been unable to deal with the situation at that time, so we buried the pain. The pain, however, was not dead and it festered with evil thoughts about the person who committed the offence. Other incidences may have added to this and we just kept pushing each one down. We became angry and intolerant and verbally exploded in situations which did not meet with our approval. To deal with the pain and distress we sought medication to make us feel better. At first the medication worked but eventually more and more was needed to help us live with the hurt and bitterness that was inside us.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:8-9 NIV)
Our record of wrongs influences the way we think and behave. For example, we think evil about a person who has harmed us and want them to suffer for what they have done. Increasingly we become agitated and anger builds within us. Vengeful thoughts fill our mind. Others find it hard to be around us because we have a super-sensitive attitude, and the fuse of our anger is always smoldering. What can we do about this?
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV)
If we have turned our lives over to the care of God, He has forgiven us for the sins we have committed, and He asks us to forgive those who have harmed us. This may be one of the hardest tasks we will face but God will give us the power to do what we cannot do on our own. Obeying God will free us from the wickedness of an unforgiving spirit. Refusal to do so means we are still entertaining that spirit and allowing it to control our lives.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that through Jesus all my sins are forgiven. Please help me to forgive my offenders and turn them over to You to deal with. As I choose to live by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to hear no evil, see no evil, and think no evil. Amen
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