“A heart filled with anger is a heart looking to be paid back. Unfortunately, in most cases, it is our unsuspecting friends and family who are made to pay.”

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-08-22) from his book, It Came from Within!: The Shocking Truth of What Lurks in the Heart (p. 82). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition.

An injustice has been done, someone has gone back on their word, they haven’t done what they promised, you feel like you are owed something and you are angry. You are very angry and you feel justified in your anger.

But here is the problem. In most cases the person who has hurt you probably doesn’t even know you are angry with them but you know it and the people closest to you know it. The person you are angry with isn’t being hurt but you are and those closest to you are.

Now not doing anything is not the best answer for your anger. As you know the anger inside of you is tearing away at your insides and it can even damage you physically and for sure emotionally. Unresolved anger can hurt you and it can also hurt the people you love. It can hurt your relationships because it is like a time bomb that is ready to explode and when you do explode you hurt those closest to you. That I know isn’t what you want.

You can also do what the new Wednesday night show on ABC is all about. It is called REVENGE and it says, “This is not a story about forgiveness. Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge.” You can do that. It is payback time for what they did to you. You can do that but you will lose and everyone else will lose also. It doesn’t free you from your hurt, your pain. It only adds to it and to those you love.

So what do you do? Well they may not make a TV show on ABC about it but forgiveness is the key. Andy also said earlier is his book, that “The root of anger is the perception that something has been taken. Something is owed.” That’s why you want to pay them back and by your forgiving them you are not paying them back for what they have done but absolving them of any debt you believe they owe you. It is paying their debt to you for them.

We just paid off our Toyota Matrix today. What that means is we are no longer tied to the Credit Union back in Las Vegas. We are free. And that is what forgiveness does. It frees you from that person. They no longer have a negative hold on you.

Now it is not an easy thing to do. You will probably want some help in doing this but you will find it to be the most healing thing to do for you, your health, your emotions and your relationships.

Why not give it a try?

"Jesus comes in the midst of the torrent."

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, You Are Never Alone (p. 60). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) We all have storms in our lives, don't we? Max says, "No one gets through life scot-free. At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher." John 6:16–18 (NIV) says, "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." Max goes on, "The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing. "If only Jesu

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life. It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed. Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life. Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you. You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good. Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident. In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose. In other words you are not an accident. I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth. In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man. And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ” Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like? Like that characteristic is a curse or something. Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God. Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog