"Self-Destruction" Pt 3 of 4"
The mind is a powerful gift God has given us. If properly trained and used it will be our greatest asset, if not, it could become our worst enemy. The mind is shaped by the things we learn, hear, and see. It stores everything we know in our memory bank. This is difficult to comprehend, but we've heard that everything we've learned and experienced is lodged somewhere in that bank. Sometimes we say, "I forgive you, but I'll never forget what you did!" Hmmm, does that sound like forgiveness to you?
Governed and controlled thoughts can lead us to amazing things, but unfortunately the mind can also be warped and tainted. Sometimes by our own doing, sometimes resulting from the words or deeds of others, substance abuse, mental illness and perhaps even by the failure to forgive someone that has hurt us, or (get this), maybe causing harm to someone seeking our forgiveness, but we fail to extend it.
Life at its best will be messy at times when it comes to relationships. Satan is always seeking to destroy personal lives and one of his strongest targets is the family. It's a victory for him whenever there is discord between husbands and wives, children and parents, and even siblings. Wise is the individual who realizes the family is under attack by evil like never before. This is a time we all search our own heart asking if we are guilty of being angry, bitter, or holding revenge against a loved one. If so, let me say God's heart is broken and the enemy is rejoicing.
The question is, who do you want to please? What are you willing to do about it? What would Jesus do and what is God telling you to do? We've all been hurt and for sure, we're all guilty of hurting someone else. None of us need a therapist to remind us that the anger, bitterness and hurt feelings we're carrying are hurting us more than the one we're upset with. Yet we convince ourselves it's what the other person deserves.
Tune in tomorrow for the last segment of this series and learn a couple things that (in my opinion) lead to a self-destructing life if these issues aren't dealt with. Remember, SEEKING forgiveness is repentance. RECEIVING forgiveness is a gift!
Pastor Carnes
