Back in the Trenches Again with Demons?

Setting boundaries and being able to sustain those boundaries is in fact one of the graduated steps in making forgiveness a success. How earnestly have you prayed to ask God to help you forgive someone who cruelly hurt you? Then you actually felt relief and peace from the bitterness that engulfed your life? Later, you’re back in the trench with the same hurt and bitterness, as if forgiveness never happened.

Remember the story Jesus told about a demon that came out of a man only to return later with seven of his fellow demons to torment him worse than before? What went wrong that permitted the demons to return? He failed to surround himself with godly boundaries that protected him from demons. Setting boundaries is a continuous process as is forgiving someone who has hurt you.

Setting needed boundaries that prevent you from lingering in the trench with hate and bitterness is essential. Forgiveness, though not easily obtained, builds a bridge to inner peace with others and God the Father. Forgive and you will be forgiven.  
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Let there be no more bitter resentment or anger, no more shouting or slander, and let there be no bad feeling of any kind among you. Be kind to each other, be compassionate. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:31-32 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.

~Ephesians 6:16 The Living Bible

Hatred: Favoritism's Fallout

It all started as a normal day.  A young brother was sent to check on his older brothers so their father could be assured everything was okay. The older brothers were envious of Joseph for he was their father’s favorite. To make matters worse, their father Jacob had given Joseph an expensive coat that clearly set him apart from his older brothers.   

 

It never occurred to Joseph as he left home that morning that this would be the last time he would see his home. When his brothers saw Joseph coming, the extent of their hatred and bitterness is recorded in Genesis 37:19. "Here comes that dreamer. Let’s kill him and say some ferocious animal devoured him. Then what will become of his dreams."

Thank God one of the brothers was mature enough to interject some sensibility into the situation. No matter how justifiable your anger and hatred may seem, God will give you an alternate way to respond to save you from the disaster hatred creates. Your responsibility is to listen and act according to the message and help that God sends to you.  

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When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him – they wouldn’t even speak to him.

~GENESIS 37:4 The Message

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, practice loving your enemies and praying for your persecutors, to prove that you are children of your Father in heaven…”

~MATTHEW 5:43-45a Williams

Golden Rule: Golden Opportunities - Part 3

The mother of a young man who was brutally murdered related how she hated the man who committed the atrocious felony. She promised to give all her energies to keeping him incarcerated for the rest of his life. Complete healing may be impossible if the judicial system is lenient with this violent offender and neglects her need for justice.

Hate, bitterness and anger are self-destructive. My psychology professor noted that persistent stress subjects the body to disease by weakening the immune system. Hate, anger and bitterness are detrimental to the mind, body and spirit by creating a barrier to properly loving yourself.

Yet God’s word instructs believers to love what is good and hate what is evil. Hate felt toward another person, however, is contradictory to the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" is difficult to actualize, and is a lifetime endeavor. Implore God to give you the will to comply with his command. Would you do that?