The Apostle Paul instructs us by example in Philippians 3:13-14 "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
You have a calling in Christ you know it or sensed it at one time. A high calling of God in Christ. Now life's circumstances have caused you pain maybe multiple layers of pain since the time you first heard the call of God. Its these layers of pain that are now holding you in doubt and disbelief and they are still being used by the adversary to keep you from pressing forward to your high calling. These layers of hurt could have been caused by broken relationships, divorce, loss of loved ones, the death of a child, loss of a job, your career, abuse as a child, abuse as an adult, sickness, failure, rejection, addiction, alcoholism and the list goes on. The residual pain from hurts goes deep and though through time it appears you moved on but the non resolved issues have left open wounds that are not yet healed that God wants to heal and for you to have true victory from.
The way I know there was still buried emotional scars in my life is (for example) I might be somewhere having a wonderful time then something may seem familiar to me from a time past when a relationship or marriage was in place then suddenly my whole demeanor changes and depression rears its ugly head. My response would be to endure it then shake it off and feel okay again...but was I really okay?
Gods Word addresses these unresolved areas in our lives as fear. Fear stops the fruit of love from growing. 1John 3:18 states "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
The first key to excavating the buried horrors of past hurts is to forgive those who have hurt you. Even if you felt abandonment through the death of a loved one forgive them release the hold on you that death has caused. Pray out loud "Lord Jesus I forgive "Name" for leaving and I release them into Your care. Heal me Lord and now relieve me of the hurt I've carried inside for much to long a time. And forgive me of my unforgiveness." Whatever your past entailed from death to abuse to abandonment to negative addictions consciously forgiving those who hurt you begins the excavating healing work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Perfect Love casts out fear. I fear so I am not yet made perfect in love yet I can obey 1st Corinthians 13 which is a description of Gods perfect love while obeying His Word and we have this promise to go with the promise that perfect love cast out fear and to this end 1John 2:5 "But whoso keeps His Word in him verily the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him."
In Christ’s Love and Service,
James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister
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