KEY SCRIPTURES:
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalm 34:17-18 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
RELEVANCE
Over the past few weeks, I've been seeing a really good osteopath for my sick elbow. We're working on reducing chronic inflammation.
Inflammation is a part of the body's immune system in fighting infections and injuries as it attempts to heal itself. When cell damage occurs, your body releases natural chemicals that activate an immune system response. Trouble occurs in the sense of chronic inflammation when the healing response lags, switching your body into a perpetual state of alertness—pain when the area is pressed.
Spiritual inflammation works similarly. We somehow get injured or involved in situations causing pain. Generally, we move on from these, leaving them in life's wake. However, there are some injuries we don't let heal, and the inflammation remains active. Meaning if left unaddressed, the issues turn chronic, often triggering bouts of unresolved anger, hate, rejection, disappointment, unforgiveness, etc.—all the things you thought you'd dealt with.
If one of those bouts arises when a sore point is pressed, you haven't yet dealt with it. In other words, if you find yourself criticising, whinging, shouting abuse, or uncontrollably swearing, then it is still a heart problem that you haven't yet given up to God. You've only taken Panadol to settle the pain, but you haven't healed it at the source.
God is not Panadol or a Band-Aid. But He is the healer of all heart issues. First, we need to give them up to Him. While the wounds remain flammable or triggerable, they are still alive.
If you find yourself harbouring old wounds and would finally like to give them up, confess them—all of them—and repent to God through Jesus Christ. Leave all your pain and former thoughts in the graveyard of history and live a truly peaceful life.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us all to give up old wounds. Help us let them heal completely and grant us the peace that passes all understanding.
Photo by Claudia Wolff