Is regret of someone’s past sin against you stifling your relationships? In the heat of conflict, did you raise your voice to abnormal decibels or say something you wish you didn’t that led to the offense against you? Are you constantly rethinking your actions, surmising you could have changed something to have totally avoided the […]
How Does Regret Affect Your Relationships? (Psalm 139:23-24)
The Prison Wall of Regret (Psalm 10:4)
What is regret? Regret is the thought that we could change the past. When we withhold forgiveness from holding on to regret, we think about how we could have changed the past in a way that would have eliminated or minimized the offense. In order to be free, we must let go of the third […]
How To Let Go of Resentment Horizontally in Relationships (Ephesians 4:31-32)
How do we let go of resentment horizontally in relationships? The Apostle Paul wrote: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). First, we must pour out […]
How To Let Go of Resentment Vertically with God (Ephesians 4:31-32)
How do we let go of resentment vertically with God? We pour out the bitter (resentment) and drink in the sweet antidote: God’s restoration of forgiveness, kindness, and compassion in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and […]
The Prison Wall of Resentment (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Jesus likened withholding forgiveness to a prison (Matthew 18:21-35). The irony is the person who will not forgive is the one locked inside the four walls. Forgive means “to let go.” In order to forgive someone who has wounded us, we must let go of four prison walls that incarcerate us in the prison of […]
The Prison Wall of Revenge Comes in Three Levels (Romans 12:17-21)
Which form of revenge do you favor? Revenge comes in three levels: (1) greater, (2) same, or (3) lesser. When our talent, treasure, or time is damaged, we are tempted to repay the offender with either greater, the same, or lesser damage to his resource of life. Revenge takes the matter into our own hands […]
The Prison Wall of Revenge and our Three Resources of Life (Matthew 5:38-42)
Often times, our first reaction to someone who wrongs us is revenge, the first prison wall of withholding forgiveness. Revenge means retaliation, or repayment. We are harmed in three ways, representing our 3 resources of life: (1) talent — the unique person God has created us to be, (2) treasure, and (3) time. Jesus addressed […]
The Prison Wall of Revenge (Matthew 18:21-35)
Have you had the opportunity to forgive someone who has wronged you? Who harmed you? Who was it? How did the act make you feel? Did you hold on or let go? Jesus likened withholding forgiveness to prison (Matthew 18:21-35). The irony is that the person who will not forgive is the one locked inside […]
What Can We Learn from Solomon? (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Life apart from God is meaningless. A divided heart led to a divided kingdom. It’s the first sin. It’s the wide gate. It’s love of the world. King Solomon pursued earthly knowledge for the sake of contentment, possessions for the sake of significance, military might for the sake of control, money for the sake of […]
Forgiveness Flows From The Heart (Matthew 6:14-15)
Are you characterized and known as a forgiver? The Bible teaches us two heart conditions exist: proud or humble. A proud heart is hard and holds on. A humble heart is soft and lets go, or forgives. When someone harms us, we either hold on or we let go. When we hold on, we remove […]
Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor (Matthew 18:21-35)
Have you had the opportunity to forgive someone who has wronged you? Jesus likened withholding forgiveness to a prison. The irony is that the person who will not forgive is the one locked inside the four walls. Forgive means “to let go.” In order to forgive someone who has wounded us, we must let go […]
Never Give Up on Each Other (Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:25)
Are you tempted to give up on someone? Has the advancement of the kingdom of God in that person skidded to what appears to be a screeching halt? Paul explained the what and why of not giving up on each other: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we […]
Never Give Up on Yourself (2 Chronicles 15:7)
When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, are you tempted to give up on yourself? After describing a season in which God’s leaders gave up, Azariah son of Oded said to King Asa of Judah: “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7). King […]
Never Give Up (2 Chronicles 15:7)
Do you ever feel like giving up? Whether we are overextended or just plain bored, how do we never give up? Amidst life’s challenges or even lack of them, we often say, “I give up.” These words weighted with finality flow from the heart. Just like a physical heart is comprised of four chambers, so […]
David Exhaled the Breath of Life to Others (Psalm 145; Psalm 78:70-72)
David yielded to God’s devising ways in him to help the banished not remain estranged from the Lord. In his crown jewel psalm, David exhaled the breath of life to others. First, David worshiped God in the presence of others (Psalm 145:1-3). Second, David exhaled God’s Word to others by writing the inspired Word. Third, […]
Exhale the Breath of Life to Others: Worship, Word, Workout (1 Corinthians 14:24; Hebrews 4:12)
Do you pull the lost toward God or push them away from Him? God devises ways for the lost to find life: “Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain […]
Exhale the Breath of Life to Others (1 Peter 3:15)
Do you secretly maintain a list of transgressions that disqualify sinners from the reach of God? Our beliefs affect our behavior, especially when encountering those who have blatantly sinned against God. Consequently, we must examine God’s passion for the lost to find life in Him and His desire to use us in the process. In […]
David Inhaled the Breath of Life: Worship, Word, Workout (Psalm 103; Psalm 23:3)
In an attempt to reconcile David with his banished son Absalom, the wise woman of Tekoa seized the moment at the conclusion of her parable to craft one of the most insightful word pictures ever expressed to the shepherd turned King: “Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. […]
God Devises Ways for Life: Inhale the Breath of Life from God (2 Samuel 14:14)
After being confronted by the wise woman of Tekoa about reconciling with his exiled son Absalom, David was faced with whether he would inhale the breath of life from God who devises ways so that the banished may not remain estranged from Him. First, David would have to remember his own sin and God’s justice, […]
God Devises Ways for Life: A Way to Pull (2 Samuel 14:14)
The Bible teaches God devises ways for life for those who are estranged from Him. Despite our sinful nature which often pushes others away, God still pulls the banished toward His abundant and eternal life. Let’s examine a story from the Bible where people are pushing when God is pulling. Amnon Devises a Way to […]