Pastor's Devotional...
August 8, 2019
Our current sermon series is “Unshakeable Faith” and bitterness (at abuses or over a setback) definitely can put a few cracks into our wellbeing. Turns out research is now showing those cracks lead to poor health, psychological and relational problems, as well as spiritual instability.
Research by people like German psychiatrist Michael Linden (Posttraumatic Embitterment Disorder) and professor/researcher Carsten Wrosch (Embitterment, Societal, Psychological and Clinical Perspectives) reinforces the Biblical injunction of Hebrews 12:15 to guard against the troubling, corrupting impact from any “poisonous root of bitterness”.
So how does such research jibe with the Biblical answer to the peril of bitterness? Let’s start with bitterness directed at a person, someone who has abused you to some degree great or small. (Next week we’ll look at the antidote for bitterness rooted in a disappointing life development like loss of job, marriage, health, an opportunity or dream.)
The obvious answer for bitterness at a person is forgiveness. The famous Mayo Clinic encourages the following when forgiveness is difficult to achieve:
“Forgiveness can be challenging, especially if the person who’s hurt you doesn’t admit wrong. If you find yourself stuck:
- Practice empathy. Try seeing the situation from the other person’s point of view.
- Ask yourself why he or she would behave in such a way. Perhaps you would have reacted similarly if you faced the same situation.
- Reflect on times you’ve hurt others and on those who’ve forgiven you.
- Write in a journal, pray or use guided meditation- or talk with a person you’ve found to be wise and compassionate, such as a spiritual leader, a mental health provider, or an impartial loved one or friend.
- Be aware that forgiveness is a process, and even small hurts may need to be revisited and forgiven over and over again.”
Here we see strong parallels to eternal truths that we need forgiveness ourselves and we must forgive others to be forgiven (“forgive us our debts as we…”) Jesus’ parable about the servant forgiven a large debt by the king who, in turn, would not forgive a lesser debt to himself drives this point home. (Matthew 18:23)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for guidelines on how to forgive but, more importantly, the persistent love You’ve shown me that empowers me to forgive the unforgivable. In Your Name, Amen.
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Prayers for Healing
Larry Sipek
Carolyn Harris
James Miles
Surajdaye (Ann Beharry-Lalla)
Cari Dee
Chesta Hembrooke
Cliff Murphy
Vanessa Robinson
Laura Starich's father Jim Whipple
Daniel Ramsaywack Sr.
Paul Osborne (Angie’s husband)
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Our prayers are with...
- Norma Munroe and family on the birth of her mother, Linnette into eternal life.
- Ervin Bracy and family on the birth of his sister, Queen, into eternal life.
- Heeraman Ramnath and family on the birth of Heeraman's uncle into eternal life.
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