Organizing the Inside 365 Days
Empowering Christian Women To Get Organized and Discover God's Plan for Their LivesArchive for Forgiveness
Organizing the Inside – Day 309 Shining the Light In You
17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.18“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. John 3:17-21 (NLT)
Those who believe in Jesus are not judged. By accepting God’s give of eternal life we are free from judgment. Believers are forgiven and made free from the sins of the past. They have been separated from the evil deeds of the past. Psalm 103:12 (NIV) As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Those deeds are no longer remembered by God. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 (NIV) Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Hebrews 10:17 (NLT)
No one living in darkness is happy or fulfilled. Deep down inside they are searching for more. The emptiness they experience each day is hidden by fake smiles and pride in material possessions and personal accomplishments. Many unbelievers flaunt the worthless gains of this life to justify their lust for riches and rejection of God’s way. Many believe that their lifestyle and material gain hold far more value than belief in someone other than themselves. Some have established their own limits for right and wrong, and like the rich young ruler they view their riches more valuable than the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:21, 22)
Those who do not believe in Jesus have already been judged. Their evil deeds condemn them. Don’t be surprised or hurt by the unbeliever’s hatred for you. Don’t be hurt when your words of truth are not openly received by them. Those who choose to live life based upon their own selfish evil desires do not like light. They prefer to be left in darkness because your light, even your very presence often exposes and convicts their hearts of sin. You may not say a word against their sin, but your light is so bright they’d rather keep a distance. Continue to love and pray for them. Keep letting your light shine, it shows them that living in darkness is not the way. (1 Peter 2:12, Matthew 5:16) Don’t lose hope in God’s ability to save them no matter how much darkness they seem to love.
Organizing the Inside – Day 221 Acceptance, The Loving Path
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
After taking a personality test, weaknesses I thought were long gone were exposed. I hid the fact that I had problems balancing my expectations of others. The same judgmental measuring stick I used on myself, I also used on everyone else. My expectations for myself and others remained in the consistently unattainable stratosphere of my mistaken belief. While removing planks from both my own eyes, I was happy to consult others on their multiple eye obstructions as well. Being a self-ordained plank remover was a tiring and emotionally exhausting existence. Also read Matthew 7:1-5
You first must accept yourself.
Accepting yourself is a prerequisite for being able to fully accept and love others. Yep, that’s tough to swallow because who doesn’t have the occasional moment of “I wonder if I’m good enough?” Nevertheless realizing that Christ’s finished work on Calvary, means we are all “good enough” will change your life. Seeing you the way that God sees you is paramount to successfully fulfilling His plan. I don’t believe you can fully give of yourself until you know and accept yourself. Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power. 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT) It is not uncommon to wonder about your abilities, everyone has, but that (self-doubt) too must be crucified along with the flesh. You must accept God’s amazing grace and power realizing that even if you were the only sinner, Christ would have still given His life. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6 (NIV) God has called us to love others and not judge them. We have the responsibility as Christian women to walk in love and unconditionally accept the faults of others. When you find yourself feeling just a bit irritated by someone else’s short comings, or unsuitable behavior, opt-out of the judgment seat, and choose love instead. It’s the same unconditional love that Christ has toward us, which has healing properties that will help close the deepest wounds, and mend broken lives.
Organizing the Inside – Day 194 Let’s Take Out The Trash
16So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.18He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. 19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
James 1:16-20
The silent treatment
God makes it clear in His Word that our human anger doesn’t achieve His righteous purpose. So what about the silent treatment? I found myself trying to get my anger under control by giving my husband the silent treatment. Actually, this is no way to deal with anger and will eventually cause more problems. This only gives the enemy an open door to promote more self defeating behavior. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26, 27 (NLT)
For those who know me, you’d likely agree;
I generally have a very laid-back demeanor. I don’t often have emotional highs or lows. My temperament is melancholy; therefore when I experience extreme or unreasonable emotional highs it sends a red flag. The most recent experience was when my husband (for the hundredth time) didn’t replace the recycle bin in the kitchen. I really felt my need to punish such behavior was justified. I wanted to send Him a message that this kind of disorganization would no longer be tolerated. He’d crossed the line and the silent treatment was the only language He would understand. So, I made a conscious choice to maintain complete silence until I got my point across.
The Lord can use the recycling bin,
the trash can, or whatever household items He chooses to speak to our hearts. The object of the lesson is not as important as the message itself. During my silent protest it became apparent that I was overreacting, and God used the recycle bin to show me I’d let things build up. I allowed hostile resentment about the recycle bin to build in my heart… really? I began to see that each time the recycle bin was not left in its appointed place, my choice to stuff down my feelings, again was self-defeating. When we feel extreme emotional highs or lows, pretending the feelings don’t exist is like dumping more trash in the compactor.
I had to empty my compactor.
I believe the answer is simple; give it to God and leave it there. Yep, God wants our trash. Certainly He doesn’t want us carrying around all that stuff. The unforgiveness, anger and resentment towards others hurt you far more than you realize. Anger can keep you from being the woman God wants you to be. God is the only one equipped to dispose of our trash. Don’t keep stuffing your feelings down until the compactor starts to spill over with smelly junk. If you’ve been carrying around a full compactor it’s time to allow God to clean it out. Go to Him in prayer and let Him give you peace in exchange for your anger, love in place of your resentment. Hard feelings will only weigh you down, and hold you back. Let it go! Then go on to fulfill His righteous purpose for your life. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
Organizing the Inside – Day 186 Today, I Prayed For Those Who Hurt Me
21If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. 22You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you. Proverbs 25:21, 22 (NLT)
Some things are simply better left to God to handle.
If you’ve ever been wronged by someone and felt you needed to pay them back, you’re not alone. God however, has His own way of dealing with people who come against His beloved children. We could never execute righteous judgment or deliver just retaliation the way God can. The Word of God makes it clear that paying back evil for evil is not any business we need to get in to. His word clearly instructs us to love our enemies and to pray for them. Organizing the inside is about allowing the Spirit of God to rule in every area of our lives. We can’t submit to God in one area, but take control ourselves in other areas. We have to submit to Him in everything we do, no matter how we feel. God’s word is able to regulate our hearts, but only when we yield to it, and confess our inadequacies.
We have the ability to love and walk in humility.
Humility is strength under control. Well certainly revenge may be justified, but that’s not up to you or me. I realize it may seem as though God is not dealing with your enemies, and you need to step in and take action. Oh, but we know this isn’t true, if for no other reason than that His word says so. Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. Proverbs 20:22 (NLT) As children of the Most High, we have to live our lives above reproach. Yes, being concerned with first obeying God, but also about how our actions may be misconstrued by others, and bring reproach upon the Body of Christ. I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. Psalm 101:6 (NLT) 17Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.19Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. Romans 12:17-19 (NLT) Don’t worry about how people look upon your kindness, that’s their problem. You must simply obey, and trust God. “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” Deuteronomy 32:35 (NIV)
Jesus cast out demons, and people tried to suggest He was the head of all demons, how ridiculous. When we do what is right, unbelievers and busybodies alike, who can find nothing better to do with their time, will try to suggest we are too weak. Watch how Jesus responded to Pilate when he asked, if He was the king of the Jews, He said, “So you say.” (Luke 23:3) Little do these folks understand that in our weakness, God’s strength is made perfect. So when others call you weak, tell them, “So you say.” In the end, I’d much rather be found on the side of righteousness, and let God deal with those who cause hurt.
Tomorrow I must pray for my enemies, again and again.
Organizing the Inside – Day 127 God Wants True Fellowship
For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5
God’s love for His people is eternal.
Not that we could ever earn it or that we even deserve it, but He loves us still. That love is eternal and no matter how far we roam in our worthless pursuits for acceptance, achievement, and recognition God still cares. He goes to great lengths to show His love and is always standing with open arms to heal our hurt and regret when we mess up. Who in all of history has ever demonstrated such love as God has for His people? And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38
The Lord is sovereign, and in Him there is no darkness. “I am the LORD, and I do not change. Malachi 3:6
The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. Psalm 145:13 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9
Throughout the Bible we see how God never made provisions for sin.
Yet, He gave His people opportunity after opportunity for holiness. He indeed made provisions for holiness, and He did it with an unending love that continued to endure. He washed away the sins of His children and showed His love and faithfulness in spite of their wickedness. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. Ezekiel 36:25 His commitment toward His people was unyielding. He opened His heart to receive both Jews and Gentiles and wrote His holy laws on the hearts of men. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Ephesians 2:15 But, this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Hebrews 8:10
God wants to have fellowship with us.
God always desired to have a holy people who were set aside for Himself. “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:2 He continued to pursue and relationship and made a way for us to have this fellowship with Him. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 God wants to have a deep and intimate relationship with each of us. It is His desires to share His glory with us through His dear Son Jesus Christ. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
So, what choices shall we make about what God wants from us?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 Not only did God love us, pursue us, save us, cleansed us, provide for us, enrich and empower us, He sacrificed Himself for us; He gave all that He had to redeem us unto Himself. What love, what awesome and incomprehensible love. Surely in our sin and wicked living we did not deserve such love. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 What, life will we choose to live? What gift of service will we willingly give?
Will we return unto Him the LOVE and the fellowship that He desires? For God has given Himself and He gave us His best, He gave us LOVE. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 Which will you choose?
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13
Organizing the Inside – Day 91 How Long Will You Be Offended?
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ~Colossians 3:13
How long oh “offended one” will you be offended?
“Let it go”, your mind tells you.” But I can’t right now”, is what your heart tells your head. This person shouldn’t have done that and they need to pay by not having a relationship with me right now. I just think they ought to pay for what they did. Since I can’t sentence them to hard labor. I will just shut down and withdraw myself. Now that they no longer have the honor of my presence, maybe now they will consider their actions. That’s it… I’ve rendered my verdict GUILTY as charged.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 18:19 Sometimes the walls that are built are, so wide and so deep that they seem impossible to tear down. Seventy times seven sure seems like a lot.
Try to consider the love and compassion that kept Jesus on the cross.
Surely He didn’t have to stay there and suffer all that He did. May God grant the strength to His dear children to never render such judgment upon our own brothers and sisters. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3
Through true fellowship with God, the Holy Spirit will prime your heart to be ready to forgive. People have all kinds of past tragedies and sad circumstances that sometimes cause them to act a certain way. To an extent we all have a past that can affect our present.
It all belongs under the blood.
What does it mean to place it under the blood? FORGIVENESS is what it really means. Your stuff, their stuff Christ died for it all and it was finished and forgiven. God forgave you and you must allow Him to filter through your offended heart so that you can offer forgiveness to others. It may not always be easy. Some acts of forgiveness come quickly while others may not. The real key to being able to forgive is allowing the Spirit of God in you to have His way, soften your heart, remind you of what Christ did for you and change your mind. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, John 10:14 When God speaks to your offended heart, don’t delay. Don’t try to hold on to your so-called justified anger. Let it go! Let it go at once and experience the freedom of living a life that reflects the truth of the gospel. They will know that we are Christians by our love.
This coming from the first partaker of this truth.
Organizing the Inside – Day 73 Give Me A Clean Heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
~Psalm 51:10
It has been weeks, or maybe years.
When something happens to bring it back to your memory you feel ashamed, embarrassed or just kind of down about what happened. For so long you have felt bad, but you’ve learned to put it out of mind because it was just not something you really wanted to deal with. When it comes up you tell yourself, you’ll deal with it later, but later never comes.
You can stuff it down and sometimes put it out of your head.
Yet it lingers in your heart and you just know that it’s there. I understand how hard it is, but who hasn’t made mistakes? Those mistakes can take a toll on your peace of mind. God doesn’t expect you to be perfect and you need to give yourself a break.
He knew just how bad we could screw things up, but He decided to let us keep our free will, all while loving us and forgiving us when we mess up.
Forgive yourself and forget about the past.
Don’t continue to let this thing stay on your conscience bothering you and keeping you from living a simple life with peace on the inside. It is not okay to put yourself down over something that happened a long time ago. No matter how awful, if you sincerely asked God to forgive you he did. Not only did He forgive you He forgot about it and wiped the slate clean. It is not cool for a Christian to walk around feeling condemned when God has completely cleansed you. It’s time to get rid of those old remnants of the past and let God move you forward. Now it’s your turn to forgive yourself, and let Him create in you a clean heart. Also read Isaiah 43:19
Day 49- Do You Have the Heart to Forgive?
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ~James 1:19
I was greatly offended and quite frankly I think they’re wrong. Wrong for what they did, or wrong for what they said and it really made me angry. I just ought to tell them… Have you ever felt that you were right in a dispute and your anger toward someone else was justified? Did you feel like, God was on your side this time, and the other person was just wrong, wrong, wrong?
God promises to be our vindicator if we obey Him and let Him handle the situation. Getting caught up in disputes about something someone did or said that hurt your feelings is a great way to complicate your life. If you want to live the simplified life that God wants for you, then it is up to you to pray for the offender and move on. Okay, so it really hurt your feelings; nevertheless you must forgive them.
You may feel that you just want to hold on to this offense for a while, because of your so-called righteous indignation. There is a more excellent way; bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Holding on to anger will never achieve God’s righteous purpose.
1) Ask God for His help.
2) Decide to forgive.
3) Trust God to heal your hurt.
4) Allow God to show the power of love through you.
The quicker you forgive the less likely you are to get a root of bitterness in your heart. What’s too hard for you, well those are the things God specializes in. Apart from Him you can do nothing… Oh, but with God all things are possible.
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 