"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting the things that 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." Philippians 3:13-14
Four
common ways people commonly deal with painful memories:
·
Curse
It – Resignation
Job’s
wife wanted him to just curse God and die. Sometimes the traumas, tragedies and
disappointments of life can be overwhelming. It is easy to lose hope and resign
yourself to fate. But when you do you will disgrace yourself and God.
·
Rehearse It – Resentment
Resentment
is addictive. It is one of the greatest killers of careers, marriages and
families because it causes you to focus only on the past and not on the present
or the future!
Worst
of all, you become more addicted to the feeling of resentment the more you
rehearse it. So it’s crucial you put a stop to it before it destroys you and
cause you to disgrace yourself and God.
·
Nurse
It – Relish
It’s
OK to be angry! Anger is a legitimate response to disappointment and hurt. But
it becomes dangerous when you stay angry and start nursing a grudge. Don’t
relish the feelings or the sympathy. That opens the door for Satan to torment
you and keep you trapped in unforgiveness and bitterness! So get angry if you
need to, but also get over it quickly!
·
Reverse
It - Release
Resist
the temptation to resign to the painful memories, or resent the painful
memories or to relish the painful memories and release it to the grace of God.
Refuse to dwell on past pain and focus on God’s presence, His power and His
promises!
We
are blessed to live in a Nation that has been successful on the battlefield
when defending our freedom and security! That is what we are celebrating this
long week-end!
I
am also concerned that here at FredWes we learn to win the spiritual battles
that are contested on the battlefields of our minds.
When
you curse your painful memories and resign yourself to self-pity you are losing
the battle! You are remembering what you should not remember and not
remembering what you should.
Are
you giving into self-pity? Have you resigned to your feelings rather than your
faith?
When
you rehearse your painful memories open the door to resentment and anger you
are losing the battle!. That can lead to despair and depression by remembering
what you shouldn’t remember and not remembering what you should.
Are
you dwelling on your painful memories and giving into resentment? Have you given
into your flesh rather than standing
firm in faith?
When
you nurse your painful memories you get stuck in the pain and in the past. You
are losing the battle for your heart and mind. Nursing your painful memories
causes anger and anxiety to take control of your mind. You enjoy the sympathy
and attention you get from others as you remain in your perpetual victimhood.
Are
you stuck in suffering mode? Are you enjoying the sympathy and attention that
playing the victim brings you?
If
any or all of these are true for you, you are losing in the battlefield of the
mind. You are remembering the wrong things and not remembering the right
things! You need to reverse your remembering!