I think one of the most significant reasons for the lack of success or resolution of long-standing issues in personal relationships, organizations, communities, or frankly countries, is that people cannot let go of their complaints about things that happened a long time in the past. Although one party may have wronged the other, the conflict cannot be overcome until the one who was wronged can let it go, and get over it.

People may say, “I am not going to be happy until the wrong doer…. apologizes, goes to jail, pays a fine, etc” However, often the person who was wronged, doesn’t even know what he or she wants, they are just mad, and they seem to want to stay that way.

The problem with this thinking is that it gives up control of our thoughts and feelings. What if that punishment or consequence never occurs? Should we be sour forever? Who is actually being punished for the wrong in that case. Staying upset just keeps us miserable.

Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”

When we “Get over it,” by forgiving those who wronged us, it is like opening the floodgates to the progress that only can occur when God’s love works through us.

Dear Lord, It is so easy to carry a grudge around, angry at someone for some old fault they may have committed, but this only hurts ourselves. So help us forgive these faults, let them go, get over them, so that we may feel your love, move forward and prosper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Throughout generations, there have been thousands of “Powerful, brilliant, inspiring, and successful people.” Many of these people have made incredible contributions to mankind. However their power is limited to the bounds of earth. Their influence may continue through institutions, and information they leave after death, but they have no power after death.

Psalm 146:3-5 says, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

God is the eternal power, when we put our confidence in him, and faith in Jesus Christ, we know we are protected beyond death, and into eternal life.

Dear Lord, What peace and joy it gives us when we truly put our hope in you for our protection and guidance. Help us see this truth and put it in practice in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The story that follows is about the twins born to Rebekah and Isaac, their names were Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first to be born, and by tradition at the time should have been the child to inherit the family “business,” and get the special blessing. But as the text describes, God had a different plan.

Romans 9:11-12, “Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice, a choice based on God’s call and not on anything people do.”

Genesis 25-27 tells the whole story of these two sons of Isaac, but the point is that God has a plan, and he calls people based on his plan. He doesn’t wait around to see if we are good or bad, We are each a part of the plan God is executing.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose.”

The twists and turns in our lives are not a surprise to God. He is using all of us and our experiences for his “holy purpose.”

Dear Lord, we cannot understand how we can have our own free will, and also be a pre-determined participant in your plan, but this is what we know from your word, and we will just accept it. Help us,, as a result, get power to act boldly for you and have peace, knowing and trusting your plan for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:20 “Always give thanks for everything to our God an Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Give thanks in everything? The flat tire, the IRS audit, the poor test grade? Why

When we commit our lives to God, he works in us, and on us, if we let Him. He is trying to make us better able to do the things He wants us to do. Some of the experiences we must go through are not pleasant, but they are necessary to become the people God wants us to be

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 Paul Writes, “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ the things God has prepared for those who love him.

We may realize shortly why we had the flat tire or other negative experience, but we may never know; however, we do know that God is working on us, if we let him, to become the person He wants us to be

Dear Lord, Thank you for working on us, making us better. Help us understand, and also be thankful even for the difficult things in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I was listening to an interview with a former Navy Seal who has recently written a book on leadership and he made an interesting comment. He said, “Discipline equals freedom.”

Conventional thinking would disagree with this concept, believing that by having discipline, people lose the flexibility, the “freedom” to do anything that they want.

James writes in James 1:25, “However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed.”

He says, “God’s perfect laws that make people free.” Like the comment from the Navy Seal, the counterintuitive idea of following rules or God’s laws, with discipline, will result in freedom.

Dear Lord, it sounds contradictory to us that being boxed in by your rules would give us freedom, but it does, and promises that in following God’s laws, we will be blessed. Help us understand your laws, and exercise the discipline to live them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.