DAY 44 with Teresa Ann:
(Click here to listen to today’s devotional via podcast).
HURTING FOR OTHERS
Have you ever hurt more for others than what was done to you?
It is quite interesting how even those I hold dear to my heart are the same way. We have that mentality of, “You can do this to me; but them; “OH, not even; don’t you dare!”
These are the people I love being with as they are the ones that would lose their dignity for the dignity of someone else. It is a rare thing and yet so beautiful.
However, here is where people like us can go wrong really fast. We end up living a life not being offended for ourselves; but for others. It’s a life lived with SECOND offenses. It’s yet again another trap of distraction. This is something that we must be so intentional with GOD over as we tend to see all perspectives, but so often to a fault.
This is something I struggle with often. It seems noble, but if not walked out in GOD’s love, there’s always an open area to walk in judgement…we end up doing the exact thing that we hated what was done to others.
So how do we free ourselves from this trap? Well, I am continuously realizing that caring for others is beautiful; but to what extent? Does their burden now become ours? Again, it seems noble, but it is actually dishonorable to them, ourselves and most of all GOD.
Some may be asking, “But how can that be?” Well, here’s how: When we run with someone else’s burdens and cares, we tend to hold onto them as though we have the power to do something with them. However we don’t have the power to do that for ourselves; let alone someone else?
So what makes us go there? It’s not knowing GOD for WHO HE really is! He wants our burdens; HE is not afraid of them. He actually invites us to just let it all out. Again, as said days ago, GOD IS NOT SCARED!
So, what does false responsibility have to do with it? It’s where we take on the responsibility of what is meant for GOD to take care of. In our efforts, we want so badly for the other person or people to be covered that we don’t release their burdens and cares; instead we hold onto it as if to say GOD doesn’t care for them. We know that is not true; but our belief is actually seen through our action or lack thereof.
Again, some may be asking, “But how?” Here it is, in our honoring efforts we end up saying with our actions, “This is something I must take care of”; when all along GOD was showing us that HE allowed us to see it for HIS purpose; so that we could run to HIM on their behalf; not run to ourselves and our own indignation.
What is GOD’s indignation look like? Well, it was quite simply yet so violently displayed at the cross of Calvary…it was for us to echo, “Father! Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
REVEALINGS OF THE WORD WITH HOLY SPIRIT:
I Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22; Luke 6:27-42; Isaiah 41:13; Luke 23:34
LET’S TALK:
- What are some things that Holy Spirit highlighted to you that you need to cast, fling and release with violence to HIM?
- Do you trust that HE has the last word even over their lives?
- Do the circumstances seem so grim? Then look up to Almighty GOD as HE wants to do the great and mighty things that you could never do on your own.
- The strategy of the enemy is to exhaust you, but don’t fall for it…go to the ONE WHO has given you the VICTORY through praising GOD and glorifying HIM and calling the unseen into the seen. Even doing so over those that you have seen mistreat others. Declare, “Father! Forgive them for they know not what they do.” When we do this we are not standing the court of the accuser; instead we get to stand in the courtroom of the one Who Advocates for us!
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