After an Abortion: Paralyzed by the Past - Living Free - July 17
AFTER AN ABORTION: PARALYZED BY THE PAST
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (
Thoughts for Today
After abortion, you may know in your heart you have done something terribly wrong or suffered a terrible wrong. But the past is past. You probably think, What can I do about it? No one can help me now.
Those kinds of thoughts can be paralyzing. That's not some fatal flaw in you. It's natural, normal. Abortion can make you feel stuck, depressed, numb, unable to befriend or love with any intimacy. You may feel so far from God that your lame spirit renders you helpless and immobilized.
Ask yourself this: Have I taken on affliction as a way of life?
Consider this …
Many years ago, a young bride was forced to abort following physical violence by her brutal husband that left her hospitalized for a full week receiving care for bruises and broken ribs. At age seventy-five, the woman still suffers from this primal wound to her spirit though decades have passed. She has allowed pain and unforgiveness to define and limit her life. She is especially bitter toward a priest who hurt her by giving poor counsel while she was still recovering in the hospital from the physical battering.
Are you nurturing your hurt instead of allowing God to heal your heart? Instead of casting your cares on Jesus? Are you paralyzed by the past? Affliction as a way of life says, "I will never forgive." "I will never get over this." "I will take this to my grave."
Are you ready to move on? You can, but you have to make a choice. Tomorrow we will take a closer look at this step.
Prayer
Lord, I do feel stuck. I've been this way for so long, but I really don't want this way of life anymore. Please help me. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from … Cradle My Heart: Finding God's LOVE After Abortion by Kim Ketola. In this book, Kim seeks to help those hurt by abortion to grieve with hope. Sharing her story and the stories of ten other women, she reveals that God's love is not a casualty of the abortive process. With an appendix of helpful resources and a study and discussion guide included, Cradle My Heart is a timely and important resource for the hurting woman, the counselor, and the church.
With an understanding and empathetic voice, Kim Ketola exposes the hurt in your heart, reveals the healing in God's heart, and brings the two together to create a whole heart where restoration and celebration are possible.
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©Living Free 2018. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to info@LivingFree.org
