Living Free - Mar. 29, 2013

Living Free Every Day®

Today's Scripture

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." - Ephesians 4:31 NIV

Thoughts for Today

Anger is a God-given emotional response we all experience occasionally. When we surrender ourselves to God and use self-control, anger is a normal emotion; uncontrolled, it can have tragic consequences. For those who have experienced abuse, anger is often used as a means of avoiding other even more unpleasant and devastating feelings like guilt, shame, grief and fear.

Consider this … 

As we seek God for healing, we should ask Him where all the anger and hurt come from. He will show us the reason we try to avoid feeling pain and will help us face what we need to face to let go of the pain, the past, and the anger.

We must be willing to go to God with our feelings, no matter what they are. We need to repent of the anger and bitterness. Usually one of the most difficult steps in the healing process is forgiving those we need to forgive. What may seem impossible is possible with Christ's help.

Healing is a process that may require many trips to the foot of the cross and many requests for the Lord to change us. But remember this: He is able, more than able, to help us overcome and become all He has designed us to be. His arms are not too short!

Prayer

Father, help me understand this anger and overcome it. Forgive me. And help me forgive those who have hurt me. That seems impossible, but then I remember how you forgave me even when I didn't deserve it. Give me the strength to show your kind of forgiveness to others. In Jesus' name …

These thoughts were drawn from …

Restoring Families: Overcoming Abusive Relationships through Christ by Janet M. Lerner, D.S.W. This study helps to minister to families caught in the cycle of abusive relationships. The curriculum deals with overcoming these abusive relationships through Christ and is recommended for use in support groups and Christian counseling.

• Ministers to families from abusive relationships
• Ministers to victims of family violence
• Deals with wounded emotions
• Deals with control and intimacy issues
• Presents a strong message of Christ as healer of abusive relationships

Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.