Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]." Isaiah 26:3-4
Thoughts for Today
This week we've been discussing healing from the pain of abuse. Many people who have suffered abuse experience pain long after the abuse has ended. We've looked at the importance of overcoming fear by learning to trust God ... of seeking forgiveness for the wrong attitudes and responses we have allowed to develop in our life ... of forgiving those who have hurt us.
There is no quick fix for the pain of abuse. Healing is a process. Today's scripture gives us keys to this process: focusing our mind on Jesus, trusting him, committing ourselves to him, leaning on him and hoping in him. As we do these things, he promises to guard us and keep us in perfect and constant peace.
Consider this ...
During the healing process, you will most likely face some painful memories and some difficult experiences within yourself. Remember God is your greatest source of comfort. Go to him and he will comfort you by his Spirit who is living in you. With his help, you can be healed and truly put the past behind.
Prayer
Father, thank you for your promise of peace. Help me to trust you more, to keep my focus on you, and to follow the steps you lay before me in this process of healing. 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.
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.
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