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She Was Powerful . . .Because She Forgave

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The wound in her soul was hidden to her eyes but not to her heart. The hurt continued to haunt her life as it seeped out of her soul and stepped into her thought life. No matter how hard she tried to forget what happened, her mind automatically reached into her soul and retrieved the repressed hurt, replaying it again and again. The wound owned her, and it was growing bigger even though her offender was miles away. 

She wanted to be free. She felt powerless.

“Just forgive,” she heard her pastor say. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one each other just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

 But what IS forgiveness? Instead of this advice bringing freedom to her soul, it often brought frustration. She was tired of being a doormat others used to wipe their feet. But she had to do something. Her buried hurt emotions were building to the point of breaking her.

This struggle is my story. Is it yours too? Who doesn’t struggle with forgiving someone who hurt her heart?

Opposed to our human nature and often misunderstood, forgiveness is a hard concept to grasp. Forgiveness is not saying what happened was okay. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting what happened. Forgiveness does not mean trusting the person . . . but it does mean trusting God to handle the situation. 

Forgiveness is letting go of your right to retaliate by releasing your offender to God.

If you retaliate, you are allowing your offender to control your life. If you repress your emotions or deny them, you’ll swallow that anger and plant the seed of bitterness in your soul. Revenge, repression, retaliation . . . they all put you in a prison. But releasing the offense to God allows the GREAT I AM to control your life. And with that release comes freedom.

Being real about your hurt and bringing that pain to God opens the door for healing. Showing love to your enemies dissolves your offender’s power to hurt you because it confirms God is in control of your life.

When you release others, you open your hands to receive from God, the only One who can redeem and restore.

God wants you to be powerful, not passive. But godly girl power does not rest in revenge—it rests in love. Love is a powerful force and puts God in control instead of your offender. Forgiveness carves a path for the mighty river of God’s love and power to flow to you—and through you to others! 

God has a great purpose for your life. He wants you to spend your energy, your purpose—not dwelling on buried hurts or revenge, but focusing on his purpose for your journey. Focusing on God’s purpose for your life is an essential, effective way to live. You are not responsible for your offender’s actions, but you are responsible for how you respond. God saw what happened to you. He is not asking you to say what happened was okay—but he does want you to turn it over to him. 

For you to be okay, you must treat the wound his way.

When you retaliate, your offender is in control. When you respond in love and forgiveness, God is in control. Forgiveness carves a path for the mighty river of his love and power to flow.

Who will rule your heart? Your offender . . . or God? God never gives us a command without promising the power to walk that truth. On your own, this love is impossible, but with God all things are possible.  Don’t let your offender steal your power one more day. Wounds are never easy to deal with, – just for today take the first step…bring God your willing heart.  

She told God she was ready to forgive. She didn’t want to, but that was okay. God wrapped his arms around her and told her if she was willing, he would help her. It was a process and didn’t happen overnight. But when she let go of the painful relationship and released that person to God, a door opened in her soul. Redemption came in and healed the raw wound in her heart. God redeemed all that had been lost in ways beyond anything she could have ever dreamed.

She was free. She was fearless. She was powerful . . . because she forgave!

(Jesus said the truth will set you free. At Treasured Ministries we believe that two of the biggest barriers to forgiveness are misconceptions about forgiveness and how to practically put this command into practice. To discover more about this topic listen to these two podcasts.

“Forgive But Not Forget” by Beth Vogt
“How to Forgive” by Carla Ross

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 4:24-32

Answering Anxiety Inside COVID-19

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What can I do for my anxiety?

The COVID-19 virus has brought an avalanche of anxiety, and it’s never been more important to answer the attack God’s way. One of the best ways to calm your heart in any storm is by speaking God’s word out loud each day.

But let’s be honest – this helpful habit is not easy to keep.  Life is busy and this discipline, while it is vital for the health of your soul, can get lost in the shuffle especially amidst the storm of uncertainty we are all facing.

But when you stack speaking God’s word on top of another daily habit, you will find that it is much easier to make a part of your day. This process is called habit stacking. Here is how you can do this in three easy steps:

    1. Download and Print the Calm Your Heart Verses we’ve created for you for free.
    2. Tape them to your bathroom mirror.
    3. After you brush your teeth in the morning and at night, take two more minutes and say these verses out loud. Brushing your teeth is already a twice a day habit to care for your teeth. Stacking renewing your mind on top of brushing your teeth is an easy way to making sure you are tending to the care of your soul daily.

When Joshua was headed into battle God told him to meditate on the word day and night. Friends, we are in a battle with a silent enemy. Let’s speak the word of God each day and night to find courage for victory!

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  (Joshua 1:8).

A Prayer For Worry and Fear

Almighty Father, when worry overcomes me, let me call on the one who is greater than any giant I may face. For greater is the Spirit that lives within me than the one in the world! 

When the enemy attacks with his lies, let that be a trigger that turns me right to you. Help me to reject the thoughts that do not come from you Lord, and replace them with your truth. 

I win over worry with worship.  

Christ Jesus. Messiah. Healer. Defender. The name above every name. The Bread of Life, the Light of the World. My Anchor in the storm. Emmanuel—God with me. Jesus, my Kinsman Redeemer, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End. My strength!  

I close in prayer today asking you for what I need and thanking you in advance for what you will do today and tomorrow and what you have done in the past.

May your peace that surpasses my understanding of the situation guard my mind. Amen.  

Download the Calm Your Heart Scriptures to battle anxiety God’s Way.

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © Copyright Treasured Ministries 2019

How to Forgive

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Forgiveness can be frustrating when figuring out exactly how to put it into action. But when someone gives you a road map, you can take steps of faith aligned with truth to find freedom and live in peace as God intended. For 35 years, Carla Ross has taught on forgiveness and today she shares her insight that will equip you like never before. Oh my, did I discover some amazing new revelations on forgiveness inside this interview! Listen in today and share with a friend.

Carla is currently on a sabbatical from Meredith College. She is working on researching the most important steps to forgive and writing a manual to guide individuals through the forgiveness process. She is honored to be working with Dr. Everett Worthington, the world-renowned scholar and publisher on forgiveness.

You can connect with Carla by emailing her at 70x7Counseling@gmail.com.

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Let It Go!

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Whether the disciples knew it or not, as they gathered around the table to take part in Passover, their meal symbolically portrayed what Christ would accomplish on the cross in a matter of hours. Jesus paused on his pathway to the cross long enough to prepare his disciples for the hours that would follow. The events of the next days would test their faith.

It is significant that Christ was crucified on Passover. The Israelites in Egypt provided their own Passover lambs to save their households, as God had instructed. But Christ himself became the Passover Lamb for the whole world—without defect because he was without sin (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Bible says that we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish or sin (1 Peter 1:19).

Isaiah 53 describes Christ as our Lamb who would bear our griefs, carry our sorrows, and be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. His stripes would bring healing; his chastisement would bring peace. And his soul would be made an offering for sin. When we come into the new covenant, we can rest in Christ!

God rescued the Israelites from slavery when they put the lamb’s blood on the door. Jesus rescues us when we put our faith in his shed blood.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we apply the blood of Jesus Christ over the door of our heart by putting our faith in his finished work on the cross. The shed blood of Christ rescues us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the dominion of darkness (Colossians 2:8–15).

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Renewing our minds gives us the power to put our rescue in Christ and releases our old life to take hold of the new. That’s godly girl power!

Read the following out loud:

Jesus took all my sin and gave me a right standing with God. Jesus took all my sorrows and gave me his joy. He took all my anxiety and gave me his peace. Jesus took all my shame and allowed me to hold my head high. He took all my weakness and gave me his mighty strength through the power of his Spirit. He gave me the armor of God for protection against the enemy’s attacks (Ephesians 6:10–18). He took all my sickness and depression and healed me body, soul, and spirit (Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53). He crucified my flesh and gave me the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Everything that Jesus has, all that his name means, all that his life represents, is mine. He lives inside me. Because of him, God has invited me to eat from his table and share in his Son’s inheritance.

Spiritually, Jesus broke the power of sin in my life. He took my religion and gave me a relationship instead. He took my fear and gave me love (1 John 4:18). He bound up my broken heart (Isaiah 61:1) and proclaimed my freedom. Jesus took my filthy rags and adorned me with a robe of righteousness and a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3). The curse of the law is broken (Galatians 3:13). And now I am free to have the power of his Spirit (Acts 1:8) and choose to walk into a new way of life.

Treasured one, find godly girl power in our Nourish Scripture this week as we remember our rescue so we can release our old life to take hold of the new. See you for the Treasured Tribe Talk on Thursday!

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Forgive but Not Forget

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Do you ever battle in the belief that you are an unforgiving person? Do you ever find yourself revisiting the same painful issue with an offender in your mind over and over again – questioning if you have forgiven the person who hurt you?

In today’s podcast, special guest Beth Vogt explains how understanding the difference between vertical and horizontal forgiveness changed her life. Listen to today’s podcast and find release from the self-doubt of the forgiveness struggle, and discover what your responsibility is inside forgiveness and what is not your responsibility to carry.

Award-winning author Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored nine contemporary romance novels and novellas, The Best We’ve Been, the third and final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, releases May 2020. She transitioned to writing women’s fiction because she enjoys delving into the complicated dynamics between sisters, mothers and daughters, and friends.

Connect with Beth at her website, bethvogt.com. You can sign up for her monthly newsletter and receive a free e-novella, and find out more about her upcoming release, The Best We’ve Been, that delves into the complicated relationships between sisters.

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Exhale

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True confidence flows from knowing that the greatest gift you can bring to the world is becoming the woman God created you to be. Part of this journey is confidently embracing your God-given spiritual gifts and understanding that he gave you these gifts to empower you to love others and share truth with them. That is true humility.

Step out of the shadows, brave heart. Come away from the sidelines. Who told you that hiding is humility? God has given you a spiritual gift to share. You have something to offer. That gift was given TO you but it was not FOR you. Hiding it is not humility. Hiding keeps you from using your gifts to help others.

Your purpose is a pathway to sharing God’s love, and our spiritual gifts are the vehicle to take us along that path. The Holy Spirit breathes ability into us and as we exhale, the life of Christ is shared and fills the world with his love. (Ephesians 4:4-10) 

Sadly, I believe we are often taught to hold our breath in the name of humility, but nothing could be further from the truth. False humility forgets about God’s power and paralyzes us with fear. 

Sharing your spiritual gift with others breathes the life of Christ to them. Your voice is valuable and can make a difference in the lives of others. (Ephesians 4:12)

The people in your life you are called to love are worth it. Let your love for them motivate you to move beyond your fear.

Sometimes I argue with God and hide.  . . . Who am I to serve you? What about past failures? I am not good enough. I am inadequate. I am afraid of failing!

And then other times, I stop trying so hard to BE and just surrender and rest in the power of the GREAT I AM. I am not called to create light—I am called to reflect the light of Christ by listening to and being led by the Holy Spirit. But when my heart is tuned inward in false humility, my heart is not facing the right direction to reflect his light. Focusing on your inadequacies brings attention to you instead of Jesus.

Fan the flame of your spiritual gifts by facing the other way. Turn it outward by taking steps this week to use your gifts to touch others. Find freedom to become all God created and redeemed you to be by letting go of fear to fan into flame your spiritual gifts for his glory.

I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6–7 NLT, emphasis mine).

God’s provision, including your spiritual gifts, flows to you and through you so you can glorify him and love others. God built you to accomplish his purpose for your life (Deuteronomy 7:6; Ephesians 2:10). He imparted spiritual gifts to you the moment you accepted Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4–11 and Romans 12:3–8).

The way you are wired—your personality and passions, your character and natural abilities, and your spiritual gifts—is part of God’s provision for your God-given vision . . . not something to hide.

Different spiritual gifts flowing from the Holy Spirit provide just what you need for what God has called you to do. The diversity in our gifts creates the need for us to link arms with one another to share his good news. And as we stand together, our gifts fit perfectly (Ephesians 4:16). And as each one of us does our special work, like instruments playing together in God’s orchestra, we will make beautiful music that sings of the glory of God. But if we hide our instruments, the music simply isn’t complete. 

You matter. God designed you to make a difference. Embrace your spiritual gifts and allow them to grow. Step into the stream of godly girl power by using your spiritual gifts to touch others and fulfill your God-given purpose.

Weekly Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Personal Revival Inside the COVID-19 Pandemic

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3 Steps to Revive your Prayer Life and Experience More of God

Lord, we want more of YOU!

Inside the pain of this COVID-19 pandemic, lies the treasure of personal revival. See this drought as a divine opening of the door to dive deeper into the stream of God’s presence through prayer. Inside today’s podcast, take your prayer life to the next level and find more of God. Find strength that only God can provide inside this storm and grow your roots deeper in God’s love as you listen to today’s podcast.

Looking for an online community doing this time? Come and join the Treasured Tribe.

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Give Me Hope

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Have you experienced loss and you feel hopeless? Inside our broken world, feelings of powerlessness come easily, don’t they? But God your Redeemer has a remedy just for you.

Listen to today’s podcast and find three steps you can take to spark hope and find the courage to rise above heartache on the wings of faith.

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