- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 11,539
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! James 5:16-17
Dysfunction is a byproduct of secrets and hurtful words. There has to be trust for a family or community to thrive. When you make a mistake, break a promise, or sin--own it. Confess to those you trust, and ask them to pray for you. Make this your template for functioning in families and with friends.
If you insist on hiding skeletons in the closet, refuse to wash your dirty laundry, or hold tightly to secret sins, you're hurting yourself most of all--and potentially preventing others from finding healing, or helping you heal. Of course, wisdom in broaching sensitive information is crucial.
A person living right with God will own their own failure. God said you would miss the mark of His perfection. Don't pretend you don't. Pray, and trust that the God who made you to be righteous will help.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be honest. If I feel I'm protecting others by being silent about the past, show me if I'm actually trying to protect myself. Help me to speak truth in a loving way, at the right time. Help me to own my sin and then let You take it away. Help me to practice personal honesty with You and others.
Dysfunction is a byproduct of secrets and hurtful words. There has to be trust for a family or community to thrive. When you make a mistake, break a promise, or sin--own it. Confess to those you trust, and ask them to pray for you. Make this your template for functioning in families and with friends.
If you insist on hiding skeletons in the closet, refuse to wash your dirty laundry, or hold tightly to secret sins, you're hurting yourself most of all--and potentially preventing others from finding healing, or helping you heal. Of course, wisdom in broaching sensitive information is crucial.
A person living right with God will own their own failure. God said you would miss the mark of His perfection. Don't pretend you don't. Pray, and trust that the God who made you to be righteous will help.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be honest. If I feel I'm protecting others by being silent about the past, show me if I'm actually trying to protect myself. Help me to speak truth in a loving way, at the right time. Help me to own my sin and then let You take it away. Help me to practice personal honesty with You and others.
