Author: lastwordrecovery

Tetelestai Recovery

How to Let Go of Resentment and Gain Personal Power

lastwordrecovery

To remain in a position of power, we had to drop the resentments. While we sometimes felt as if our resentments were keeping us safe and preventing us from being hurt again, we eventually faced the fact that they were stealing our power and placing us in a perpetual state of victimhood. Resentment was the result of self-pity. If we carried our resentment, we were forced to experience the painful events over and over. But, on the other hand, we feared that if we released our resentments, it would give those offenders a free pass.

Neither position seemed to be working, so we searched for a new solution. We needed to release our resentments, but at the same time, we needed to know that justice had been served. We needed to know that those who had mistreated us didn’t get away with it. We wanted to settle the score, but we also wanted to exist in the higher spiritual plane, that Jesus referred to as the Kingdom of God. We knew that revenge-seeking would drag us down and pull us into chaos.

Sacred Text showed us the way. Since the same words appeared in both old and new testaments, we knew it was significant.

It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them. Deuteronomy 32:35
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19

Surprisingly, based on these passages, we learned that revenge was not necessarily a bad thing. It only became a bad thing when we humans took it into our own hands, rather than leaving it for God to manage.

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Tetelestai Recovery

The Struggle with Forgiveness: Finding Peace

lastwordrecovery

In our new normal, it seemed that forgiveness was an issue we struggled with at every turn. Failure to forgive made us feel guilty. Trying to forgive made us feel irritated. Convincing ourselves that we had already forgiven, when we knew we hadn’t, made us feel like phonies. It all just seemed too much. When someone did us wrong, and we incurred a loss of self-worth, inner peace, reputation, or security, did God really expect us to forgive the offense and just get over it?

Was it His intent that we sustain our losses and silently endure offenses to our own demise? We didn’t think that sounded like the reasonable expectation of a loving, protective Father! We thought there must be more to this concept of forgiveness than just suffering in silence and becoming a speed bump to anyone who ran over the top of us.

Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. Deuteronomy 32:35

We examined this Sacred Text carefully and realized it contains two separate promises.

The first part was a promise that God would be bringing justice to the offender. The second part of the statement confirmed that God would repay us for the damage we sustained.

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Tetelestai Recovery

How to Let Go of Resentment and Gain Personal Power

lastwordrecovery

To remain in a position of power, we had to drop the resentments. While we sometimes felt as if our resentments were keeping us safe and preventing us from being hurt again, we eventually faced the fact that they were stealing our power and placing us in a perpetual state of victimhood. Resentment was the result of self-pity. If we carried our resentment, we were forced to experience the painful events over and over. But, on the other hand, we feared that if we released our resentments, it would give those offenders a free pass.

Neither position seemed to be working, so we searched for a new solution. We needed to release our resentments, but at the same time, we needed to know that justice had been served. We needed to know that those who had mistreated us didn’t get away with it. We wanted to settle the score, but we also wanted to exist in the higher spiritual plane, that Jesus referred to as the Kingdom of God. We knew that revenge-seeking would drag us down and pull us into chaos.

Sacred Text showed us the way. Since the same words appeared in both old and new testaments, we knew it was significant.

It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them. Deuteronomy 32:35
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19

Surprisingly, based on these passages, we learned that revenge was not necessarily a bad thing. It only became a bad thing when we humans took it into our own hands, rather than leaving it for God to manage.

LEARN MORE
Tetelestai Recovery

Walk with Confidence

lastwordrecovery 

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Proverbs 4:25-26

Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.  Hebrews 12:13

Both verses spoke of walking level paths which offer firm footing and stability. There was no demand to scale mountain ledges, hike over rocky terrains, lose ground on shifting sand dunes, or trudge through marshy swampland. We were not told to look down, closely examining each next step with caution because the journey was so treacherous. We were simply instructed to seek out level paths and keep our focus upward.

In other words, we had to stop making it harder than it needed to be. We were simply to ask God for direction and trust that He would deliver us to exactly the right place at exactly the right time. We simply needed to keep walking. One foot in front of the other. Forward motion. No fear. One step at a time. No looking down and no looking back.

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A Date With Destiny

Navigating Conflict: Finding Peace in Turbulent Times

lastwordrecovery 
  
 2 Timothy 2:25   
   The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who do not agree with him.

In a world filled with humans fighting for the upper hand using insults and clever arguments, you choose to exhibit the power of peace instead.

You stand out as a beacon of light to those who are lost in a swirling sea of conflict. You are a peacemaker.

The Spirit of God enables you to create a safe space in which differences can be addressed and forgiveness can flow. You are able to make peace when there is conflict and hold the line when peace starts to slip away.

Others rely on your logical input when settling a dispute or searching for a reasonable compromise. As you walk in the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, you are able to guide others toward common goals.

The peace you bring to a situation is often the glue which repairs broken relationships and holds organizations together.

It is one of your most intriguing gifts, and even you don’t know exactly how it works. All you know is, you are delighted to see peace win, and you are thrilled to be a part of making it happen.

Learn more about february 25

A Date With Destiny

The Power of Discernment in Building Trust

lastwordrecovery 
  John 2:24  
 But Jesus did not trust Himself to them, because He knew what was in their hearts.

You do not trust others easily or quickly.  You believe that trust must be earned, and it can only happen over time.  It took you a long time to trust Christ, and you often struggle to believe.

Fortunately, He understands trust issues better than you do. Therefore, He patiently continues, time after time, to alleviate your doubts and prove Himself to be true.

Your gift of discernment and your trust-hesitancy serve you well as a protective force- field in your faith based service.

You are able to reach out and serve those who are untrustworthy, in ministries where a more trusting person might fall victim to their dishonest schemes.

You do not reject those who can’t be trusted, but rather, you accept and love them anyway. 

Jesus ministered to the outcasts and the undesirables, yet He did not trust them all. He was still able to minister to them, because He had the spiritual gift of discernment. You too have this gift. You may have thought it was a flaw in your personality. But, based on your birthday verse, this attribute is actually a Christ-like trait which may be a valuable clue in discovering your destiny.

learn more about february 24

A Date With Destiny

Hidden in Darkness

lastwordrecovery 
Daniel 2:22  
  He makes known the secrets that are deep and hidden. 
He knows what is hidden in darkness and light lives within him.

Many of the good things you do are done in secret. You are not boastful or arrogant about your charitable contributions or personal sacrifices.

You help others in ways they may never realize. You attend to the needs of your family and community without recognition or fanfare.

Sometimes you feel as if your efforts are unappreciated or even unwanted.  There are times you believe you may be wasting your time and energy because you can’t see the fruits of your labor.

Thankfully, you have the Word of God and His wonderful creation to remind you that a seed hidden in the darkness is a harvest waiting to happen.

Seeds planted in soil remain unseen during the germination phase. In the dark, a seed breaks open and new life is formed. There is a waiting time before the shoot appears. There is another waiting time before the harvest comes.

In the same way, your good works and loving efforts may be often hidden in the dark for a time, but this doesn’t mean they remain unfruitful.

When the time is right, God brings your results into the light, much like the tiny plant which emerges from the dark soil. Your random acts of kindness and quiet loving gestures are no longer hidden in the darkness. The results become visible and each tiny sprout holds the promise of a bountiful harvest.

You may not always receive human recognition or praise for the contributions you make. Sometimes your good intentions may even be misunderstood. But God knows what is in your heart and He promises that someday you will enjoy a harvest which far exceeds your expectations.

READ MORE ABOUT FEBRUARY 22

A Date With Destiny

Embracing Your Divine Calling for a Meaningful Life

lastwordrecovery 

   1 Peter 2:21     
To this you were called,  for Christ Himself  left you an example, so that you would follow in His steps.

A solid connection to the Divine is the foundation of your emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. You sense a deep longing for the companionship you left behind when you entered the human realm.

You have been chosen by God to accomplish specific assignments on this earth. Your call is to change the course of history in both ordinary and extraordinary measures.

You were called to exhibit the grace of God. You have been chosen to speak, write, and live in a way that delivers light in the face of darkness, and hope in the face of despair.

You know that it is the Creator’s desire that all of His children know the safety and security found in the bonds of His unconditional love.  You share that love through your everyday life experiences and thus prove that His decision to call you was a good one!

Read More about February 21

Tetelestai Recovery

Recognizing God’s Voice in Everyday Life

lastwordrecovery

Knowing that God speaks to His children in all sorts of unique ways, we suddenly recognized His voice speaking to us from the creativity of writers and actors on a movie screen. We identified with the heroes. We saw ourselves playing the role assigned to us by the God of the Galaxies. We became aware in a way unlike ever before that we were on a mission that would influence millions, change the course of history, and generate spiritual wavelengths to echo into caverns of the future.

We looked back over our life and realized that our destiny had been there all along and every step of the journey was preparation for the main event.

But still we questioned whether we could actually fulfill our mission. We knew our impulsive nature had caused us to make some terribly bad choices in the past, so we wondered if it was God’s call or just a delusion of grandeur. The thought of God calling us to something of eternal magnitude seemed a little ridiculous and really, really crazy.

We had to question whether our passionate reaction to the prospect of hearing this divine call was our love for Him or our own search for significance?

Maybe it was both. And maybe that was okay.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Stepping Out in Faith: Leaving Your Comfort Zone

lastwordrecovery

It only takes a little faith for us to get out of the boat and trust Jesus to keep us afloat.

Sure, we want to stay in the safety of the boat where everything is familiar. We also want to experience smooth sailing with no waves or winds.

However, there is a little seed of faith inside that tells us there is so much more to life what we have known. We are certain that we have a destiny to fulfill. We know it starts with a single step; out of the comfort zone and into the unknown.

We take a deep breath, whisper, “It is finished!” to our fear of change and take that first shaky step toward the sound of His voice.

  • Think about a time when fear has kept you from getting out of the boat: (making a life-altering decision; going back to school; starting a new job; taking a risk, moving forward, etc.)
    • Think about a time when you have taken a risk to move forward despite the presence of natural fear? How has that experience empowered you?
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