Tag: Jesus

Tetelestai Recovery

How to Let Go of Resentment and Gain Personal Power

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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

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
A Date With Destiny

Hidden in Darkness

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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

Tetelestai Recovery

Discovering the Power of ‘It is Finished’ in Your Life

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Whether your it is a little problem or a big one, the proclamation of Jesus, “It is finished!” gives you the power you need to move out of this prison and into the open space of grace.

Like a blank check, Jesus gave us, “It is finished!” His words have the power to put an end to anything that is an obstacle to your best self. 

When He said, “It is finished!” He knew it would be specific and unique to every person on the planet. To identify your own, it that may be causing issues, try asking yourself these questions:

  • What consumes your thoughts and energy?
  • What worry keeps you up at night?
  • What behavior makes you feel powerless?
  • What thought paralyzes you with fear?
  • What things about yourself make you cringe?
  • What secret struggle do you keep hidden?
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Tetelestai Recovery

Sometimes Anger is Appropriate

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We felt certain that we could justify anger when it came to certain evils in the world. When we checked the Sacred Text, we found proof that anger can sometimes be appropriate; perhaps even righteous.

Jesus went into the Temple. He threw out all the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables that belonged to the men who were exchanging different kinds of money. And he upset the benches of those who were selling doves.
Jesus said to all the people there, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people will pray.’ But you are changing God’s house into a ‘den of thieves.’  
Matthew 21:12-17

So, after reviewing some of Jesus’ moments of fury, we concluded that there may, in fact, be times when anger would be an entirely appropriate reaction.

His reaction was more than simply a display of righteous indignation. It was a display of self-restraint. The Son of God, with an army of angels at His disposal, simply flipped over a few tables and ran people out of the temple. He could have whistled for an asteroid to hit the coordinates where they stood. He could have summoned a flesh-eating bacterium to consume them or an earthquake that would bury them beneath tons of rubble. He could have destroyed them in a million different ways, but he chose rather to use words, with a controlled show of force for emphasis.

We came to understand that when Jesus was angry, His methods were measured and restrained.

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A Date With Destiny

Mary’s Journey: Lessons on God’s Favor and Life’s Difficulties

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 Luke 1:30  

“Don’t be afraid,” the angel said. “You have found favor with God!”

Your life is filled with the favor of God.  He has chosen you to be the recipient of His goodness.

Some believe your life is easy, but like Mary, you also hide many things in your heart. 

God’s call isn’t always an easy road to walk, even though it may appear easy to those who watch you move quietly and methodically through difficulties.

Like Mary’s experience, the blessings of God may not always appear as blessings at first.

 There are things God asks of you that may not seem possible or even rational. Your destiny is a path which some may question. This is because God has revealed plans to you that no one else could ever understand.

Learn more about January 30
A Date With Destiny

Finding Purpose Under the Stars: God’s Message in the Night Sky

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Genesis 1:17
God put all these lights in the sky to shine on the earth.

You see the magnificence of God as you gaze into the sky. When surrounded by the wonders of the universe, you stand in awe of the Maker’s design.

You love to examine the night sky. You are are captivated by the phases of the moon and marching constellations as they glide across the atmosphere.

It is in this upward focus that you gain perspective. When you look at the sky, the purpose for your earthbound existence becomes clear. 

It excites you to realize that you have been offered a divine destiny by the Creator of the Universe; the God of the Galaxies.

As you look at the vast expanse, you are in awe that the Creator calls each star by name.

This offers you great comfort because it reveals how intimately the Creator knows and values each component of the Great Creation.

This gives you a sense of security and safety. You understand that your Maker designed you for a specific purpose, and just like the stars, you light up when He calls your name.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JANUARY 17

Tetelestai Recovery

Out of the Comfort Zone

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It only takes a little faith us to get out of the boat and trust Jesus to keep us afloat. We want to stay in the safety of the boat where everything is familiar. We want to experience smooth sailing with no waves or winds. However, there is a little seed of faith inside which 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.

Name a time when you took a risk and moved forward despite the presence of natural fear?

How has that experience empowered you?

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A Date With Destiny

Spiritual Perception

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Then Jesus turned to His followers and whispered without anyone else hearing, “Happy are those who see what you see!” Luke 10:23

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You have a unique ability to visualize the insights which have come to you from Christ. Your imagination is the canvass on which He paints the portrait of your future.

You believe that God provides spiritual vision to those who seek His wisdom. This supernatural perception allows you to see clues and insights that you might otherwise have missed.

Through specific life events, your spiritual intuition has been fine-tuned. You enjoy insights and awareness which extend beyond natural human perception.

It is quite possible that many of the lives you touch and the wisdom you share will prove to alter the course of history for generations to come.

In detailed, methodical steps, God is bringing you to new levels of understanding. Each day, you gain clarity and vision into your divine destiny.

Little by little, you discover your true purpose and become more comfortable with your place in His Kingdom. You are learning that your position in His family comes with a deep sense of responsibility.

You see a hurting world around you, yet you also see the heart of God which seeks to deliver the light of His wisdom to anyone who is tired of stumbling through life in the dark.

Many of God’s children remain unable to walk in the light of God’s wisdom, but they can see His light shining through you. 

You see Jesus at work, even when you feel surrounded by darkness. You are confident that His light will always appear to guide and protect your path.

You see Jesus, loyal and devoted, taking care of your past, present, and future. 

You know He has appeared in some of your darkest hours, and you have no doubt He will always be there beside you, even when your vision of Him is obscured by conflict, anxiety, or confusion.

Jesus has always been there in your peripheral view. From early childhood, you have sensed a supernatural bond between yourself and the Divine.

Your spiritual perception becomes clearer as you peel back the layers of doubt. Through this process, you are beginning to see that Jesus’ vision of you is much more remarkable than anything you’ve seen in yourself.  And His vision for your future far exceeds anything you might have ever imagined for yourself.

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A Date With Destiny

Spokesperson

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Matthew 10:20

It will not really be you speaking. The Spirit of God will be speaking through you.

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You are called to be the voice of Christ to some of God’s lost children who don’t seem to be able to hear Him for themselves. When you speak of God’s love and forgiveness, it is the Spirit of God speaking through you, infusing the atmosphere with hope and life.

There are specific souls you will be drawn to. This is a nudge from the Holy Spirit.

Due to your own life experiences and unique character qualities, the connections you make with those who are struggling will prove to alter their lives as well as your own.  You will be the one to help them find their way to the Father, and thus, find their way home.

As a representative of redemption, you find that the chosen ones are typically the most broken ones.

Your ability to connect with  troubled people in a non-judgmental approach makes you the ideal candidate to bring God’s message to those who cannot hear His voice for themselves.

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