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Wise People Do Not Retaliate.

Which is more natural to do when someone hurts you? Do you forgive and show love when someone attacks you? Or if someone hurts you, do you lash out in anger or with other forms of retaliation? Our self-centered, sinful nature directs our minds to pay someone back for hurting us. But, if you yield your mind to the Spirit, then you will naturally forgive and do what is good to those who offend you. Then again, we don’t live in a perfect world. We naturally want to set up boundaries for people who are destructive in what they say and do. People don’t realize how hurtful they are because their resentment triggers their responses. Some people may have an evil spirit that is intent on hurting others. Boundaries are wise to protect from abusive harm. What does Jesus say we should do?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:38-39, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

This teaching is hard to comprehend with our carnal minds. God’s love in us and His goodness transcends evil and our desire to retaliate. Jesus’s love for mankind gave Him the strength to be struck and beaten for us. When He was arrested and crucified, Jesus did not fight back or resist. Rather, He asked His Father in Heaven to forgive them before He died for them (Luke 23:34). Following Jesus’ example, we should not resist evil people because they don’t know how to love and be good. We, too, can choose to love and forgive those who have wronged us. But you don’t have to hang out with destructive people unless God has called you to do so. The story of David Wilkerson comes to mind. He was a country preacher from Philipsburg, PA that felt God calling him to go to New York City to share the gospel with the gangs in New York City. You can read his story in the Cross and the Switch Blade. Teen Challenge came out of that ministry, which is still helping drug addicts and alcoholics be free through Jesus.

The website commentary Got Questions (2023) says the following. It’s important to note that by saying, “Do not resist an evil person,” Jesus is not requiring us to be pacifists or to never resist evil forces. In fact, James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:9 command us to resist the devil and his evil practices. If someone threatens or attacks you or your loved one, it’s not wrong to take up a defense or to seek justice against the wrongdoer. What Jesus requires by commanding us not to resist an evil person is to not retaliate. We do not respond in kind, and we shouldn’t “get even.” Instead of seeking revenge, Jesus tells us we should “turn the other cheek.” In other words, we should adopt an attitude of humility and seek to be peaceful with those who have wronged us.”

The Apostle Paul explains how to deal with those that do evil in Romans 12:17-21.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

²⁰To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Apostle Peter also encouraged his readers not to repay evil for evil in 1Peter 3:8-12.

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

⁹Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

¹⁰For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; ¹¹let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1Thesalonians 5:15 states, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

Proverbs 17:13 states, “If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.”

James 3:13 states. “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”

Conclusion

Jesus’s instructions to not resist the one who is evil and to turn the other cheek is tough to do. With God’s help and putting on humility with love, we can forgive and bless those who do us evil. When we feel offended and we want to repay evil to the one who offended us, then capture your thoughts, give them to God, forgive, then seek peace and do good in return. If someone has done evil against you in your past, you can heal those memories to stop the resentment from controlling your reactions. To learn how, read my online book here.

Part 1: How to Achieve Genuine Goodness?

Part 2: How to Overcome Evil with Good.

WHY MUST YOU FORGIVE

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family; hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

Wise People Keep Their Word

Have you ever had to take the witness stand in a court of law or seen someone take the witness stand? You are supposed to put your hand on the Bible and swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth? I thought this was okay and would do what I was told. I met a man who said that it was against his religious belief to swear by the Bible. He said that promising to tell the truth is enough. I was curious about this, so I asked him what he meant. He told me about this passage in Matthew. Let’s look at what Jesus says about keeping our promises.

Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ An oath is a promise, which is something you give your word to do.

³⁴But I say to you, Do not swear [take an oath] at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

³⁶And do not swear [take an oath] by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

³⁷Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ or your ‘No’ be ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one [Satan].”

James 5:12 also tells us the same thing, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” Oaths, promises, and contracts should obligate us to keep our word, especially when it is tempting not to. Jesus was not condemning all forms of promises, contracts, or agreements. But was speaking of a spontaneous vow made when a person says, “I promise I will do (whatever).” Or, “If you do (whatever) I will do (whatever).” It does not mean Jesus’s teaching in this passage discourages careful, thought-out promises, such as wedding vows or a legal contract.

The Consequence of Rash Vows

Making rash vows can have devastating consequences, which is why Jesus said not to make vows or oaths. The story of Jephthah illustrates the foolishness of making vows without understanding the consequences. Before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah—described as a mighty man of valor—made a rash vow that he would give to the Lord whoever first came out of doors to meet him if he returned home as the victor. When the Lord granted him victory, the one who came out to meet him was his daughter. Jephthah remembered his vow and offered her to the Lord (Judges 11:29–40). Jephthah was so sorrowful because he loved his daughter.

Joshua made another foolish oath when he swore not to attack the Gibeonites. After Joshua conquered Jericho, the men of Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them, which is the same as an oath. Joshua did not seek the Lord’s guidance and wisdom concerning the treaty. When they found out they were tricked into making the agreement, this is what Joshua said in Joshua 9:20 (NIV) “This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” See Joshua 9:3-21 to read the entire account. The oaths or promises we make are serious to God, and He will cause us to suffer the consequence if we don’t keep our word, so be wise about what you promise to do.

Herod made a foolish vow because he was so full of himself. Matthew 14:6-7 states, “But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, ⁷so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.” What she asked for made Herod very sad and afraid. You can read this account in Matthew 14:1-12.

When We Make Oaths?

When you make an oath, make sure you are being led by the Holy Spirit and not your flesh. Psalm 15:4 describes a righteous person as one “who keeps an oath even when it hurts and does not change their mind.” Oaths, vows, and promises are binding, even when spoken frivolously or privately, as part of everyday conversation. A promise is a promise, and there is no loophole in God’s eyes to allow a person to renege on an oath, which includes marriage vows. It is so sad that so many people, including myself, break our promise to love and cherish our spouse till death do us part, then get divorced. The consequences are many when we break our marriage vows. In my case, my first husband broke his vow to me.

When you promise something, you need to let your “yes” be “yes.” Be very careful when disciplining your children, that you don’t say how you are going to punish them for their poor behavior and then can’t do it, or don’t do it. This will break your children’s trust in you, which will destroy your authority to speak into their lives.

If a child asks a parent for a promise, the parent should hear it as an indictment, since it reveals that the child has learned they cannot quite trust their mother’s or father’s word. Their “yes” has not always meant “yes”. Ideally, a parent’s word should be so reliable that the child never thinks of guarantees. Indeed, every follower of Jesus Christ should aim to be so reliable that no one asks them for promises. To build trust, you need to keep the promises you make.

The following are Scripture passages explaining the expectations and consequences of making vows or oaths.

If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. –Deuteronomy 23:21

If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. –Numbers 30:2

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. –Leviticus 19:12

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” – Exodus 20:7

God’s Grace When We Swear Falsely

The story of Peter denying Jesus is the most incredible example of God’s grace and love for Peter and for us. What amazes me is that Jesus knew Peter was going to deny Him three times before the rooster crows. Jesus knows our every thought and action, and He will help us do what is right if we humbly ask (James 4:6).

Peter proudly declared in Mark 14:31, “’Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same.” It wasn’t long before Peter swears, he didn’t know Jesus, according to Mark 14:70-71, “But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” ⁷¹But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” The rooster crows, just as Jesus said it would, and Peter realizes what he had done and weeps bitterly, then runs away. I am sure he feels shame, wouldn’t you? Then, Jesus comes to Peter after he had risen from the dead and restored Peter’s spirit by asking him three times if Peter loved him. Do you love Jesus? We will all make vows we don’t or can’t keep, but God is rich in mercy and will give us grace.

May God bless you richly.

Pt. 1: Forsaken? Betrayed? How to Trust Again.

A Wise Person Controls Defiling Thoughts

A Wise Person Appeals to Their Accuser

A Wise Person Controls Defiling Thoughts

A wise person can control defiling thoughts and does not lust, knowing that a lustful intent leads to adultery. Lustful thoughts can be any desire for something other than God’s best for you. In this post, you will learn the progression of lustful desires and how it leads to adultery between two married persons and between you and God.

Matthew 5:27, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’”

The command to not commit adultery is the seventh command of the 10 Commandments God gave to Moses. The Bible says a lot about adultery. The English Standard version has 35 verses about adultery. When someone makes a marriage commitment to another person and then is unfaithful to them, that is adultery. When someone is unfaithful to God after making a commitment, He considers them an adulterer. Adultery begins in the mind, which is why we need to be mindful of our thoughts and take wrong thoughts captive and make them obedient to Jesus (2Cor. 10:5). You can learn more from a series of posts about thoughts and the power of thoughts.

We can also be unfaithful to God by trusting in idols, which God calls adultery (Jer. 3:6-10). In fact, the book of Hosea was about God’s love for His people and calling them out of adultery with idols. In Proverbs 6:32, King Solomon tells us, “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.” Imagine that? Why does adultery destroy you?

The Apostle Paul explained that when we obey and love our neighbor and God, then we will keep all the commandments (Romans 13:9 and John 14:15). James wrote the following in James 4:4, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” You can learn more from my series of posts on idolatry, which you will find helpful.

* * *

Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Lust begins when we look at something that entices and tempts us to strongly desire something. I won’t explain lust in this post because we all know what it is and its power over our thoughts. When you get a lustful thought, you have two choices. One, entertain it and follow your fleshly desires, or second, capture it by confessing it (1 John 1:9), and then putting it off (Col 3:5) and putting on the mind of Christ (Rom. 13:14). Verbally, in prayer, say, “I take this wrong thought captive, and I put it out of my mind in Jesus’ name, and I put on the mind of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, for purifying my mind.” If you entertain lustful thoughts, then they become an adulterous sin in your mind. When that happens, confess your sin and seek God’s forgiveness, and He promises to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

You may have a stronghold of lust from an addiction to pornography or going to strip clubs, and so on. If this is the case, you will need to ask God to remove the unclean spirit of lust from your mind. Next, ask God to forgive you for all the times you viewed porn, which removes the power of those memories. Begin with your earliest memory of when you were first exposed to porn. Your earliest memory is when you attracted the unclean spirit of lust. You may need to ask God to remove the porn curse or sinful habit passed down from the generations before you. Ask God to give you a clean heart and a clear conscience because what God has forgiven, He has forgotten. Ask God to remove the unclean spirit of guilt because what God has cleansed is clean. Unfortunately, the temptation to lust is all around us as it was in Jesus’s day. Don’t take a second look, and so on. Commit to not defiling yourself again. Just like Daniel, who made a commitment to not defile himself with the king’s food but ate vegetables and drank water instead. God blessed him with great wisdom and prominence in the government. God allowed Daniel to serve in leadership for four Kings.

* * *

Matthew 5:29-30, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Jesus uses hyperbole in this verse, which means an extravagant statement or assertion not intended to be understood literally. Jesus means we are to remove the source of temptation. First, remove yourself from the situation that is tempting you to lust. For example, if the neighbor woman is mowing her lawn in her skimpy bikini, you do not have to watch her. If that same woman invites you in for a drink, you do not go in. If you know a magazine rack contains tempting pictures, do not go past the magazine rack, and avoid places that tempt you to lust. Second, remove whatever is causing you to lust in your home, such as the internet, books, movies, etc.

Lust tempts you to be unfaithful and commit adultery, then when you give in to the temptation, it may lead to divorce. You may also lust after possessions, which tempts you to practice greed and covetousness, which is idolatry, and a sin of unfaithfulness to God. (Col. 3:5). James 1:14-15 states, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” That death could be of your marriage, a close relationship, your reputation, your job, and so on.

* * *

Matthew 5:31-32, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³²But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Divorce is not God’s plan for anyone. So, eliminate lustful thoughts for someone other than your spouse, so your lustful thoughts do not lead you to be unfaithful and become sexually immoral. Set up the boundaries you need to remain pure. Strive for holiness as described in 2Cornithians 7:1, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” You can learn more about this in this post: How to Experience a Heavenly Life on Earth.

I am praying for you. May God bless you.

Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds, which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

A Wise Person Appeals to Their Accuser

Have you met a wise thief or swindler? Do you know someone who cheated the government of owed taxes? Most foolish people think they are getting away with their sins, but they usually get caught. So, what does Jesus say to do with a thief when caught in their sinful scheme? Many people followed Jesus because He did great miracles. Jesus knew that many of those listening to His first sermon could be thieves or did not pay back what they owed or wronged someone. He gives the instruction to make it right with the person you wronged. Matthew 5:25-26 states, “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

God knew we would need a court system because there were going to be disputes between people, so when the Israelites were wandering around the desert, He set up levels of judges to hear their cases, just like we have today. Moses tells the tribal leaders the following in Deuteronomy 1:17; “You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’”

The Bible discourages us from going to court.

My husband wanted a few trees cut down and a cherry limb. One tree was a huge Maple close to the house that was rotting at the base. The arborist gave us a price for the Maple and the cherry limb together. It took the man six months to get the maple cut down and cut the cherry limb. We paid him what he charged us. Then we get another bill a month later for trimming a tree he did not do. He insisted he did the work, and we owe him the money, which was over $700.00. He also was a brother in the Lord and a pastor at one time. The man had a reputation for not being honest. In Proverbs 25:9-10, King Solomon explains, “Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.”

We appealed to him first to see if he mistakenly sent us the bill. He insisted he did the work. We tried to reason with the man, but he slandered us to our mutual Christian friends for not paying this bill. He tried to ruin our reputation, but in fact, his reputation came into question. Then my husband went to church leadership and appealed to them, and they agreed to meet to discuss the discrepancy. My husband sent them all the email exchanges of what we agreed upon to prepare for the meeting. COVID hit and the in-person meeting never happened. In Proverbs 18:17, Solomon says, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” We presented the evidence of what we agreed upon and the work he charged us for. He dropped his charge against us because we proved our case to the church leadership, and now his reputation was in question.

The Bible explains the proper way to deal with someone who has sinned against you. Matthew 18:15-17 states, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Also, Christians should not be involved in lawsuits against believers.

1 Corinthians 6:1-10 explains, “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?

²Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

³Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

⁴So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?

⁵I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, ⁶but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?

⁷To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

⁸But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

⁹Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

We cannot hide our sins from God. Exodus 22:9 states, “For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.” If my husband and I were trying to get out of paying what we owed the man and the church leaders said we owed him, then we would have to pay up, and maybe twice as much. This verse was for the Israelites, but we still should follow the principles laid out by God.

The man who tried to swindle us for work he did not do is currently serving time in prison for child rape charges of his grandchild, which he denies, but a jury found him guilty. He has deceived another brother in the Lord into paying his legal fees and even appealing the verdict. Usually, if a Christian has a sin problem in one area, they almost always have sin problems in other areas of their life. Pride will always be the center of every sin issue. Pride keeps a person from repentance and opens the door to demonic deception and enticement.

People with pride issues will have no problems lying or stealing, but God knows every wicked thought and way. Psalm 139:1b-4 explains, “You have searched me and known me! ²You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ³You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.”

CHALLENGE: Do you want to be wise? Seek God to show you if a spirit of pride controls your thoughts because the devil might tempt you to think, “What they did is wrong. I am going to take them to court.” I regularly root out the sin of pride in my life, so that other sins do not rule my mind. Always best to obey Jesus’s instructions.

May God bless you richly.

Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

A Wise Person Seeks Peace and Reconciliation

Have you ever met an angry wise person? Why can’t an angry person be wise? I am writing a series of posts about being wise according to Jesus’s first sermon. In the last post, I explained how a wise person is salt and light in the world. This post will look at the second precept of a wise person; a wise person seeks peace and reconciliation. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus tells us to not murder or be angry and insult a fellow Christian.

Matthew 5:21-22 states, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²²But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

Liable to judgment means to be accountable or answerable to a judge or court of law. Jesus sees murder and anger as the same. Why? Would you agree a murderer does not value the person they kill? Likewise, an angry person does not value the person they are angry at.

But God got angry.

What is the difference between our sinful anger and God’s righteous anger? God is perfect and has no sin.

Self-centered pride motivates our anger when things don’t go our way. God is slow to anger, which is motivated by love and righteousness. He wants us to obey and not sin by disobeying His righteous laws or worshiping idols. Psalm 86:15 states, “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” King Solomon wrote about being slow to anger in Proverbs.

Proverbs 14:29 – Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 15:18 – A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 16:32 – Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Our sinful anger fuels resentment and hatred, which causes us to seek revenge and punish those who did us wrong. God’s love fuels discipline when we disobey. His discipline is for our good that we may be righteous. Hebrews 12:6 states, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:11 states, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Obey and Pursue Peace

To live in peace with others looks different for each person, but it always involves forgiving offenses. You may not feel like forgiving, but it is an act of obedience to God. Forgiving restores peace by removing resentment and offenses in the heart. If you don’t have peace in your heart, then you won’t be at peace with others. In my post called The Mystery of Wisdom – Part 5, I explain why it is wise to obey God. The Bible says the following about God’s instructions to seek peace. Also, read the peace issues page in my book to learn more.

Romans 12:17-18 states, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Sometimes, it is not possible to live in peace, but we must not repay evil for evil by being offensive in return. 1 Peter 3:11 also says, “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” Striving for peace is a sign of holiness. Hebrews 12:14 states, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

We can live in peace with those around us by honoring them. 2 Corinthians 13:11 states, “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” A wise person seeks to restore peace in their relationships as they live in peace. When we obey this principle, then the love and peace of God will be with us.

We can live in peace by letting the peace of God rule our hearts. When peace rules our hearts, then anger will not. One way to maintain peace is to be thankful. Colossians 3:15 states, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” When we sow peace in our relationships by being thankful and doing what is right, then we will harvest righteousness. James 3:18 states, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Also, James 1:20 says, “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Those who pursue peace seek reconciliation.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We will inevitably offend a brother or sister or be offended. When that happens, a wise person seeks reconciliation through apologizing and forgiving.

Matthew 5:23-24 states, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Remember, sin separates us from God, so we need to seek His forgiveness so we can come before God and offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Isaiah 59:2 states, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Who do you need to forgive so you feel peace in your heart?

Who do you need to go and be reconciled with whom you offended?

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WHY MU S T YOU FORGIVE

The Wise Person is Salt and Light

If you were to build a house in an earthquake or hurricane area, and you were advised to reinforce your house and build it on bedrock, would it be wise to ignore that advice? Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Much of what Jesus instructs us to do is very difficult for our fleshly minds to even comprehend. Why do you think it is wise to obey Jesus’s instructions in His sermon? I have some ideas, but if you would like to share our ideas, please leave a comment. You can find many explanations of the Beatitudes, so I will not address them. Jesus begins with the instruction to be the salt and light for the world. We are salt and light by showing our faith through our good works and giving glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-20). The reason we are salt and light in the world is so that our Father in heaven will be glorified. The Bible says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

You can find many sermons about being the salt and light of the world, so most of us know what that means. My question is why aren’t we the salt and light of the world or how can we do better? So many Christians go about their public lives incognito, and they try to look and act like the world. When I go to the grocery store or to a sporting event, do people see my light and does my behavior leave a good flavor in their minds? Remember that our light dispels darkness and reveals sin. The saltiness makes our lives and messages pleasant and draws people to want more of what we have to offer, which is hope and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a few suggestions for how we can wisely let our light shine and be the salt of the world without turning people away. Colossians 4:6 states, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

1) Be patient with people who are impatient or acting sinful. Give others preference and don’t insist on things being your way (Phil 2:3-4).

2) Show humility to others by not arrogantly boasting, but being gracious and helpful (James 3:13).

3) Show kindness or say kind words to those acting like a jerk and not quarrel with them (2Tim. 2:24-26).

4) Ask people how they are doing? Give a word of encouragement and a message of hope to someone who is anxious or worried (2Cor. 1:4).

5) Be gentle with everyone, even those who annoy you (Phil 4:5).

6) Don’t be afraid to ask someone how you can pray for them (Col. 1:9).

7) Be thankful instead of complaining (Col. 3:15).

8) Be quick to forgive and offer grace instead of judgment.

These are not all the salt and light actions you can do or be, and some may be difficult for you because of the hurt in your heart. As you know, what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. Matthew 12:34b–37 states, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil [sinful, self-centered] person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Are your speech and actions hurtful or helpful? Are your thoughts focused on good things or things you dislike? Do painful memories of abuse, injustice, betrayal, rejection, etc. fill your heart with painful feelings? If you are honest, your answer will reveal the condition of your heart. To learn more about the power of thoughts visit, POSTS on Thoughts page. Painful memories keep you stuck in hurtful patterns of behavior. The Hope for Complete Healing booklet on my website helps you find painful memories and unhealthy beliefs so God can heal your heart and be salt and light in the world. If you do not heal these painful memories, then they will control your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behavior and you can’t be salt and light.

Does what you say and do bring glory to God?

God Bless you.

Joyce

How to be Wise

I completed a series of posts on what wisdom is, where it comes from, and what a wise person looks like. If you haven’t read these posts, you can find them in the Mystery of Wisdom Summary post. But how do we apply wisdom? The following Scripture passage is a song that almost everyone knows. Read this passage and guess the song. If you know the song, sing it loud and include the motions if you know them.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ̶ Matthew 7:24-27.

This passage is the last instruction in Jesus’s first sermon. Since Jesus is God’s son and is God. Colossians 1:19-20 states, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Jesus taught in His first sermon what He expects of us if we were to follow Him and be wise.

Building on a rock gives your house a solid foundation. The house is our spiritual life, and the rock is Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:11 states, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” You can obey Jesus’s instructions and build your spiritual lives on His truths, or you can ignore His instructions and build your life on the sands of human opinions, unhealthy beliefs, and worldly wisdom. The storms of life will expose what you built your life on.

Jesus says a lot of hard-to-do instructions in this sermon, but know that He is with you and will help you when you humbly call on His name. Many of the difficult instructions relate to our pride and our need for God to give us a new heart. We will learn more about each instruction in subsequent posts. Let us review Jesus’s instructions in His first sermon in Matthew chapters 5-7.

5:1-12 ̶ Jesus begins with nine blessings for the following conditions:

a) the poor in spirit;

b) those who mourn;

c) the gentle;

d) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness;

e) the merciful;

f) the pure in heart;

g) the peacemakers;

h) those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness;

i) those who are insulted, persecuted, and falsely accused because of Jesus.

5:13-20 – We are to be the salt and light for the world by showing our faith by our good works and giving glory to our Father in heaven.

5:21-26 – Do not murder or be angry and insult a fellow Christian; instead, be reconciled to them.

5:27-32 – Do not lust because even if you have a lustful intent toward someone, you have committed adultery. Remove whatever is causing you to lust, such as the internet, books, movies, etc., and avoid places that tempt you to lust. Because of our lust, we are tempted to commit adultery, leading to divorce, though Jesus discourages divorce.

5:33-37 – Do not take oaths. Let your “yes” be yes, and your “no” be no.

5:38-42 – Do not retaliate. Give to those who ask.

5:43-48 – Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so as sons of God, “You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This sounds impossible, but with God’s divine power in us, we can be perfect if we obey God’s laws. See 2Peter 1:3-12

6:1-4 – Do not practice your righteousness to be noticed by others. Don’t let people see you giving to the needy.

6:5-15 – Pray to your Father in heaven and forgive anyone who has sinned against you, just as your father in heaven has forgiven you.

6:16-18 – Do not fast to be noticed by others.

6:19-24 – Serve God, not money. Do not focus on money and metaphorically blind your eyes.

6:25-34 – Do not be anxious (concerned) about anything but seek first God’s kingdom.

7:1-6 – Don’t judge, but first remove the log from your own eye.

7:7-11 – Ask, seek, and knock through prayer and expect answers.

7:12 – Treat others as you would have them treat you.

7:13-14 – Enter by the narrow gate and not by the wide gate that leads to destruction.

7:15-20 – Recognize false teachers by their fruit and avoid them.

7:21-23 – Do your heavenly Father’s will.

7:24-27 – Do all that I have instructed you and you will be wise.

Most importantly, do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, then love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:36-40 and Luke 10:27)?

May God bless you richly as you obey Him.

Guest Post: Partial Obedience is not Obedience — Fearless Living

Hi, this post features a post written by one of my favorite bloggers. I was intrigued by what she wrote because I have been pondering the following scripture on the results of obeying God.

Deuteronomy 7:15 states, “And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.” This is a promise God made to the Israelites when they obey Him. God is the same, today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow. This verse has intrigued me ever since I read it. Could it be we are sick because we disobey God? Could it be that we have diseases because of idolatry in our lives? Be blessed by the wisdom in my guest post.

Now that I have my word for the year, I need to delve into the scriptures I’ve chosen. There were 4 scriptures that resonated with me and 2 I chose for my focus verses. The first of my 4 verses that I chose is from 1 Samuel 15:22. King Saul was anointed by Samuel, the […]
Partial Obedience is not Obedience — Fearless Living

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Prison Ministry Report 5

Last Friday was incredible, but I wanted to wait to tell you about it until after this Friday’s Bible Study. God is so good and faithful. He is doing incredible transformation work in the lives of these ladies. I would like for you to pray with me for these precious ladies.

Friday, January 23

Last Friday, my co-teacher, Sandy, taught us about forgiveness through Jesus’ life. Her lesson focused on Christ Jesus forgiving those who put Him on the cross because they were motivated by evil and did not know what they were doing. He had to forgive because His Father said to forgive, so if He was never to sin, He had to forgive before He died. What an incredible revelation. She explained how sin separates us from God and why we need His forgiveness and how Jesus’ death paid the punishment for all our sins. And those that hurt us were also motivated by evil and we need to forgive them, not that they are excused for what they did but that the power of the hurtful memory would no longer control our minds.

MJ kept asking, “How do I forgive.” Sandy explained that because Jesus forgave, He can help us forgive as we receive His forgiveness for our sins. MJ still insisted on knowing how to forgive. I was sitting next to her and knew that the memories of the abuse were beginning to take over her mind. She began to cry and recount the experiences. I took over and put up on the board the following outline for how to forgive.

FORGIVENESS PROCESS

Identify the hurtful memory. In Shattering Your Strongholds, Liberty Savard advised you not to replay your inner tapes of anger and guilt over painful memories, failures, humiliations, and the sins of others against you. So, forgive those who have hurt you, including yourself if necessary, and verbally put off the power those memories have on your mind and emotions.
Ask God to help you forgive the people involved.
Forgive the people who hurt you in the memory to break the power they have over your thoughts and emotions.
Ask God to remove all oppressive spirits from the memory so the memory does not control your thoughts, emotions, and decisions.
Ask God to forgive your unloving response to the hurtful actions done against you.
Ask God to show you the unhealthy or false beliefs that the hurtful situation generated. It could be a false belief about yourself, the other person, or even God. Then transform those wrong beliefs using God’s truth.
Find something to be thankful for about the situation or person.

Pray something like the following when you become offended:

I forgive (person’s name) for _(offense)_ and I release the resentment and the power it has over me in Jesus’ name. Lord, remove any attached oppressive spirits to the resentment. Fill me with Your love and grace. Forgive me for being unforgiving, unkind, or impatient. I put on and bind to my mind that I can forgive and be free because Jesus Christ helps me and sets me free as I submit to Him. (List other truths you can claim.)

As I explained the process of becoming free from painful memories, MJ was really crying, so I asked that the girls gather around her to pray. I asked MJ if she wanted to be free from the pain and she said “yes.” I laid my hand on her head and began to pray for her, I asked her to verbally say, “I forgive.” Sandy asked her to say it a few more times. I prayed for the oppressive spirits attached to her painful memories to be gone from her in Jesus’ name. She coughed several times and choked and then a calm came over her as I prayed for peace and joy to enter her heart. Other girls were crying as they forgave those who hurt them. MJ became calm. I continued my lesson and explained that oppressive spirits are attached through the wounds of our souls, and they keep us oppressed through painful memories. I also explained that being thankful for something about the situation transforms the painful memory. Being thankful is the hardest part of transforming a memory.

Friday, January 27

What a change in MJ when she came in tonight. She was unable to forgive, but after the deliverance, she later wrote down all the people who hurt her and what they did then wrote forgiven next to the incident. She then crumpled up the papers and flushed them down the toilet and submitted all her painful memories to the Lord. She then prayed like she never prayed before and felt a huge weight lift off her. Praise the Lord.

She had a problem retaliating against people who crossed her, which is why she is in jail. She retaliated against an inmate and knew she would get punished for it. At that point, she knew she had to forgive and went through the forgiveness process described above. When she was called to the superintendent’s office, she thought she was getting in big trouble for what she did, but she only got a warning. What surprised her was that she was crying tears of shame and repentance for what she did. Praise the Lord.

Sandy taught about the love of our Heavenly Father. Though we may feel abandoned, God does not abandon us. She started off by having the girls read Psalm 142. We can call on God at any time and He will hear us and help us. She shared her testimony of how she was sick for 15 years and could not eat except to drink carrot juice and was very weak. She had little children that had to take care of themselves and her, and her husband had to carry her up and down the stairs. She was ready to die and wanted to die. One of the inmates, who is not a Christian, amazed us and asked if that was a sin to want to die. Sandy said yes, and she had to repent and ask God to show her why she was so sick. To make a long story short, God showed her it was because she felt unloved and abandoned by her parents and she felt God didn’t love her and had abandoned her. She asked for forgiveness and went through a prayer of deliverance from the devil’s oppression and released the spirit of abandonment, and she was instantly healed.

I gave MJ a copy of my book, Hope for Complete Healing to help her transform other painful memories. If you have painful memories, you can find this book on my website, just click on the title of my book. Thank you for your continued prayers. I will continue teaching out of the study booklet called Living a Victorious Life. Every inmate gets one of these booklets. Please pray that the truths in this teaching material would transform the lives of the inmates.

Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book.

Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Mental Health Coaching – Training Opportunity

Would you be interested in learning more about Mental Health and how to coach people who are dealing with issues in their lives? The following is the course listing. If you are interested in applying for the scholarship and paying a $56.00 processing fee, email hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, and I will send you the link. This was a great course, and I highly recommend it.

C-MHC 101: Foundations of Mental Health Coaching (CMHC101)

This introductory course is designed to provide students with an orientation to the field of mental health coaching. Topics covered include the role and scope of mental health coaching within the local church, ethical guidelines and professional standards in coaching, crisis intervention techniques, and the integration of faith and biblical wisdom in coaching.

Course Orientation

Foundations of Mental Health Coaching

Mental Health, Care & Counsel Survival Tools

Mental Health Coach Code of Conduct

Unit 1: Introduction

Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Mental Health Coaching

Lesson 1.2: The Role of the Mental Health Coach in the Church

Unit 2: Faith and Spirituality

Lesson 2.1: The Effective People Helper

Lesson 2.2: Bringing People into God’s Presence

Lesson 2.3: Spirituality and Counseling

Unit 3. Ethics and Coaching Responsibilities

Lesson 3.1: Professional Ethics in Mental Health Coaching

Lesson 3.2: Boundaries and Violations I

Lesson 3.3: Boundaries and Violations II

Lesson 3.4: When Helping You is Hurting Me

Lesson 3.5: The Successful Coach: Managing Time and Staying Organized

Unit 4. Crisis Intervention

Lesson 4.1: Trauma and Abuse

Lesson 4.2: Best Practices for Trauma and Crisis Response: Part I

Lesson 4.3: Best Practices for Trauma and Crisis Response: Part II

Lesson 4.4: The Crisis of Suicide

Lesson 4.5: Conducting a Suicide Intervention

C-MHC 201: Mental Health Coaching Skills (CMHC201)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the fundamental theories and skills of Christ-centered mental health coaching. Key elements of the coaching process, including methods of change, listening, effective communication, giving hope, small groups, and counseling theory, will be discussed.

Course Orientation

Mental Health, Care & Counsel Survival Tools

Mental Health Coach Code of Conduct

Unit 1: Coaching Skills

Lesson 1.1: Successful Coaching: What Makes it Unique and Essential Skills

Lesson 1.2: Creating a Safe Place: Listening, Empathy, and Winning Trust

Lesson 1.3: Relationships and Communication: Core Coaching Skills

Lesson 1.4: Helping Others Find Significance in Life

Lesson 1.5: The Power of Encouragement: A Key to Hope Coaching

Lesson 1.6: Getting Unstuck: The Road to Healing and Recovery

Lesson 1.7: The Incredible Power of Intentional Listening

Lesson 1.8: Understanding Our Differences: Personalities and Coping

Lesson 1.9: How to Help People Change

Lesson 1.10: Doing Brief, Solution-focused Counseling for Christ

Lesson 1.11: A Better Way: Helping Clients Turn Their Life Around

Unit 2: Small Groups

Lesson 2.1: Dynamic Small Groups and Spiritual Care Teams

Lesson 2.2: Change and Restoration: The Healing Power of Small Groups

Lesson 2.3: Types of Groups: An Overview for a Dynamic Ministry

C-MHC 301: Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders (CMHC301) Completed

This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of mental and behavioral health disorders. Particular emphasis will be placed on factors that cause mental disorders, as well as conventional treatments. Conditions discussed include addiction, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Course Orientation

Mental Health Coach Code of Conduct

Unit 1: Addictions

Lesson 1.1: Models of Addiction

Lesson 1.2: Helping Others with Alcohol, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Problems

Lesson 1.3: Dual Diagnosis and Comorbidity

Lesson 1.4: Opioids and Addiction: An Alarming Tsunami

Unit 2: Mental Health Difficulties and Disorders

Lesson 2.1: Mental Illness & Character Disorders

Lesson 2.2: Depression, Mood Disorders and Suicide

Lesson 2.3: Stress and Anxiety: Overcoming Fear, Phobias, & Panic Disorders

Lesson 2.4: Bipolar and Spectrum Mood Disorders

Lesson 2.5: Eating Disorders: Diagnosis, Treatment and Referral

Lesson 2.6: Grief, Loss, and Complicated Grief

Lesson 2.7: PTSD and Complex trauma

Lesson 2.8: Psychiatric Care and Medication

Lesson 2.9: Psychotropic Medication: It’s a Matter of Trust