We all got some “issues” I got issues…you got issues…even the preacher has issues. Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble.” Not “if” you have trouble…he said ” you will have trouble.” Being enclosed in this one room 24 hours a day with other women has taught me a lot about “issues.” Mine and everybody elses.
I am usually good about recognizing mine-facing them and giving them to God. But sometimes it is easier for me to notice someone elses issues and put mine toward the back of my mind…and theirs to the tip of my tongue…”Ouch!” (Sometimes it’s easier to say ouch than Amen.)
We’ve all done it. At first it starts off as concern. And we quote scripture: “Whoever turns a sinner from error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20) Sometimes the problem with this is that some people won’t face their “issues.” There is no way to turn them from their error if they don’t think they are living in sin.
So the next thing that happens is that somehow they become the topic of conversation. We want to help…but we don’t know what to do..we pray about it…but for some reason we still discuss it among ourselves. But then God taps us on the shoulder with: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph 4:29) Then he says ” Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it become more and more ungodly.” (2 Tim 2:16) Isn’t that the truth!
The more we talk about it…the more we notice it. The more we notice it…the more it bothers us. The more it bothers us… the harder it becomes for us to give it to God. And until we give it to God…we can’t expect Jesus to bring deliverance. We have to surrender all our issues at the foot of the cross and know that Jesus will deliver us. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Lord, help us to give our issues to you, and to pray for our sisters issues instead of discuss them among ourselves. Amen.
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