A Hurting Word...
What's goin' on at our house these days? It's eighth grade graduation. Autographed yearbook...class T-shirt...peers...parties...pictures...but wait a minute...in the 90s, it's now memory videos, a complete movie record of the Class of 2000, K through 8th grade. As my son Joey would say, "COOL!"
Ever view a memory video of your life? Sure you have; we all do! Replay happy moments--that's awesome! Replay not-so-happy moments--that's agony! Like childhood "shadow-on-the-wall" games, the memories become larger-than-life "Ghosts of Gloom." The scenes replay on the VCR of your mind until you want to scream, "Shut it OFF!"
You can't--memories etched on the computerized video of your brain are unerasable--so how do you handle it? Let's meet the "ghosts," the larger-than-life shadows, who play the starring roles in your memory video! They're in the well with you, whether you like it or not--might as well find out their names!
A Helping Word...or Two!
(1)The Ghost of Destroyed Dreams--this ghost replays the scenes of unrealized goals, plans, accomplishments--"I could have done this"--"I could have been that." On and on he reminds you of the "if only" situations that could have changed the direction of your life. Stop listening to the memory villian--let the Master Technician skillfully change the shadowy image into a Giant of Grace--His Destined Purpose. Do not doubt His plan. He wants you to understand that it's not a destroyed dream; it's His plan to redirect you into a perfect place, far better than the place you had designed for yourself!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).
(2)The Ghost of Difficult Relationships--this ghost rehearses the gone-sour relationships--perhaps parents, mate, children, friends. Or perhaps it's the loneliness of lost relationships! Your memory rewinds itself to once again remember exact conversations; recount blow-by-blow events, or re-live physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. The misery replays in your mind until you can't live with yourself or anyone around you! Then stop listening to the memory villian! Let the Master Technician turn the shadowy image into another Giant of Grace--His Dynamic Presence, to renew you. He desires to use the difficult relationships to give you a complete character make-over. See the sensitive, compassionate, caring person He wishes to make you; let Him transform the hurtful memories into healing ones, as you embrace the qualities He desires to form in you.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22, 23 KJV).
(3)The Ghost of Devastating Failure--this ghost repaints scenes of defeat--memories of your failing others, failing yourself, and most of all, failing God. His ghostly voice echoes through your mind, "You blew it, remember? So why try again? You never could do it right; you can't do anything right now; and you never will!" Won't you stop listening to the memory villian? The Master Technician desires to turn your deadly, fearful ghost into yet another Giant of Grace--His Divine Power, to restore you, to help you realize His success, not yours. God's power will work within you, remolding each devastating failure into a radiant testimony for His Glory. And the shadowy memory will haunt you no longer as you receive the victory He provides.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 KJV).
Rhetoric? Nicely put, clever phrases to anesthesize hurtful memories? NO--it's God's powerful Word to your heart; His message of healing for memories that haunt you today. Let His Word and His love heal each hurtful, personal, ghostly memory. As you release it to Him, that memory will become a Giant of Grace, a testimony to others of
the healing God whom you love and whom you serve.
And that's just a word...or two, from my heart to yours!
His Healing Word
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee...(Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV)
