FIRST AID FOR THE SOUL

I read the following during my devotional time tonight, and decided to share it. Some good food for the soul.

"Be silent, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10).

"Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4: 31, 32 - The Message).

If a hurt is inflicted on you, what should you do?

• Keep calm. Rushing about trying to correct the injury usually causes greater damage. [See Psalm 46:10.]
  
• Apply direct pressure of understanding to wound. What caused the incident? Could you have prevented it? How does the offending party feel? What if things were reversed?
  
• Wash wound thoroughly with kindness to remove all hardness and vindictiveness.
  
• Coat liberally with the ointment of love to protect from infection of bitterness.
  
• Prescription. Take a generous dose of antibiotics from the Word of God several times daily, applying with prayer. This soothes and relieves pain.
  
• Don't remove scab. Bringing up the subject will reopen the wound, risking infection.
  
• Bandage injury with forgiveness to keep it covered until the wound is healed.
  
• Avoid complication of self-pity. Symptom: withdrawal from others, especially the one inflicting the injury. Remedy: accept apologies.
  

Full recovery is reached when patient is restored to complete fellowship with the offending party. Stay in close contact with the Great Physician at all times. Depend on His strength, joy, and peace to help you during convalescence.
—George Verwer in No Turning Back

My Response: When hurt, how well do I follow "doctor's orders"?

Thought to Apply: A man who studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal. —FRANCIS BACON (English philosopher & writer)

PRAYER: I need Your power, Lord, to root out resentments and replace them with trust in how You are shaping my circumstances.