By Alison Feinauer
You know when you feel like an issue is under control because it doesn’t bother you the way it used to, then you realize that you’re just controlling it a different way? That’s how it’s been lately for me.
When I receive hurtful words from some people who are close to me, my family, friends, coworkers, etc., it’s super hard. Usually, they don’t realize the weight of the words that they’re saying to me. But it re-opens an old wound that is on the mend. My way of controlling this is shelving those hurts and putting them to the side, like in the junk drawer. Eventually, when you go to put something in it, it’s too full. You have to clean out the junk drawer. That’s when you realize all the junk that is in there that you need to put back in it’s place.
A few weeks back, I cleaned my car out. I was so proud of it. My husband loves a clean, swept out, dusted car. I was super excited to tell him what I did. When I saw him that evening, I opened the door and showed him the job I’d done. The first thing he said, pointing to the seat was, you missed this spot here. Seriously!!! Not a good job, or looks great, or anything, just pointing out the wrongs. I brushed it to the side, “stuffed in in the junk drawer” and went on my way.
The next day, these words kept coming up and the Lord showed me that I’ve been shelving all of these hurts. I needed to do some work and deal with them. I found some quiet time and chose a few people that have been hurting me lately and I forgave them through writing a forgiveness letter. I was at a women’s camp, so after writing the letters, I went to receive prayer. I shared what I was experiencing. They said, “Well, we would like to hear you forgive them out loud.” I was like, I already did that in my letter. Again, they really wanted me to SAY IT OUT LOUD. I thought, OK I’ll do that, no big deal.
But it was. It was a BIG deal. As I was repenting for agreeing with these hurts, forgiving these people out loud and blessing them, something BIG broke in me. It was an incredible feeling and weight lifted! There is power in saying these words out loud.
I had this vision that there were no roots in my life and they had been black and dark and just growing. All of a sudden, after I had forgiven these people out loud, the black was suctioned and the roots were illuminated with this white bright light. It was like this transforming healing that happened in that moment with the Lord because I chose to speak them out loud.
We live in a spiritual world. Through God, there is power in our words. When we speak them out loud and declare them, the enemy knows exactly where he stands and he loses his power.
From this experience, I have two challenges for you this week. Clean out your junk drawer and speak out loud forgiveness. Take some time to reflect on issues, or hurts you’ve been avoiding and need to address. Then find a friend or even just some time with God and out loud speak your forgiveness. This could even be reading a forgiveness letter out loud.
It’s hard, dirty, raw work. But girl, it’s worth it! I’m living proof!
- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
- If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
- Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).
- Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
