ICS Daily Devotions
Reconciliation – Reining In The Flesh
Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV) Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
The benefits of forgiving someone according to Mayo Clinic:
Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for improved health and peace of mind. Forgiveness can lead to:
• Healthier relationships
• Improved mental health
• Less anxiety, stress and hostility
• Lower blood pressure
• Fewer symptoms of depression
• A stronger immune system
• Improved heart health
• Improved self-esteem
[Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692]
There is a tendency for us to build a shield around us as a coping mechanism to prevent ourselves from being hurt again. We are less trusting when we have experienced hurt and betrayals. It is never healthy to be on a constant mode of being suspicious because that will lead to poor mental health. If we do not choose to forgive and reconcile, then we will have the tendency to break out in anger for no apparent reason because the anger is triggered from within the soul.
Remember, God’s desire is for us to prosper in our journey in the area of our soul and health. Therefore, when we can choose to forgive and not allow the hurt to develop into bitterness, it is actually a healing process for us.
When we walk in the truth, we will not grieve the Holy Spirit in our conduct especially in the area of inter-personal relationships and the lifestyle that we live.
We have been taught in the Scripture to reconcile with people who have offended us or whom we have hurt. We will not be prospering in our soul if we continue to bicker over it. Sometimes, the argument or disagreement is over a small matter but we allow it to fester. We might feel awful, but we have chosen not to apologize or mend the relationship. The Holy Spirit will be grieved when we choose to ignore His prompting and the strong reaction from the conscience. We will lose sleep over the incident and we will not prosper in our soul! The correct thing to do when we are walking in the Spirit is to pick up the phone or have a cup of coffee with the affected party to restore the relationship. We will be prospering in our soul if we choose the path of reconciliation!
We can easily walk in the Spirit when we have renewed our minds with the truths found in the Bible in terms of redemption realities. They teach us how to walk out the new life in Christ through the new man. When we are not grieving the Holy Spirit then it means we are walking in the Spirit and not gratifying the desires of the flesh.
The prosperity of the soul is not to be taken for granted because it is something that we need to pursue by reining in the flesh. We need to walk in the Spirit by putting on the new man rather than allowing our old self to dictate our lives.
Sermon Series – Is Your Soul Prospering
