Others are going to hurt us this side of Heaven. And, it seems, those closest to us can hurt us the most.

As Paul sat in prison, he had been abandoned and betrayed by his friends Phygellus and Hermogenes (2 Tim 1:15). Paul felt this hurt.

It’s significant to me that Paul did not complain about the impending execution, which he surely knew awaited him, but he did point out this deep betrayal.

I think it is also significant what Paul did next— he immediately called out the blessings of those who had loved him well (2 Tim 1:16).

Paul didn’t hide his pain. But he also didn’t stay stuck there!

Friend, some of you need to get “unstuck”from yesterday’s hurt. It will eat you alive and rob your joy.

The enemy would love to keep us enslaved to the pain in our lives caused by others. He loves to try to turn those wounds into bitterness and depression.

But when we deliberately turn our eyes to the good things God has given us- the blessings we have instead of the ones we don’t, we will find peace.

Notice Paul recognized the hurt, but then he immediately and deliberately called out his blessings. He recognized Onesiphorous who had often refreshed him.

This is how Paul walked in victory and how we can as well.

When the enemy brings to mind wounds from the past, immediately call out a blessing God has given you. Thank the Lord for that blessing.

If the hurt thoughts still threaten to consume me, I’ve found it very helpful to do what the Lord says and pray FOR the person that has hurt me. (Matt 5:44, Luke 6:28).

When you do these things, you are doing spiritual battle; and you can know the enemy does not want to hear you praise the Lord or pray for those who have hurt you. He will flee when you do this.

God, through Paul, told us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12)

And Christian, He who is in you (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he (the evil one) who is in this world. (1 John 4:4)

God is faithful. He will do it. (1 Thess 5:24)

You just have to be willing. Are you willing?

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