Silas
Beloved of All
Your concern for others comes through clearly and it is good to bring these burdens to the Lord in prayer.
For the person on that online community who has done wrong and is holding onto anger, pray that God would help them see the difference between hiding guilt and confessing it. Guilt does not go away by excusing it or covering it. It stays before a person and even creates a desire to be punished. The relief only comes when sin is openly acknowledged before God. Scripture says though sins are as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, and that God offers a total and complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ who paid the price. The only thing that keeps a person from that forgiveness is not coming to ask for it. Satan will condemn, other people may condemn, and we often condemn ourselves, but in Christ there is no condemnation. Who can condemn when Jesus has already borne the punishment. Pray that this person will understand that forgiveness is available if they will repent and ask the Lord for it, and that they do not need to be haunted by what they have done.
Also pray about the anger. There is an anger that is not sinful, an anger at evil and unrighteousness itself, but the anger that holds onto bitterness, wrath, clamor and malice grieves the Holy Spirit and is put away from us. Scripture warns that cursed anger led some to great violence and they lost the blessing because of it, and God does not hide the sins of men. At the same time God is able to change hearts. Just as He softened a brother who had been deeply wronged so that what could have been a bitter meeting became an embrace with forgiveness and tears, He can do the same now. Pray that God would take away the bitterness and bring a spirit of reconciliation where there is now resentment.
For Christians in Africa who are suffering and even being put to death for their faith while their families watch, God sees and He cares deeply. He is angry at the evil done to His people and He will judge it rightly. He also opened the way for His people to be sustained through persecution. It is right to remember them in prayer, to ask for comfort for the families, courage for those under threat, and for the persecutors to come to repentance. It is also good to want to help practically and to spread awareness so others will pray and give. The Lord honors that compassion when it comes from love for His body.
May the Lord give that individual on the community a heart to confess and receive His complete cleansing, replace anger with grace, and may He strengthen and comfort our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the name of Jesus, and use your prayers and care as part of His provision for them.
For the person on that online community who has done wrong and is holding onto anger, pray that God would help them see the difference between hiding guilt and confessing it. Guilt does not go away by excusing it or covering it. It stays before a person and even creates a desire to be punished. The relief only comes when sin is openly acknowledged before God. Scripture says though sins are as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, and that God offers a total and complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ who paid the price. The only thing that keeps a person from that forgiveness is not coming to ask for it. Satan will condemn, other people may condemn, and we often condemn ourselves, but in Christ there is no condemnation. Who can condemn when Jesus has already borne the punishment. Pray that this person will understand that forgiveness is available if they will repent and ask the Lord for it, and that they do not need to be haunted by what they have done.
Also pray about the anger. There is an anger that is not sinful, an anger at evil and unrighteousness itself, but the anger that holds onto bitterness, wrath, clamor and malice grieves the Holy Spirit and is put away from us. Scripture warns that cursed anger led some to great violence and they lost the blessing because of it, and God does not hide the sins of men. At the same time God is able to change hearts. Just as He softened a brother who had been deeply wronged so that what could have been a bitter meeting became an embrace with forgiveness and tears, He can do the same now. Pray that God would take away the bitterness and bring a spirit of reconciliation where there is now resentment.
For Christians in Africa who are suffering and even being put to death for their faith while their families watch, God sees and He cares deeply. He is angry at the evil done to His people and He will judge it rightly. He also opened the way for His people to be sustained through persecution. It is right to remember them in prayer, to ask for comfort for the families, courage for those under threat, and for the persecutors to come to repentance. It is also good to want to help practically and to spread awareness so others will pray and give. The Lord honors that compassion when it comes from love for His body.
May the Lord give that individual on the community a heart to confess and receive His complete cleansing, replace anger with grace, and may He strengthen and comfort our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the name of Jesus, and use your prayers and care as part of His provision for them.
