And God Said ...

Surrendering Your Pain

“For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.” Isaiah 65:22b-23 (NIV) Into my adult years, my relationship with my mom struggled. She had been to residential school and, right from my youngest years, her mothering skills were very poor . . . almost nonexistent. When I eventually got around to asking her to forgive me for my bitterness towards her, she said, “Okay.” I tried many times to talk to her after that. Whenever it looked like we might be able to talk things out, she would start crying. I so wanted to bring closure to things. My mom always struggled to hug and struggled to say, “I love you.” It wasn’t until her later years that I was finally able to tell her, “I love you, Mom. I forgive you.” My mom accepted the Lord as her Savior and, over the years, she had learned to laugh. She held her grandchildren with delight. I thought I had released the bitterness, and brought closure to our lives. About two or three days after my mom’s passing, however, I was sitting alone when I felt some unresolved forgiveness still festering. I cried out to Jesus to truly help me to forgive her. The peace that overwhelmed me was so meaningful! At Mom’s funeral, I had shared the importance of forgiveness to whoever would listen. Being at peace means surrendering your pain to God. Let Him deal with it. — Richard Knott   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

Experiencing Forgiveness

“We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:19-21 (NIV) After I asked my mom and dad for forgiveness for hating them, the wall that had separated us from experiencing a good parent/ child relationship began to fall away. I began to stop in and visit, and it turned into many good visits with my dad. The coffee was always on. We laughed, joked, and enjoyed each other’s company. Most of my dad’s life, he was never able to say, “I love you,” or “I’m proud of you.” But in his later years, he was able to say it more freely. With my dad, if you stopped in and visited, he would enjoy your company, although there might not be much said. And Dad was so softspoken that, even when he talked, it was hard to hear what he was saying. But Dad began filling me in on his life, telling me all his experiences, beginning with his childhood. He gave me a timeline. It was as if he was preparing me to do his eulogy someday. After I dealt with my unforgiveness, I had a wonderful relationship with my dad. We were able to talk freely. He accepted the Lord and walked with Jesus. An unforgiving heart is a burden. Set yourself free . . . even if you talk to a headstone or write a letter releasing your unforgiveness. If you write a letter to a deceased person, you can burn it afterwards. No one has to read it. God wants you to be happy. Let the yoke be removed. — Richard Knott   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

Learning to Forgive

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) At 32 years-old, I was doing a study with two other men. The Bible based book we were studying was called Stop Using Your Past as an Excuse for the Way You Are. My mom had been to residential school. Her mothering skills, when I was younger, were almost non-existent. I desired to grow in my relationship with our God, and the Lord began pointing out my need to deal with my unforgiveness towards her. When we begin our walk with God, we are seeking to be at peace. However, my unforgiveness was a burden that I was willing to carry. As I grew in my relationship with Jesus, He called me to preach. He used me to lead others to Jesus, and He was answering my prayers. Over the years, though, each time I cried out to God to draw me closer, He reminded me to go seek forgiveness from my parents for my hatred towards them. The pain was real; the struggle was hard. It seems that the Lord deals with us one thing at a time. I still knew that the Lord had asked me to go to my parents and ask them to forgive me for hating them. My question was, “I was the one hurt, so why do ‘I’ need to ask for forgiveness?” Finally, I was pliable and said, “Okay, Lord.” First, I went to my dad. He cried and said, “It’s my fault.” Next, I went to my mom. She cried and said, “It’s all dad’s fault.” But after those visits, the yoke and my burden were lifted! I felt so much freer. My unforgiveness was no longer a burden. — Richard Knott   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

You Got This!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) I like my comfort zone! I like things that are familiar, predictable, and not ambiguous. When I know where I’m going, then I’m relaxed. That’s just me! I tend to shy away from situations where I am unsure of myself or the outcome. When I’m uncertain what’s on the road ahead, I won’t go there. But God has been showing me that I’m capable of going beyond my comfort zone and that I can be effective in those areas I thought were beyond me. I never thought I could talk to people … Jesus took that fear away. I never thought people cared about what I had to say … but now counseling is a big part of my ministry. I never thought I could accomplish anything by myself … but I remember making my first solo music recording. I never thought I could write anything … yet you’re reading it today! When God opens doors, He gives us the ability and courage to walk through them. When we say we can’t, God whispers, “You got this.” When we think we can’t keep on going, He reminds us that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). As I keep following the Lord, He continues to teach me new things. He has also shown me new ways to share about Him with others. Back when COVID-19 hit us, I started to post a Facebook devotional every morning. I borrowed devotionals from other writers, got some from my husband, and wrote a bunch myself. Some people say that’s what they look forward to reading every day. God is an awesome God! Dear Lord, help me to find Your calling for me. Give me the assurance that You are with me and give me strength to fulfill that calling. Amen. — Milly Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

What if the Bible is True?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) Our lives today and for eternity depend on knowing whether the Bible is true or not. If it is not true, then it does not matter if we read it or obey what it says. If it is true, then we must know what it says because our lives for today and eternity rely on what we do with it. I hear false statements from people who depend on what other people say. Some say that Christianity is only a white man’s religion. (I understand how that sounds meaningful to those affected by the cruelties inflicted by people calling themselves Christians.) Some people think that if we are good enough, we will go to heaven. Others think that since they said a prayer when they were a child, they will go to heaven, even if they continue to live a corrupt life. This is like the deceitful serpent suggesting to Eve that she could disobey God and receive no consequences. God’s Word provides nourishment, encouragement, and guidance for our spirits (our spirits are eternal). For example, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” Matthew 7:21 (NIV). He went on to explain, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV). Lord, open my spiritual eyes so I can learn Your Word and understand the wonder of all You offer me. — Sue Carlisle   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]