Our Pastor gave a sermon on forgiveness and letting go recently. Of course, he was talking about national problems and historical events where the wounds have never healed and bitterness grows. Why do people keep those old wounds alive?

Why is the focus so much on what is wrong in this world and not how to make it better. I hurt for all those who have lost loved ones because someone felt wounded and lashed out.

The pictures of the damage from the hurricane remind me of all the help that is needed. People have lost everything. Let’s focus on them instead and stand together as a nation.

The Bible is full of struggles of power and the violence used to gain that power. Today we still have groups using evil means to gain power. My heart cries out to people whose lives are impacted by this. All those people forced to leave their homes and live in another country. Europe is full of people who had to leave their country. How do they let go of the pain if Jesus is not in their life?

My life has not been struggle free but learning to let go actually set me free. It didn’t happen overnight and I needed to turn it over to God.

Ironically, after coming home from hearing the sermon I had to practice what I heard. It wasn’t easy to let go of harsh words, but bitterness would settle in if I didn’t.

How about you? Is there something you need to let go of?

Our nation has turned to so much violence and protests.  Each time I see a protest, I am reminded of the story of Ruby Bridges. If you have not seen the movie or read the book, a lot can be learned from Ruby’s experience as a 1st grader integrating into an all white school in the south. Despite the fact that she was a child, she was treated unfairly and cruelly by adults. Each day as she was escorted by the United States Marshals through the hostile crowd outside her school, she stopped to pray for them. Her faith was inspiring and she was more forgiving than the adults living during that difficult time.

For those that are retired, spend time each day praying for our country and for revival. Pray for people who are in that awful storm and have lost so much. Pray for our leaders.

One of my favorite apps is IF 7:14. Each day it gives you two quick prayers for our country and for revival. You get alerts to help you remember to pray. You can even add your own prayer.

Prayer is the only answer if we really want change.