Healing power

Have you experienced deep emotional hurt? I mean the kind of hurt that will tear you up inside? The pain is so unbearable it literally knocks you over, while you grasp for air! It is worse than physical pain. It's the pain of rejection, abandonment, abuse, betrayal, and more. It comes in waves and feels overwhelming! It seems like no relief is possible and defeat is certain! We can feel despair and hopelessness! I know... I have been there. How did I get there? I don't want to spend too much time here on my own past hurts and sorrows, yet I feel it is important for you to know you have a friend and brother in Christ who understands what deep pain feels like, I have plenty of scars to show. I also know what it is like to cause hurt, as for years in my life I allowed the unresolved issues of my childhood to manifest itself through destructive behaviors and patterns as an adult. I hurt many people with my words, intimidation, poor choices, and bombastic ways! These people were the people I said I "cared"for most. I completely made a mess out of my life right out of high school and despite my best intentions, blazed a trail of destruction. Friends, I was a mess of a husband, didn't know how to love, selfish, inconsiderate and masked my many insecurities and deep hurts with arrogance and phony bravado. The pain inside that I covered up actually had the better of me for years! That is until I finally had enough and realized I was the only common denominator in all my "messes!" Yes the expression "better late than never" is true, yet I have many regrets and deep remorse for my many mistakes along the way. It took me a failed first marriage, a failed first business, a DUI, and almost a second failed marriage, before I finally cried out to Jesus Christ for help and healing. Here's how it went down for me! I called a meeting, just me and God! I remember sitting in my conference room in my offices in CA on a Saturday with pen and paper wanting to hear from God! I had my Bible, and I went through my own agenda items confessing out loud all my many frustrations! I told God how miserable I was, and asked him why I kept doing destructive things that I didn't want to do! I told him that despite having all the external "blessings" like my own business, luxury cars, homes, etc. I was flat out sick and tired of who I had become, ( drinking too much, hedonistic, unhealthy in every way and without love) Now after a period of time had gone by I literally turned over the floor to him... to speak to me and give me answers ( or just put me out of my misery)! I waited and waited ( really hoping to hear from him) and after 15 minutes of silence, I decided it time to get up and leave, That's when it happened... I heard a still small voice speak ever so softly into my heart which said" Randy, you accepted me as your Savior when you were a small boy, yet you have never made me The Lord of your life! What does that mean? I thought to myself. The next day I took my wife and kids back to church and at the end of the sermon the pastor said," there are some here this morning who have accepted Jesus as their Savior almost like a fire insurance policy, to avoid hell. But have never made him the Lord of their life! " He then said there is a difference! If Jesus is your Lord, you serve him! You make his will your greatest desire! That was all the confirmation for me that I needed! I had heard from The Lord the day before! That morning I made Jesus Lord of my life, not just my Savior... now he is on the throne, not me! He is my Lord! Let me just tell you he has healed me, mended me, restored my family and blessed me beyond measure! I say all this because I want you to be encouraged right where you are tonight! Jesus is alive and well and will do the same for you! Call on him right now! Don't allow shame, failure, or pride stand in the way! Let's look at Romans 10:9-10 --- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
To "confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus" means that you must agree with God that 1) you are a sinner, that you deserve to die for your sins; 2) you cannot save yourself, nor can you invite yourself into God's "house"; 3) Jesus must be Lord of your life because you, in your own power can never live up to God's Holy standard of perfection, but through the power He gives you as you surrender to Him, you can live a Holy, blessed, and healed life! Thanks for letting me share so much of me tonight, Randy Young