Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not the best editor.
I am going to discuss subtle emotions that Satan can use against you and discuss on how the bible tells us to handle it. God created us he knows our minds better then any human can. Negative emotions are difficult to talk about but learning about them and learning to face them and work through them in the proper way can helps us to draw closer to God and also draw closer to those we care about. I am going to discuss the various negative emotions, the good and the bad. I am also going to discuss as much as possible how God would want us to deal with them. I cannot cover all the negative emotions so I will cover the ones I have seen or experienced the most in my life. Not addressing these subtle emotions and ignoring them can leave a way for Satan to effect us. I am sorry this is so long but it is a complex subject and Satan uses these things a lot to attack people.
When we get that bad gut feeling we need to pay attention to why we may be feeling it. We should not ignore it but think about what it is telling us, like why we got it, why we may be feeling those negative feelings and what they are. If we ignore what those feelings are telling us , we could be ignoring what it may be telling us about ourselves or even someone else. If we ignore those feelings it can develop into negative emotions such as anger, frustration, jealousy or resentment. This could be directed at others and we could react in an inappropriate way. If it is a person that is causing these negative feelings we need to access what the negative emotion is and try to discuss with the person how you feel. If they ignore you or do not want to acknowledge your feeling or try to tell you how you feel then it indicates guilt or that they do not respect you. To continue to talk to them would only draw out more negative emotions. I will discuss the guilt part later, after I cover guilt I will cover other emotions because how we react to someone who has guilt could actually cause us to fall short. I am covering guilt because we all fall short and need to learn if we are trying to hide it so we do not drag the guilt out. It can hurt many people if we do. It will also cause us to lose our standing with God and Jesus. Learning about guilt can also make us aware when someone is trying to hide their guilt.
By recognizing the negative emotions and acknowledging them we determine what we are feeling and why we are feeling them. If it was caused by someone else we can discuss how something they have done made us fee. We need to consider they may not have done something deliberately they may have been mentally preoccupied or had a hard day. Being mindful of our emotions helps us to analyze the whole situation. For example you my think what is happening here? When did the emotion start and what set it off? This can also help us determine what skills we may use to address it. Not being mindful can cause us to hurt someone else also. Sometimes if it reaches the point of reacting with secondary emotions we may try to gain control back or power we may feel we have lost. This usually results in a power struggle between two people unless the other is passive.
When you get that negative feeling it usually occurs in this order:
A person usually thinks I do not like having this feeling.
Then they think I shouldn’t have this feeling. Some will tend to back away and then they learn nothing.
Then they may think it is wrong to have that feeling.
Then they may think they are bad or think the person who made them have the feeling is bad. Though neither may be true it could be a misunderstanding.
If the feeling is ignored the secondary emotions can kick in such as jealousy, anger, resentment, feeling hurt or even scared. This can cause us to act in a way that undermines ours or others best interest. It can even undermine our values.
What if someone reacts negatively to you wanting to talk about how something they said or did made you feel . It can indicate a few things such as guilt or a lack of respect for us. We also could react this way if we carry guilt or do not respect others. This is why bible tells us not to look out for our own interest but to view others as superior to ourselves.
These are things someone who is guilty or does not respect you will do. If they do not want to hold themselves accountable they most likely are guilty anyways because a lack of respect would cause them to think light of betraying you or God. A person who is guilty usually uses subtle forms of abuse.
This is a list of things guilty people often do when they are guilty:
Stonewalling -they refuse to communicate, they will try and avoid you, refuse to listen, They will refuse to discuss the matter at hand. A person who uses this tactic will use extreme patients hoping the victim will forget about it or decide not to bring the issue up again. Being aware of these things can show us if we are not holding ourselves accountable or someone else may not be holding themselves accountable. By recognizing guilt we can also recognize behavior we may be doing if we are wrong but do not want to admit it. In doing so we can do some things that are very hurtful towards others.
Gaslighting- they distort information so that something appears other then it is. For example a person will explain away actions that may incriminate them or may be vague about their actions. Usually someone knows something is wrong about the p[erson’s statement but they cannot pinpoint what. Our memories are not perfect. Those who are gaslighting will plan their statement so usually will repeat things that most don’t remember such as days, date and time and they will be consistent about it. When a person gaslights they will ignore questions and be dismissive of your arguments. This tactic is sometimes used to try and convince someone they are insane. Gaslighters will also try to make the victims some how believe things were their fault. Gaslighting is designed to distort the reality of the victim and make them believe they are crazy. Gaslighters often times tell people they are too sensitive.
Looking from a spiritual viewpoint we are to treat others the way we would want to be treated. If we are in error we should admit it and take corrective actions. The longer someone hides an error the more difficult things get for them and the more people that are hurt when the error gets exposed. Sometimes if they admit their error they can be forgiven and move on and put the error behind them. But selfish people tend to not want to admit their error. Surely we would not want to become selfish and negatively effect others. When we are in error we are to confess it to God and the person we wronged and pray on it and study the bible to learn how to prevent committing that error again. We are all imperfect and fall short. If we do not admit our error then we cannot overcome it.
Duplicity is another tactic used to cover guilt. This is when they guilty person will outright tell a person one thing while they are doing another. These ones plan what they will say ahead of time and will even try to accumulate those who will support their lies. They will try to do things in a way the evidence will seem to support their claims. Those who support their lies are often times referred to as flying monkeys. Sometimes they will try to have the flying monkeys watch you so that they can try to find a reason to accuse you, to down play the guilt of themselves or someone convince the victim they were the fault of the error they committed . Those who practice duplicity will be secretive about the things they do and where they are going. If you question them they will make it like you have the problem because you do not trust them. When a person ask where someone is going often times it, just in case anything happens they will know where they are. Sometimes I will tell someone where I am going because if they need something I could save them time by getting it for them if it is on my way. Sometimes I would ask someone where they were going and what they were going to do so I could plan my day to benefit both parties. For example if a wife was going to the store this would mean she does not have time to do some of the house chores. If the husband knows this he could help by doing some of the house chores and be prepared to help carry the groceries in when the wife arrives home. I say wife because I hate grocery shopping lol. I am not married but if I ever got married I would hope my wife would like to shop. Cunning can be another word for duplicity because it take cunning to practice it. If we find ourselves doing such things we should question why we would want to be so secretive. Is it for the right reasons. For example Rahab was deceptive to protect God’s people because she had faith in God and knew he would protect her from the impending destruction of her people. If we are practicing duplicity we need to question is it because we are trying to hide something we have done or are going to do or is it for righteous reasons? Duplicity can be used to also trip a person up. They tried to do this with Jesus because they knew his kingdom was no part of the world. They ask if they should pay their taxes to try and get him to incriminate himself. But he pointed out the money belonged to Ceasar so you give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and God’s things to God. They could not answer him.
Playing the victim is another tactic that guilty people will use. They will play like certain things they may have done that were wrong were somehow the victims fault and they pushed them into the wrong doing. We all are accountable for our own actions and if we sin and it is up to us to hold ourselves accountable. If not God will on his great day.
Guilt is another tactic used. The offender tries to guilt the other person and make them feel bad. This way they can down play what they have done and make it seem like it was somehow the victims fault. They even nit pick at the victim exaggerating flaws and even making some up. They are taking advantage of the fact that you care about them. This tactic destroys a persons self esteem and confidence. They often times will tolerate bad behavior because they have become convinced they deserve it. No one deserves being wronged no matter what even if we did commit a minor error we all sin and fall short. Many of us repent from things daily as we reflect on the mirror of God’s word and it indicates areas we need to grow. Guilting others when someone has their own flaws is one of the things Jesus corrected the pharisees for doing. The pharisees were committing worse sins then they were accusing others of. Jesus called them out on it and told them to repent. Usually when someone is quilting another they are judging them along with hiding their error.
Feeling negative emotions is not bad if for the right reason. It can protect and even inspire us. For example maybe we feel a negative emotion about a scripture we read. This could indicate we may need to address something and we should identify the emotion and access why we feel it. Also once we do figure out why we fell such an emotion and if it is appropriate we could take corrective action so we can draw closer to God. A friend actually had to help me overcome this. If I read something that seemed to make God as if he was contradicting himself then I would get confused and frustrated a friend had me research those scriptures and discuss why I felt that way. This helped me to see that the scriptures did not make God contradict himself I was not seeing the whole picture.
Memory loss- this is another tactic used by those who are guilty. We all have imperfect memories and will not remember things quite the way same each time. But those with guilt will have selective memory loss. They will remember key things like times , days and other things for lies and deception they have planned but if asked questions and they had missed something then they will have selective memory loss. Most do not remember times, and even dates things occur. Usually deceptive people make it a point to remember these things. They also have good memory recall when they are trying to hide their lies by accusing the victim and remembering errors the victim may have made. Their memory loss is selective. This is used to serve their own self interest.
Sarcasm is another method guilty people use to break someone down. Then they will pretend like it was a joke. The do this to break someones will so they devalue themselves. There is constructive criticism and destructive criticism. Destructive criticism serves the guilty person. Constructive criticism is given with humility and compassion. If we may feel someone is guilty of something we are not to judge them but we could talk to them. Falsely accusing someone can smear our own reputation if the accusations later prove to be false and others find out. This is why the bible requires two credible witnesses when we feel someone is guilty of a sin. Sarcasm is used as a way to control people and they will even get the victim involved in being sarcastic towards others to prove their loyalty to them.
Now lets discuss other small things that could make us fall short if we do not acknowledge feeling them. Things such as resentment, resentment, frustration, disgust, insecurity, anxiety, shame, envy, overwhelmed, apathy, humiliation or contempt can lead to us feeling secondary emotions such as fear, anger, selfishness, depression, hatred and even prejudice, and even grief. If we do not acknowledge these things we could experience secondary emotions that can result in anger, resentment, hatred, feeling of hopelessness and depression.
Some negative emotions do not feel bad like pride which can result in over confidence. But emotions like resentment, frustration, disgust, insecurity, anxiety, shame, envy, overwhelmed, apathy, humiliation or contempt can lead to us feeling secondary emotions such as fear, anger, selfishness, depression, hatred and even prejudice. Negative emotions if ignored can open the door for us to sin and even seek revenge. We know the bible warns vengeance is God’s. He can read their hearts. What if we did something in retaliation and that person may have some day become a spiritual relative but we caused them doubt by our behavior? All Satan needs is to get his foot in the door a little and he can use that to destroy our lives. The hardest part is when we see someone we care about who is letting Satan get his foot in the door and we warn them and they ignore the warning. I used to stress about that. The only things we can do if they do not head our warning is be their if they make the error and realize their mistake and repent. They usually have to rebuild their lives and relationships. Once they have proven they repented they will need help because often times many will abandon them because they will have a difficult time trusting them.
Pride though not a negative emotion can cause us to fall. If we get to proud we can put too much confidence in ourselves. If we get too proud of someone else we may put too much confidence in them. It is God and Jesus we should be proud of. Nothing we or anyone else do can top what they have done and what they are going to do. It is not wrong to take pride in what we do. When it does become wrong is when we get too prideful to the point we start looking down on others. Many of us have overcome many obstacles but if it was not for God we could not have done it. If we forget it is God that helps us and guides us we can get too confident in ourselves this is why the bible warns pride comes before a fall. The bible warns “God opposed the proud and shows favor to the humble. “ Jesus showed his humility when he washed the disciples feet. This is something servants did. He knew he was going to be seated on the throne in heaven and be given all authority over everything but God himself. He did not let that make him overly prideful. This also tells you something about God because remember Jesus did what he said he seen his father do. So it shows how humble God is.
Resentment can occur for a number of reasons. It can result from someone insulting us, offending us, doing something we may not like, or wronging us. If it persist we could start feeling ill will towards the person and even become angry or hate them. All things the bible warns us about so it is very important to identify resentment and deal with it quickly. If we discuss things with the person and they will not discuss it or continue in the behavior that caused the resentment then they are unrepentant and you may have to learn to deal with it. Sometimes we may even have to let it go because we all have our short comings. We also my cause others resentment at times. If it is something little then we need to let it go, if not we could start judging the person and that will take us down a road of constantly judging others something we are not to do. This can cause us to nit picking at others and rob us of our joy. Other times we may have valid reasons especially if the issue is a serious sin that causes us the resentment. If this occurs we need to take the necessary actions. Often times when I was uncertain how to deal with something I would ask the elders and they were more then happy to guide me. Sometimes someone may continually undermine things you do this can cause frustration that can lead to resentment. If I have talked to someone about it and they respond negatively or just brush it aside then I keep my mind focused on spiritual matters and pray on it and leave it between God and them. The bible tells us that we are to forgive all including our enemies. If we feel disgust towards someone whether justified or not we have to be cautious that we do not judge others when we feel a negative emotion. We need to think about why we feel it and how we can respond in a way that would please God sometimes there are justified reasons to feel negative emotions. Sometimes it may be that there is something about someones personality we do not like. For example if they are a meat eater and you are a vegetarian. If you feel disgust towards them and dwell on it it could develop into resentment and hatred. We are to love even our enemies. We are all imperfect and make errors. Isn’t it a good feeling when someone forgives you so you can move on and continue to grow and become a better person. By forgiving others we lead by example.
Frustration can be caused by people, events that happen , or obstacles that may be in our way. Frustration caused by others if held in can cause us to become verbally abusive towards someone. If something constantly frustrates us and there is not much we can do about it then we need to pray about it to Jehovah and leave him help us while we search his word to guide us through it. If we dwell on the frustration it can cause us to get discouraged and even depressed. Some frustration is righteous and if someone is the source of it then we could talk to them. How ever they respond always try to consider what God would want you to do. If we remain silent and do not talk to God or even a friend just to let our frustration out it can build up. It is not wrong to talk about things that concern you or cause you negative feelings. When it is wrong is when you keep talking about them but take no action or do not move on but keep dwelling on them. Jesus did not promise we would not go through tribulation. We are in the final minutes of this system. Many things will happen to cause negative emotions. Very soon how we react could determine whether we live or die. It could even determine whether we are in good standing with God. By taking in God’s word daily it reminds us this is all temporary and gives us hope in the future promises. In the new system the meek will inherit the earth and dwell forever upon it and there will not longer be injustice.
There are other negative emotions that lead to fear such as anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, or feeling insecure about yourself. If we put too much confidence in the world, people in the world , wealth or material possessions when we do suffer tribulation often times those things cannot help us. It can cause us to feel anxious, overwhelmed or even feel insecure. Another thing that can make us feel insecure is not knowing when to make our yes mean yes and our no mean no. If we learn the best we can what God requires , and we try our best to apply it in our lives and live by God’s word it becomes written on our hearts and knowing when to make our yest mean yes and our know mean no give us security in more then one way. There is no authority above God. It is God we need to please and not man , so if we are doing what God would want us to do we can be certain he will guide us through things and protect us. God knows many of us will suffer, some already are. There are many who lost all they have and are not even certain where their next meal comes from . As in times past those who put their trust and faith in God he has always provided for them. He may let your faith be tested but he will not let you starve to death or do without the things needed to survive. We are living in the final moments of this system many things will occur that will cause us negative emotions. It is not if we will suffer tribulation but when. The bible warned in our days the love of the greater number would cool off so love in the biblical sense would be rare. When someone is experiencing these things we should never assume they did something to bring it on themselves we know Satan is the accuser so we are not only dealing with the short comings of man in our lives many will also be attacked persecuted, and tried by Satan. In times like this we need to learn comforting scriptures so we can comfort those experiencing hard times. If we are being tried we need to lean on God in prayer and put our trust in him and look for comfort and wisdom in his word to get us through it. If things get too hard we can talk to an elder , there are times I have talked with a spiritual brother and he approached the elders and they came and helped me through it. By praying to God and relying on him the bible promises that God will protect our hearts and our thinking abilities when we are going through hard times. It also tells us we will have peace. Not peace in our lives because we are living in the last days but peace of mind and peace in our hearts knowing God is with us. Studies have shown if we let anxieties of life overwhelm us it can actually makes us ill . Jesus stated that being anxious does not add one day of life to us. We have to realize we are only human and many things will occur that are beyond our control. What we can control is our relationship with God and Jesus.
Shame is another negative emotion we may feel. It can be good or bad. For example when Adam in the garden of Eden after he sinned against God was embarrassed. How we react to shame when we have sinned can determine if we keep our good standing with God. Adam did not admit his guilt instead he blamed God for his error by stating it was the woman God gave him that caused him to error. Adam knew what God required of him so had no excuse. King David committed some pretty serious sins that resulted in murder and adultery . When he was confronted with his error he felt shame and he repented and did not commit the error again. When we sin and repent God will forgive us but he will let us suffer the consequences of our sin. Sometimes others sin effect us. When this occurs we should speak to them. And take the appropriate actions based on the situation. For example if it is a spiritual relative and they will not repent then we should speak to the elders along with another witness because God requires two witnesses. If we are ashamed to tell others about God and Jesus , Jesus warned he would also be ashamed of them. Sharing God’s word with others helps them to learn how to please God and give them hope in the future promises. It also build our faith. If everyone was afraid to talk about God and Jesus no one would know and there would be no hope for anyone. How sad that would be. We should never be ashamed because we do not know what to pray for. The bible tells us the holey spirit helps us and God reads our heart and knows what we really mean when we pray.
Contempt is something that may feel displeasing to us, something is worthless, or we have disdain for it. This also can be good or bad depending on why we are feeling it and how we react. For example if someone sins against God we can have contempt for what they did but we should not start hating them. We can hate what they do and the actions they have done but we are to forgive them and not continue dwelling on it, if we do then we could start judging them which would bring judgment on ourselves. We all are imperfect , so our hearts are not pure enough to judge others. God is perfect and can read peoples hearts. This is why we are told not to seek vengeance because it is God’s to seek. Even if the person has false reasoned in their minds causing them to wrong us nothing is secret to God and he knows their true intentions. So we should not speculate or dwell on it because it could cause us to start judging them which would bring us under judgment. We need to show all people love even those who wrong us or other people, keeping in mind we are not the judge but God is. The bible tells us love covers a multitude of sins.
Humiliation is the loss of pride which causes us to become mortified and usually results in a person being humbled , reduced to lowliness or submission. This is pretty complex and can result from many things for example if someone put their faith in their wealth and it was their identity when they lose that wealth they can experience humiliation. If a person puts their faith in a person and the person later proves to not be a very good person. All those that promoted this person could experience humiliation. Some could experience humiliation if they have fallen short and their sin was exposed. To avoid this we should build our foundation on Jesus the chief corner stone. He showed us how to obey God and have faith and gave us the knowledge in his words we need to build that foundation. He is our king in heaven and he will set matters straight very soon. All these things will be done away with soon. When all these things are gone what will those who put their faith in the world and things of the world have. Those who put their faith in Jehovah God and Jesus will have a real foundation because they do not change and they do not lie. All promises God has made have always been fulfilled. So if we do our best to remain blameless then we have no reason to be ashamed and God and Jesus would have no reason to be ashamed of us. We are very near the end of this system corruption is rampant. Things can change for anyone overnight. If someones foundation is build on the world or they put their faith in themselves when they have nothing what do they have left? Their identities have been build on foundations that will be can, and can be gone any day. Those who build their foundation on the chief corner stone will still have Jesus and God when all these things are gone or if they lose everything. This gives them hope for the future and prevents many of the other negative emotions that can come from losing everything. We have no reason to have doubts because God has always protected his people and provided for them. Jesus showed the power of God and the compassion when he healed many and even fed many. We have no reason to fear because we know Jesus has legions of angels at his command he will send to protect us. This does not mean we will not suffer tribulation but if our foundation is built on obeying and trusting Jesus as our king in heaven it will give us the peace of mind and comfort knowing that nothing not even death can separate us from the love of God and the love of Jesus.
Apathy apathy is a lack of feeling or emotion. It can also mean indifference or lack of motivation. It can be a lack of concern , motivation or passion. Many things can cause apathy if someone has let us down, if we had unrealistic expectation of someone and they did not meat those expectations. Some have become apathetic towards God and will start to read his word less and talk to him less when times get hard for them. Some can become apathetic because they get to involved in the world which can be overwhelming. Some can become apathetic if they become overwhelmed by life events which is what Satan did to Job. Some refer to apathy as a fallen heart. There are bad habits that can cause apathy. For example excess alcohol consumption and drug use. Marijuana can cause apathy. When a person feels overwhelmed they can start feeling apathetic. Lack of sleep can cause apathy. Nutrient deficiencies, infection, vaccine injury and some toxins can cause a person to be apathetic. Apathy can be a defense mechanism that protects us when something traumatic happens. It shuts the brain down and gets a person to think about things without emotions. But often times a person will dwell on the what ifs which can cause them to get stuck in the cycle of apathy. I am going to discuss the emotional aspects of apathy that occurs when something traumatic happens or a person gets overwhelmed.
When we have something traumatic happen apathy can work to protect us. It can shut things down so that our bodies do not over respond but it can have some negative effects because if we feel apathy to long the hormones produced can start to damage the heart. Ironic something that protects other areas of the body can effect the heart. It is very important to identify why we feel apathy and what we can do about it. If we remain apathetic too long it can harden our hearts towards others and towards God. Not only can apathy effect our heart it can also effect our life we can start ignor doing the basics to maintain our life, we may not take care of certain responsibilities, we may even start becoming apathetic in our relationship to God or family. To overcome apathy it is actually good to plan things and try to manage your time and to set small goals for yourself. Exercise has been found to help with apathy. Often times when a person experiences certain life changing events it can start making someone start thinking less of themselves or they could lose their confidence which can lead to apathy. We should try to think positive thoughts about ourselves and look at our good qualities if we have lost our confidence or feeling of self worth. It is very important to be thankful for what you do have. It is also important that you make plans for the future and do little things that can help improve you life. Looking back on things you can do nothing about will only drag you down and hinder you from recovering. It is very difficult but a person who finds they are experiencing apathy has to look forward and think about what they can do and not what they cannot or could have done. Hobbies like doing puzzles even word puzzles, painting, drawing and even coloring in coloring books have been found to help with apathy. We tend to dwell on our failures in life when experiencing apathy. When this occurs instead of thinking of them negatively think of what you learned from them and how it has benefited you in your knowledge. We all make mistakes but it is what we learn from them that really counts. If we were not prone to mistakes God would not of had to write the bible to teach us how to prevent making mistakes and how to overcome them when we do.
If we find we are being apathetic spiritually then praying will help even if we do not know what to pray for . We could thank God for being so merciful, for giving us the ransom sacrifice that provided the means for our sins to be forgiven, would could thank God for giving us such a wonderful king as Jesus. There are a number of reason we could find to thank God even when times are hard. Knowing he does not change even though the world and the things in it does can give us a security that those who do not know God do not have. That is why so many live in fear now and are like waves on the ocean and do not know what to think. What ever new idea someone tells them about is the direction their thoughts will go. Knowing God gives you a solid foundation and we know what we should think and do. So overcoming spiritual apathy we may feel can help us to remain faithful and keep us from losing the peace in our minds and hearts. Even if we do not feel like reading God’s word we should pick it up and just read a little. This has helped me many times in my life when things have happened and I found myself getting apathetic spiritually. Sometimes the anxieties of life can cause us to become apathetic , that is when we really need to lean on God. Now there are times we may not be able to devote as much time as we would like because this system is rapidly winding down and many problems can suddenly arise that need our attention. In times like that even reading a couple scriptures can help. We should not feel guilt if we do not have the time we would like to focus on spiritual things.
Apathy can also be caused by our sinning or falling short and letting someone down especially God. Israel became apathetic because God was asking them to give up things they had not wanted to give up such as idols and certain traditions of man.
Often times a person can become apathetic to those who may have been harmed by something they did or if they have wronged them. In order for them to overcome it they need to repent and put it behind them and make the changes needed to make sure they do not do it again. If they do not repent those they wronged can feel apathy because usually it results in the person no longer being a part of someone’s life or their relationship with others never being the same. Those who do not want to repent or face their sin will become apathetic towards those harmed by their error. If we have been effected by someone else error we may tend to blame ourselves. Sometimes we may even think how did I not see it the signs were all there. When you care for someone you tend to hope for and think the best. Often times because we will not do something, we will think others will not do it. The bible gives counsel on how to avoid falling short. For example Job made a covenant with his eyes and would not look at a woman inappropriately so he would not fall short. If someone knows they have a short coming and we warn them that they are putting themselves in a situation to fall short then we have done all we can. If we have a short coming we are aware of we need to make sure we do not put ourselves in a situation where we fall short . This type of apathy is very difficult to overcome. It takes a long time before you feel worthy of God’s love again. We would not want to lose all the spiritual progress we have made and have to struggle back spiritual. When we commit an error it usually effects many other people. If someone else errors against us we should forgive them and make certain they are taking the necessary steps to prevent that error happening again in order to trust them again. If they do not repent and this will be seen in their actions because they could appear to repent but if they continue to put themselves in situations that caused them to fall short then they have not truly repented because they have learned nothing from their error. Be very careful with such ones.
(Philippians 2:3, 4) 3 Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with humility consider others superior to you, 4 as you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.
(Leviticus 19:17) “‘You must not hate your brother in your heart. You should by all means reprove your fellow man, so that you will not bear sin along with him.
(Proverbs 19:11) The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger, And it is beauty on his part to overlook an offense.
(Matthew 18:15) “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go and reveal his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
(1 John 1:8-10) 8 If we make the statement, “We have no sin,” we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we make the statement, “We have not sinned,” we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(Luke 20:21-26) 21 And they questioned him, saying: “Teacher, we know you speak and teach correctly and show no partiality, but you teach the way of God in line with truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 23 But he detected their cunning and said to them: 24 “Show me a de·narʹi·us. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They said: “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them: “By all means, then, pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar but God’s things to God.” 26 Well, they were not able to trap him in his speech before the people, but amazed at his answer, they became silent.
(Matthew 7:1-5) 7 “Stop judging that you may not be judged; 2 for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you. 3 Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye but do not notice the rafter in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ when look! a rafter is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the straw from your brother’s eye.
(Romans 14:1-5) 14 Welcome the man having weaknesses in his faith, but do not pass judgment on differing opinions. 2 One man has faith to eat everything, but the man who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating, and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand. 5 One man judges one day as above another; another judges one day the same as all otexample destructive criticismhers; let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.
(Deuteronomy 17:6) On the testimony of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die should be put to death. He must not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
(Deuteronomy 19:15) “No single witness may convict another for any error or any sin that he may commit. On the testimony of two witnesses or on the testimony of three witnesses the matter should be established.
(Galatians 6:2-5) . . .. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself. 4 But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person. 5 For each one will carry his own load.
(John 13:2-11) 2 The evening meal was going on, and the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Is·carʹi·ot, the son of Simon, to betray him. 3 So Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he came from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the evening meal and laid aside his outer garments. And taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. 5 After that he put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples and to dry them off with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him: “Lord, are you washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.” 8 Peter said to him: “You will certainly never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him: “Lord, wash not only my feet but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him: “Whoever has bathed does not need to have more than his feet washed, but is completely clean. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew the man who was betraying him. This is why he said: “Not all of you are clean.”
(John 5:19, 20) 19 Therefore, in response Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, the Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son does also in like manner. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, so that you may marvel.
(Luke 6:27-31) 27 “But I say to you who are listening: Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, 28 to bless those cursing you, to pray for those who are insulting you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your outer garment, do not withhold the inner garment either. 30 Give to everyone asking you, and from the one taking your things away, do not ask them back. 31 “Also, just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them.
(Psalm 39:1-3) 39 I said: “I will guard my step To avoid sinning with my tongue. I will guard my mouth with a muzzle As long as anyone wicked is in my presence.” 2 I was speechless and silent; I kept quiet even about what is good, But my pain was intense. 3 My heart smoldered inside me. As I pondered, the fire kept burning. Then my tongue spoke:
(John 16:33) 33 I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.”
(Jeremiah 29:11, 12) 11 “‘For I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope. 12 And you will call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’
(Isaiah 54:17-55:1) 17 No weapon formed against you will have any success, And you will condemn any tongue that rises up against you in the judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, And their righteousness is from me,” declares Jehovah. 55 Come, all you thirsty ones, come to the water! You with no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
(Isaiah 40:31) 31 But those hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; They will walk and not tire out.”
(Isaiah 32:16-18) 16 Then justice will reside in the wilderness, And righteousness will dwell in the orchard. 17 The result of true righteousness will be peace, And the fruitage of true righteousness will be lasting tranquility and security. 18 My people will dwell in a peaceful abiding place, In secure dwellings and in tranquil resting-places.
(Proverbs 16:24) Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and a healing to the bones.
(Isaiah 50:4) The Sovereign Lord Jehovah has given me the tongue of those taught, So that I may know how to answer the tired one with the right word. He awakens me morning by morning; He awakens my ear to listen like the taught ones.
(Philippians 4:4-7) 4 Always rejoice in the Lord. Again I will say, Rejoice! 5 Let your reasonableness become known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.
(Matthew 6:25-27) 25 “On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life mean more than food and the body than clothing? 26 Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? 27 Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?
(Genesis 3:10) 10 Finally he said: “I heard your voice in the garden, but I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”
(Genesis 3:12, 13) 12 The man said: “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate.” 13 Jehovah God then said to the woman: “What is this you have done?” The woman replied: “The serpent deceived me, so I ate.”
(2 Samuel 12:13, 14) 13 David then said to Nathan: “I have sinned against Jehovah.” Nathan replied to David: “Jehovah, in turn, forgives your sin. You will not die. 14 Nevertheless, because you have treated Jehovah with utter disrespect in this matter, the son just born to you will certainly die.”
(Mark 8:36-38) 36 Really, what good will it do a man to gain the whole world and to lose his life? 37 What, really, would a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever becomes ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
(Romans 1:15-17) . . .. 16 For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, God’s power for salvation to everyone having faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it God’s righteousness is being revealed by faith and for faith, just as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by reason of faith.”
(Romans 10:17) 17 So faith follows the thing heard. In turn, what is heard is through the word about Christ.
(2 Timothy 2:14-19) . . .. 15 Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright. 16 But reject empty speeches that violate what is holy, for they will lead to more and more ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Hy·me·naeʹus and Phi·leʹtus are among them. 18 These men have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are subverting the faith of some. 19 Despite that, the solid foundation of God remains standing, having this seal, “Jehovah knows those who belong to him,” and, “Let everyone calling on the name of Jehovah renounce unrighteousness.”
(Romans 8:26, 27) 26 In like manner, the spirit also joins in with help for our weakness; for the problem is that we do not know what we should pray for as we need to, but the spirit itself pleads for us with unuttered groanings. 27 But the one who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in harmony with God for the holy ones.
(Romans 12:18-21) . . .. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” 21 Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.
(Psalm 44:21) 21 Will not God discover this? He is aware of the secrets of the heart.
(Jeremiah 17:10) I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, Examining the innermost thoughts, To give to each one according to his ways, According to the fruitage of his works.
(1 Peter 4:7, 8) 7 But the end of all things has drawn close. Therefore, be sound in mind, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. 8 Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
(Romans 9:22-26) . . .? 23 And if this was done to make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, 24 namely, us, whom he called not only from among Jews but also from among nations, what of it? 25 It is as he says also in Ho·seʹa: “Those not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not loved, ‘beloved’; 26 and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
(Acts 4:10-12) 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Naz·a·reneʹ, whom you executed on a stake but whom God raised up from the dead, by means of him this man stands here healthy in front of you. 11 This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
(Romans 8:36-39) 36 Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” 37 On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers 39 nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Ephesians 4:17-19) 17 So this is what I say and bear witness to in the Lord, that you should no longer go on walking just as the nations also walk, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are in darkness mentally and alienated from the life that belongs to God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the insensitivity of their hearts. 19 Having gone past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to brazen conduct to practice every sort of uncleanness with greediness.
Lee's Stuff 
You must be logged in to post a comment.