TANGLED ROOTS
It was Gwen’s idea to get together
with Ron, our visiting volunteer co-ordinator, while we had him here, to pray
for the people whom we had come to serve.
The five of us- coworkers Ken and
Gwen, Ron, Rien and I met in our living room, after putting the children to
bed, to do just that. We poured out our
hearts to the One Who had made us all, the One Who had called us here for His
purposes.
When we pray, sometimes God shows us
things. I remember that I saw a picture
of something which at the time I did not understand, but which is profound, and
applicable to us all: a ball of tangled roots.
Yes, in the natural realm, the
tangling of roots, hidden under the ground, can stunt the growth of a
plant. And don’t we all have tangled
emotional roots - many issues from the past:
hurts in childhood, addictions, mindsets and behaviours passed down
through our family, our own mistakes?
Even things done by our ancestors can affect us today without our being
aware of them. Children of two families
on the reserve, for example, were innocent victims of a feud concerning issues
long past and an alleged murder a generation earlier. How wonderful to know that the Lord has deep
concern for these wounds, and the knowledge and power to heal.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is
on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness
for the prisoners,…
…to comfort all who mourn…
…to bestow on them a crown of
beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
...They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long
devastated… (Isaiah 61: 1-4 NIV)
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