TOXIC RELIGION

‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.’ I John 4:7

FACTS ABOUT TOXIC FAMILY MEMBERS…

#1 – We ALL Have Toxic Family Members
#2 – All Toxic Relationships Are NOT EQUAL
#3 – When A Relationship is Toxic…. You MUST Act

PRAYER #1 – ‘FATHER, STRENGTHEN ME TO ACCEPT MY LIMITATIONS’

‘We are like clay jars, in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.’ 2 Corinthians 4:7
Three Limitations We Need To Remember:

1) I Am Not God
2) I Cannot Force Someone Else To Change Their Mind
3) I Have Weaknesses

‘And God Told me, “My Grace is enough, that’s all you need. My strength comes into it’s own in your weakness.” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and I began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now, I take limitations in stride, with good cheer. These limitations that cut me down to size – abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks— I just let Christ take over. And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

PRAYER #2 – ‘FATHER, ENABLE ME TO FORGIVE MY FAMILY’

‘”Lord, how long shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him, up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say unto you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”’ Matthew 18:21
‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another just as in Christ, God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32
‘If you see your friend doing wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal and repeated against you seven times throughout the day and seven times he says “I am sorry, I won’t do it again”, forgive him.’ Luke 17:3

PRAYER #3 – ‘FATHER, EMPOWER ME TO CHANGE MY THINKING’

‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. But, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. And then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will.’ Romans 12:1-2
‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it?’ Jeremiah 17:9

GOD’S THREE RESOURCES:

1) The Spirit of God… EMPOWERS Your Mind
2) The Word of God… ENLIGHTENS Your Mind
3) The Community of God… ENCOURAGES Your Mind

‘Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another.’ Hebrews 10:25

PRAYER #4 – ‘FATHER, FREE ME TO ACCEPT YOUR LOVE’

‘And so we know and we rely on the love that God has for us. There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one that fears is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.’ I John 4:16
‘God has shown His love for us by sending His only Son into the world, so that we can have life through Him.’ I John 4:9

‘For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 8:38-39