// I’ve given up everything. I’ve given you all of Me. Would you open your heart again? Would you open your heart to Me? Just look at My nail-pierced hands. Put yours in My wounded side. I’m asking for all your heart. ‘Cause I’ve given you all of Mine! //

I Want Your Heart: Jon Thurlow

You have the power to forgive.

We have done it again! As our series comes to a close I hope there has been some freedom released. We’ve discussed a lot of topics related to church wounds. Though it’s not a full list, I hope these have encouraged you into freedom.

1. The Paper Cut: I Left The Church.

This is a wound that happens quickly, without warning. It causes a sting when you remember it’s there. However, it is soon forgotten.

2. The Burn: Burn It Down.

This wound comes in variations. Just like a medical burn you have different degrees & levels of pain. There has to be a healing process. It’s not always easy, & can take time.

3. The Heart Attack: I Had A Heart Attack.

A hurt that occurs when you lose a piece of yourself. Mainly because of the time and effort invested in the relationship. It will be a process to regain the healing. But healing does come.

4. The Stroke: Half of Me.

…

As we round out this series, we will also round out the book of Ruth. Ending with chapter 4. To dive in, we are going to paraphrase a majority of this chapter. We encourage you to read this chapter fully for yourself in order to expand your growth.

So Ruth and Boaz had departed from the events of the evening. Boaz kept Ruth’s virtue sacred. So now Boaz is following through on his word. Greeting the closest kinsman the next morning with the situation & the request to be made. “Kinsman will you take this family in. You’re their last hope.”

Imagine this for a moment. This guy is offered to be hitched to money & a spouse. All in the name of the family. Hard to think about right? It’s not an easy choice. A lot of pressure.

I want to interject our final hurt for this series. As when you get hit blindsided as the closest kinsman did, you can develop a hurt. You can’t always see it coming. It hurts. Especially when it’s people closest to you that leave this wound.

The Stroke.

One of the more destructive in the aftermath. The stroke can be noticed by all. It leaves you paralyzed. Broken. While there is no full cure medically. Spiritually, we have a redeemer in Jesus. He can restore all that was lost.

The response given was, NO! As this couldn’t have been easy. He made the choice. Hope seemed to be lost to Ruth’s family. His ”no” set off a repercussion of effects. He may not have realized it at the time. However, time would reveal a path of those consequences. But God! Those never played out.

Boaz was next in line. So he asked the closest kinsmen, could he take his place. Could he, Boaz, be chosen to save the family. The closest kinsman was in agreement for Boaz to take his place.

He chose Ruth. He perused her to fully restore the lost and broken family. Does that remind you of anyone? One who came to fight for us. Giving willingly himself to bring restoration to the family.

At the beginning of this month, we celebrated this man with the resurrection of Jesus. He, in turn, is our kinsman redeemer. When all hope was lost, Jesus came to save us. He chooses you, every time. He found you worth it then. He sees you worth it now. He will always know your worth it until the end.

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus is our redeemer. He restores all the hurts we carry. The things we pick up along this journey called life. He’s ready to take your hurts. We have to be willing to become vulnerable once again. Then release the hurts to Him.

There is a power we carry. It can set us free. It’s called forgiveness. It can set you free in an instant because of Him. Holding onto the hurts others have caused creates separation. From God. From others. From ourselves.

“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It doesn’t make what the offender did right. It just releases you from thinking or acting on negative emotions these events caused you. Where there once was destructive hurts is now a restorative peace. You can breathe again.

He’s ready when you are. There is nothing too small or big that he can’t handle. Let go, & let God. Seek friends, or mentors to help you through the process. Pastors can help you as well. Just like a stroke victim, you can’t do recovery alone. It is a team effort to get you fully restored to how you were. But even better.

As you end the reading of Ruth 4, you read something remarkable. Boaz’ ”yes” made way for the lord to move. Boaz & Ruth had a son. Name Obed. Obed then had a son named Jesse. Jesse then had a son named David. That may not mean much to you. Here’s the thing. David. Was King David. The man after God’s own heart! That David. Boaz’ ”yes” brought a way for our Redeemer to be birthed. For Jesus was in King David’s lineage! How ’bout that nugget of information. Full circle!

I’ve so enjoyed this series. It helped share some truths that I’ve used to receive my breakthrough in areas of church hurts. Don’t give up. Keep seeking the lord. I hope these also will help you receive freedom if not start you on the path to seek answers.

Speaking of which, that brings me to the topic of next month’s series. All I can say is it’s going to take a lot of concentration for consecration.

If you’ve found this enjoyable, please like, & share! If you’ve got a testimony of how these posts are transforming your life, we’d love to hear that too! Until next time, peace & blessings!!

Marco Rice

Hello friends, I’m Marco. I’m an RN, & founder of Four Winds, a ministerial blog.

I have a heart for this generation to know who they are & whose they are. I also contend for revival to cover college campuses.  As well as preach the word until every nation has heard.  Sharing Jesus with all, & showing the love that was once shown me.