Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Healing From Within: Reflecting The Spirit of Christ

March 16, 2025

“Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” 1 John 2:6 (MSG)

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32 (NASB)

Have you ever experienced a situation or circumstance that completely “knocked you off your square?” This idiom means that someone or something that disrupts our stability, confidence, or focus. It suggests being thrown off balance – mentally, emotionally, or even spiritually, by an unexpected unfair event/situation, challenge, or opposition.

This week, I faced a situation that was deeply unsettling and unfair. I must say, my initial response could have been better. It took me some time to regain my composure and refocus enough to recognize the strategic attacks of the enemy and the test that I was about to fail. I thought about the beautiful message I received from a dear sister in Christ Tanya Mattox who called to say how last week’s devotional on the Holy Spirit – “Breaking Free Form Spiritual Blockages” blessed her. Well, my sister Tanya it was the power of the Holy Spirit that convicted me this past week and helped me past the test from being unfairly and unjustly attacked.

Yes, I confess, because “Confession is good for the soul.” Although the phrase is not a direct quote from the Bible, the concept is deeply rooted in Scripture. The idea emphasizes that acknowledging and confessing our sins or struggles/blockages brings spiritual and emotional healing. In that moment, I was reminded that healing from within is not just about recognizing our wounds, but about allowing Christ to reshape our responses. When faced with unfairness and injustice, do we reflect Christ, or do we react in the flesh?”

A life that truly reflects Christ is one that radiates His love, humility, and healing presence. As Charles Spurgeon wisely said, “If we are imitators of Christ, we must practice self-denial. We must not live to ourselves but must lay ourselves out for the good of others.” Jesus did not merely speak of healing; He embodied it. He touched the untouchable, restored the broken, and carried the burdens of those who could not carry their own.

We all encounter difficult people and situations, who test our patience, misunderstand our intentions, or challenge our peace. Whether it’s a demanding or lying coworker, a critical family member, or an unkind stranger, our response in the natural might be frustration, withdrawal, or even resentment. Our response should reflect the love of Christ, not our flesh. As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard, and our response must reflect His love rather than our emotions.

None of what God allows to happens to us is about us!

“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

In our noon Bible Study with Pastor Chapman in his teaching from our study guide “Pursuing Sustained Spiritual Growth” he shared about “God’s IAMNESS” – that God becomes what we need Him to be! That was exactly what I needed in the madness this past week, that “God’s IAMNESS was for me to be reminded that God is always present, always powerful, and always enough, whatever I need, He already is!”

Praise God! His very nature of being self-existence, eternally present and complete His sufficiency, anchors my faith when life looks crazy!

Confession can be either acknowledgment of guilt or gladly acknowledging allegiance to Christ. Confession takes the lid off, opens the window, opens the door, revealing what is within us – sin or faith. When we acknowledge the ugliness of sin, it is embarrassing and sometimes painful to take the lid off. Oddly, many find it almost equally embarrassing to reveal their deep-seated faith. Perhaps the embarrassment is in letting others see deep into our lives. Perhaps it is bashfulness to reveal something personal, whether good or bad. Be assured that confession is a necessary part of knowing God and being freed from sin. It is also a necessary part of knowing others and having others know us.

Confession is Good for the Soul whether it is to God or to others, is not about shame; it’s about freedom. Holding onto guilt, resentment, or unconfessed struggles burdens the soul, but bringing them into the light allows God to heal and restore us.

Biblical Confession is Good for the Soul – Reflecting the Spirit of Christ!

♥ Confession Brings Forgiveness and Healing ~ Confession leads to cleansing and restoration. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

♥ Confession Leads to Healing ~ Confessing to one another and praying together brings spiritual and emotional healing. James 5:16. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” —

♥ Unconfessed Sin Weighs on the Soul ~ David describes how hiding sin caused him internal distress, but confession brought relief and renewal. Psalm 32:3-5.“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.”

♥ Confession Restores Fellowship with God ~ Confession restores our relationship with God, removing guilt and bringing peace. Psalm 32:5. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

♥ Humility in Confession Opens the Door to Grace ~ A humble heart that acknowledges sin receives God’s grace and mercy. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

We have all dealt with difficult people and injustice. How do you respond God’s Way? We have all faced moments where someone’s words or actions tested our patience. In those times, my natural response was to retaliate or withdraw. But then I remembered the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It’s not easy, but God calls us to a higher standard—to respond with love, grace, and humility, even when it’s hard.

I remember many years ago as a young Christian, sharing – rather whining – is a better description with my father who was my Pastor at the time. I was upset about something I thought was so irritating and unfair which made my life difficult. I noticed him being very quiet and I thought he was insensitive to what I was dealing with. I will never forget his response “that should not bother you that much!” To be honest, I was somewhat irritated at his response. Then he said, “as Christians, if we are not being attacked by Satan – something is wrong with our walk with Christ.

2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” As followers of Christ and when we are walking faithfully with Him, we should expect opposition. The enemy does not waste time on those who are not a threat to his kingdom. I still have to remind myself when faced with the craziness of life this past week, which allowed me to see trials from a different perspective, not just as annoyances but as signs that you were walking in the right direction.

YOUR HEART CHALLENGE: How do we move from reacting in our flesh to responding like Christ? How do we walk in the spirit? A “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical daily living. The biblical standard for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit. John 3:6 reminds us “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (NASB) In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit. The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it, making consistent forward progress.

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and are the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. Thus, those who walk in the Spirit walk in love and they live in love for God and for their fellow man. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in patience; they are known for having a “long fuse” and do not lose their temper. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in self-control – they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.

A HUMBLE HEART: To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him Ephesians 4:30-32 reminds us, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (NASB)

Being Misunderstood or Falsely Accused – stay silent and trust God to defend you. 1 Peter 2:23. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

PRAYER:  Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us clear instructions on how we are to respond when we face difficult people and unfair life situations. Father God, guard our words, soften our hearts, and help us to respond with love, wisdom, and grace that You show us every day. Father, teach us to be peacemakers and to extend forgiveness, just as You have forgiven us. Help us to remember it is NEVER about us, and when we are tempted to retaliate, remind me to pray instead and to trust You with the situation. Father, please let our lives reflect Your humility and patience in all things. Help us to reflect Your character even in challenging moments, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen