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He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:3-5 WEB.

When sharks sense blood in the water, they go into a feeding frenzy. They will attack the wounded and devour them, even if it is another shark. They get so caught up in this frenzy that they may even turn and attack each other. The water becomes cloudy. Everything becomes blurred, and everyone around them becomes a target. Too often, we see the same behavior in church.

Church life can be messy. We are all imperfect people trying to represent a perfect God. When we fail, people get wounded. Many of them are just victims of church abuse, and it's not their fault at all. If you get deeply involved in a church and begin to see the underbelly of it, there's a good chance that you'll find something you don't like. You may even become one of the wounded, and the ones you once looked up to are now against you.

Yet, Jesus reached out to the hurting. He touched the outcasts, and He ate with the sinners. Jesus told us parables like the good Samaritan who stopped to help the wounded man while the priest passed by on the other side of the road. We are to help restore the wounded among us, not turn against them, destroy their lives, dash their hopes, and drive them away.

Today, if you know someone that has been wounded, reach out to them. You might just be the only friend they have on Earth during a time when everyone else has turned their back on them. If you are one of the wounded, then hang on to God and understand that He still loves you, but His followers often forget that and can fail to show it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for today. Please forgive me for hurting others, as I forgive those who have hurt me. Help me to live a life of victory and make my enemies live at peace with me. Help me be slow to speak and always think first. Use me to heal the hurting, rescue the lost, forgive the unforgiving, and bind up their wounds. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.