Newsletter Don Dickerman, 2024 December

Your memory is one of the very remarkable parts of your complex being. I t serves as a news system for the brain, it is like the brain’s history book. It is a think bank containing millions, perhaps billions of memoranda. It stores feelings and impressions, experiences, things seen, things heard, and things felt. It is amazing that our memory can recall so many things, just at the impulse of desiring to recall a past event. We are able to dwell on that happening and bring to our memory even more details by willing to. Unfortunately, the memory can serve us or enslave us. This is a choice that each individual makes.  For in each person’s memory bank is both positive and negative events. I can recall whichever I choose. I can make them dominant parts of my memory by dwelling on them more often than others. 

There are multitudes of people who feel they can never survive the hurts of the past. They think there are things they can never get over. They think and speak of them constantly, which tends to re-enforce the negative feelings. They say there is someone they can never forgive for a hurt or horror brought into their life. Many of these «dark» memories come out of our youth, when we were delicate and impressionable. A sorrow that so crushed us we feel we can never turn it loose. Many feel they can never forgive someone who mistreated them. These «dark» memories can cause maladjustment in our lives and can often be doorways for demons. 

LINGERING BRUISES 

Lingering bruises may come from the workplace or with associates. Perhaps you feel you were cheated or wronged in a way that you feel justified in holding to anger and unforgiveness. It may be “Dark» memories from painful experiences in your marriage or relationship with the opposite sex. The source of painful memories is limitless. The bottom line is, it is not what happened to you, it is how you have responded to what happened!

Many times wounds come from silly incidents, words not intended to hurt.  I heard about a wife who wanted a divorce from her husband. She decided to find an attorney and get it done. The lawyer asked her why she wanted a divorce. She said, “It’s just not working out.”  The attorney said, “What I means is for the divorce do you have any grounds?” The woman said, “Yes, we have 2 acres.” “No, no, “He replied, “Do you have any legal grounds? “ Yes, she said, “it’s all properly recorded at the courthouse.” “Ma’am,” he said, “I mean does he beat you up ever? “Nope, I’m an early riser, I don’t think he has ever beat me up.” 

Frustrated the lawyer asked, “Lady, do you have a reason, do you have a grudge?” “Yeah, we have a two-car garage.” “WHY?” the lawyer asked, “do want a divorce? “Oh, that’s easy we just can’t seem to communicate.” 

Sometimes, probably most often, it is your perception of the situation rather than the actual problem. You can be humiliated, lied against, deceived, betrayed, can even suffer bodily harm and still you can get over it. Your response to the problem, determines the magnitude of the problem. 

«There has no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.»

I Corinthians 10:13 

The problems you have experienced in life may be greater than what others have experienced . . . but, others have had bitter, unpleasant experiences as well. Though they may be very different in nature than yours, perhaps not as severe as yours, everyone has had problems that have left scars and painful memories.  

If you have been through it … be through with it!

You must continually be aware that you have not been singled out for suffering, and that in this world problems are normal. 

In prison ministry I have met the extreme cases of «painful pasts» but the problem is not the painful past, it is the way the individuals chose to deal with the problem. Some have sought to justify their wrong actions because of wrongs done to them in the past. When demon powers gain access to our thinking it is likely their doorway was thru our thinking. 

CRISIS IS NORMAL 

You must know, you must come to grips with the fact and that crisis is normal, problems are common, unpleasant memories of the past are in every ones life . . . not just yours. How you handle the past will depend pretty much on how you handled yourself while you were in the problem. Crisis is normal to the growth process, it is necessary for maturity to happen. It is pointless anyway to measure our problems with the experience of others. 

Possibly the most common phrase used by those having difficulty with their past is, “you just don’t know what I’ve been through.”  Knowing what someone has been through may help you to understand them, but in most cases, it is an expression of the persons self-pity. Complaining and explaining does little to change one’s present situation. Thank God you made it through if you’ve been through it. Thank Him for the grace that helped you do it!  If you have been through it be through with it!  

One thing I am clear about in ministry is that you cannot counsel out a demon. Revisiting a painful experience only invites demons. Really it is just foolish to believe by going there in your mind will change anything. What needs to happen is for the person to confess the situation and forgive those involved in the hurtful situation. It is paramount! Forgiveness for the others involved and forgiveness for one’s self. 

Bitterness must not be allowed in your life. Bitterness and self-pity are best friends. It is important in a person’s attempt to get away from the past, that they escape “to something” not just escaping “from» but more so «escaping to». . . the first step in dealing with the past is acknowledging that it is over. It is the past! Unfortunately, for many people, the events of yesterday have too much control on the events of today . . . and for some, tomorrows.  

I knew a man who was married to a very wealthy woman. They argued some but he was usually very quiet and agreeable. One night he was sitting in his favorite chair watching a Texas Ranger baseball game on TV. She came in the room with a look of disgust and said, “That chair you are sitting in wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my money.” He just rolled his eyes and kept watching the game. Then she snapped, “That big screen TV you’re watching wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my money.” Again, he didn’t say anything, but did sigh.

She raised her voice this time and said, “The house we are living in wouldn’t be here if wasn’t for my money!” Finally, he spoke, “Yeah, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your money.”  

It is imperative that we take a moment before reacting too strongly. When we make a problem bigger than it really is, panic can set in. In spiritual life panic blinds, the eyes to being receptive to God’s Word, it depresses the spirit, robs the prayer life, impairs faith and it inhibits the receipt of God’s answers. When memories bring panic to your spirit you can be sure demon powers are influencing your thoughts with lies. The torment that the evil spirits bring often includes thoughts of quitting.  

Choose to be productive. Do something that honors God and others. Make a decision and do it. It is a favorite tool of demons to overwhelm you with thoughts of something bad happening. The demons use it to bring about defeat and destruction. When these feelings approach you, recognize their source and resist them in the Name of Jesus! Absolutely refuse to submit to the negative thoughts and depressive feelings that come as old painful memories are aroused. Learn to reject them and identify them as from Satan with intentions of destroying you!

Don’t try to recover painful memories, stir up some future hopes and plans.

Blessings!

Just for Jesus,

Don