Forgive to be forgiven....

The dictionary defines forgiveness as "To excuse for a fault or offense; pardon. To stop feeling anger or resentment against. To absolve from payment of." Hmmmmm......

When the Lord assigns someone in our direct pathway, I believe He has purpose for that. Have you thought that it might be for the purpose of purifying our hearts through different challenges; to prepare us for the next glory? He wants to bring us to excellence and transform us into His likeness. He is the ultimate Forgiver. This brings opportunity to be example to those around us and to bring glory to Him. We can simply work unto Him. Sounds easy enough, right??
Well, I would not personally describe it as an "easy" task but one that is well worth the effort to choose forgiveness. HE did and so should we. It is our opportunity to minister grace, mercy and prayer to those people in our path.

Forgiveness can feel unjust to our emotions because the enemy is trying to manipulate our emotions. This is exactly how the enemy keeps us in bondage. So many times, we will focus on the offense and the inflicted wound. When we cater to that thought pattern, our focus is redirected right where the enemy intended. You see, the enemy is USING the offender to control your emotions. We must not succumb to the enemy's tactics!

We must CHOOSE to pass over the offense and keep our focus on Jesus and ask HIM for help. Doing this will give us the power to protect and guard our hearts. The enemy wants to embed hurt, resentment, fear, & anger into us.

Forgiveness does not mean condoning other people's bad behavior either. It simply means we cancel the debt. Remember how merciful and forgiving the Father is? We are being made into HIS likeness when we choose to forgive. I say CHOOSE so many times because our feelings will lie to us but also will follow (sometimes quickly; some not) when we continually choose to forgive and walk in forgiveness and mercy. Only with the leading of The Spirit is this attainable.

I believe forgiveness is a daily journey. It is part of the walk as a Christian. In this, I am asking the Lord to continue to give me His eyes to view others who I perceive as offending me. It is never far from my mind just how much our Savior suffered in His death on the cross. Yet, He forgave and we can be forgiven when we ask.

If you need to forgive someone, I urge you to do it. If you need to ask for forgiveness, I urge you to do that also. Matthew 6 tells us that we will be forgiven in the manner that we forgive. Oh my! I know that I need lots of forgiveness so I better get to giving it!!

Unattended wounds actually glorify the enemy by tormenting us on the inside. This is where we make a conscious choice as to which master we will serve. Wounded people wound people. Unforgiveness is a form of disobedience, selfishness and pride. OUCH!!

I leave with a prayer that any unforgiveness be revealed to us. I confess that I have walked in unforgiveness and ask Jesus for forgiveness in this area. Lord, I intercede for anyone who I have not forgiven and ask for blessings on them and I speak healing & deliverance over them, in Jesus' name. Lord, purify and heal our hearts. We release anyone we have held captive in our bitterness to YOU and know that YOU will take this burden from us and can and will handle it a manner much better than we ever could. We believe what Your Word says about vengeance and judgement so help us to have faith in YOU and in YOUR truth. Fill us with grace and mercy, Lord.