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.
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Setting Your Captives Free: Forgiveness
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:32~
Forgiveness is the gift we all want to receive but so often we find it hard to give. It is not easy to forgive. Yet, I believe in forgiveness is revival and freedom. When we repent, God mercifully forgives us and releases us from our debt. He did this through the high price of His Son's death on a wooden cross. We are called to forgive others because we received His forgiveness. When we are able to release our offenders, we find the key to unlock the door of our own hearts and that sets us free to experience peace and joy.
We have all been and we will all be hurt or offended at some point in life. The Word doesn't say you MIGHT suffer, it says WHEN you suffer. So, in saying that, we will never totally avoid being hurt or wronged by others. Therefore, we cannot avoid the need to forgive others. If you ask: how many times should I forgive? Matthew 18:22 says seventy times seven. We must be willing to forgive the same person time and time again. Forgiveness unlimited.
I do not believe that forgiveness equals trust, by the way. I think this is an important step in learning the forgiveness process. Forgiving someone does not mean we are to run back and ask for more. It does not mean we forget and allow the same things to happen to us time and again. Trust is a another subject (maybe a future topic?).
I think about the story of Joseph. He was a classic example of being wronged, and by his own family, of all things. Aren't we supposed to be able to rely on family? Well, that is not necessarily the case. We all know someone or it might be you personally, who has had a horrible family life. If this is you, I am so sorry. Back to Joseph, he did not look to someone to blame nor did he seek revenge. Joseph knew God was in control of his life all along and was able to see the hand of God in times of adversity as well as prosperity. He realized that the purposess of God were much greater than his personal comfort. I KNOW that suffering is not comfortable. But, like Joseph, I want to able to forgive and bless those who have mistreated me. I cannot do this on my own; it is only through the strength of Christ in me. The Word is very clear that we are forgiven AS we forgive others. I know all the wrongs in my own life and I want to receive the forgiveness God extends.
Letting the offender off YOUR hook does not mean they are off of God's hook. Forgiveness involves transferring the prisoner over to the ONE who is able and responsible for carrying out justice. It relieves us of the burden and responsibility to hold them in prison ourselves. That is freedom. Just a little something to think about: would I be willing for God to deal with me in the same way that I want to see my offender dealt with?
Be assured that if you are willing to walk into the pain, God will go there with you. Hard as it may be to forgive those who have sinned against you, you will experience great freedom as you choose to obey God, by His grace. In obedience to Him is great joy!!!
Forgiveness is the gift we all want to receive but so often we find it hard to give. It is not easy to forgive. Yet, I believe in forgiveness is revival and freedom. When we repent, God mercifully forgives us and releases us from our debt. He did this through the high price of His Son's death on a wooden cross. We are called to forgive others because we received His forgiveness. When we are able to release our offenders, we find the key to unlock the door of our own hearts and that sets us free to experience peace and joy.
We have all been and we will all be hurt or offended at some point in life. The Word doesn't say you MIGHT suffer, it says WHEN you suffer. So, in saying that, we will never totally avoid being hurt or wronged by others. Therefore, we cannot avoid the need to forgive others. If you ask: how many times should I forgive? Matthew 18:22 says seventy times seven. We must be willing to forgive the same person time and time again. Forgiveness unlimited.
I do not believe that forgiveness equals trust, by the way. I think this is an important step in learning the forgiveness process. Forgiving someone does not mean we are to run back and ask for more. It does not mean we forget and allow the same things to happen to us time and again. Trust is a another subject (maybe a future topic?).
I think about the story of Joseph. He was a classic example of being wronged, and by his own family, of all things. Aren't we supposed to be able to rely on family? Well, that is not necessarily the case. We all know someone or it might be you personally, who has had a horrible family life. If this is you, I am so sorry. Back to Joseph, he did not look to someone to blame nor did he seek revenge. Joseph knew God was in control of his life all along and was able to see the hand of God in times of adversity as well as prosperity. He realized that the purposess of God were much greater than his personal comfort. I KNOW that suffering is not comfortable. But, like Joseph, I want to able to forgive and bless those who have mistreated me. I cannot do this on my own; it is only through the strength of Christ in me. The Word is very clear that we are forgiven AS we forgive others. I know all the wrongs in my own life and I want to receive the forgiveness God extends.
Letting the offender off YOUR hook does not mean they are off of God's hook. Forgiveness involves transferring the prisoner over to the ONE who is able and responsible for carrying out justice. It relieves us of the burden and responsibility to hold them in prison ourselves. That is freedom. Just a little something to think about: would I be willing for God to deal with me in the same way that I want to see my offender dealt with?
Be assured that if you are willing to walk into the pain, God will go there with you. Hard as it may be to forgive those who have sinned against you, you will experience great freedom as you choose to obey God, by His grace. In obedience to Him is great joy!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)