I've been thinking lately about the power to forgive. Life is messy. We get hurt from many directions and from all different kinds of people. Often it can be from the people that are closest to us. Forgiveness is something that isn't always easy. Sure it can be for simple things, but what about when someone really hurts you right down to your core? Can you forgive then and even more important can you truly forget about what you think they did to you?
There are two different kinds of forgiveness. One is having the faith and love to forgive someone who has hurt you and the other is the forgiveness of your own sins. Turning to Jesus Christ and asking for Him to redeem you for everything wrong you have done in your life. He can wash you clean and give you a new life. Often, the two are intertwined. When you are forgiven, you in turn, want to extend that forgiveness to those you may have hurt.
Life's wounds can run deep in a person and hold on tight. Things get left unsaid, sometimes the passage of years or some distance in miles can make a difference, or at least seem to put a band aid on your emotions so you can go on with your life. But does the hurt really go away, or are you just burying it deep down and still holding onto anger, bitterness and a grudge towards the offending party?
Sometimes the hurt can be too much to bare,
but God wants you to find the strength to forgive.
Often, a simple I'm sorry just won't do it because there can be years of hurt that won't just go away over night.
But, things can change, there is hope and God can change any situation you think can't possibly heal. He is the God of new beginnings and He is all about forgiveness. After all, he sacrificed His only Son to give you a chance to redeem yourself through the forgiveness of your sins. But, YOU have to be willing to make the choice to forgive.
Colossians 3:13 talks about obedience to the Lord and true forgiveness this way "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (emphasis mine)
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Forgive as the Lord forgave you! Those are pretty strong words aren't they? But that is the way God wants you to forgive. He doesn't want you to hold anything back. But what does that mean?
Forgive and Forget?
I was reading an article online yesterday about forgiveness. Author Mary Fairchild said " I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by our obedience to God and His command to forgive." The word that stuck out to me was OBEDIENCE. You are being obedient to the Lord when you choose to forgive. Isn't that reason enough to do it, right there?
Yesterday morning, I was listening to Pastor John Haggee, a TV minister out of Texas that I great admire because he preaches the word of God with authority and with no apologies. At the end of his regular sermon he had a special segment on forgiveness.
He said "You cannot have a relationship with God Almighty if you refuse to forgive and forget, because if you act like that, He will will choose not to forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither (emphasis his) will your Father forgive your trespasses" "Many Christians want to bury the hatchet, but they want to bury the hatchet with the sharp side up. It doesn't work that way folks." He is on the Throne and He is a God of Authority. He will do exactly as He says He will. If you want to be forgiven, you absolutely must forgive and forget."
There are two different kinds of forgiveness. One is having the faith and love to forgive someone who has hurt you and the other is the forgiveness of your own sins. Turning to Jesus Christ and asking for Him to redeem you for everything wrong you have done in your life. He can wash you clean and give you a new life. Often, the two are intertwined. When you are forgiven, you in turn, want to extend that forgiveness to those you may have hurt.
Life's wounds can run deep in a person and hold on tight. Things get left unsaid, sometimes the passage of years or some distance in miles can make a difference, or at least seem to put a band aid on your emotions so you can go on with your life. But does the hurt really go away, or are you just burying it deep down and still holding onto anger, bitterness and a grudge towards the offending party?
but God wants you to find the strength to forgive.
Often, a simple I'm sorry just won't do it because there can be years of hurt that won't just go away over night.
But, things can change, there is hope and God can change any situation you think can't possibly heal. He is the God of new beginnings and He is all about forgiveness. After all, he sacrificed His only Son to give you a chance to redeem yourself through the forgiveness of your sins. But, YOU have to be willing to make the choice to forgive.
Colossians 3:13 talks about obedience to the Lord and true forgiveness this way "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (emphasis mine)
The foundations of Christianity are built on God's forgiveness
of our sins through his son Jesus Christ
Forgive as the Lord forgave you! Those are pretty strong words aren't they? But that is the way God wants you to forgive. He doesn't want you to hold anything back. But what does that mean?
Forgive and Forget?
I was reading an article online yesterday about forgiveness. Author Mary Fairchild said " I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by our obedience to God and His command to forgive." The word that stuck out to me was OBEDIENCE. You are being obedient to the Lord when you choose to forgive. Isn't that reason enough to do it, right there?
Yesterday morning, I was listening to Pastor John Haggee, a TV minister out of Texas that I great admire because he preaches the word of God with authority and with no apologies. At the end of his regular sermon he had a special segment on forgiveness.
He said "You cannot have a relationship with God Almighty if you refuse to forgive and forget, because if you act like that, He will will choose not to forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither (emphasis his) will your Father forgive your trespasses" "Many Christians want to bury the hatchet, but they want to bury the hatchet with the sharp side up. It doesn't work that way folks." He is on the Throne and He is a God of Authority. He will do exactly as He says He will. If you want to be forgiven, you absolutely must forgive and forget."
You can't forgive by burying the hatchet with the sharp side up!
In Hebrews 10:17 the Lord says "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." That means He truly will NEVER, EVER remember your sins. Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and are redeemed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus, your sinful past is OVER. Your slate is wiped clean. When you stand before God Almighty on Judgement day, He won't say "Hey, wait, what about that thing you did back in 1985, let's have a discussion about that."
So how does that mean to us? If God forgives us through His love, mercy and grace, then he wants us to do exactly the same thing. We need to let it go. We need to wipe the slate clean. Don't dwell in the past. It's over. Don't mention it again. Finito. Forgive AND forget~
We cannot stand before a righteous and Holy God if we cannot forgive the way He forgives. We cannot even come anywhere near Him. That is why Jesus Christ came into the world. He is the bridge between sinful man and righteous God. He makes it all possible. We can commune with God Almighty because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. Thank you Lord for Your perfect plan of Salvation!
1 John 1:8-9 says "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We are all sinners, and we all need forgiveness,
Jesus is the Bridge that makes that happen!
If you have some unforgiveness in your life that needs resolving, now is the time. Don't wait. It will only eat at you and further your agony. It's ok. Say you're truly sorry. You can do it through the love of Jesus Christ. Turn the corner, make a fresh start in your life. You will feel better and so will the other person.
Confess your sins to Almighty God and He will forgive you. Search your heart and find it within yourself to forgive someone who has hurt you. Forgiveness is the best present you can ever give or receive~ guaranteed.Then you can begin to heal and really live again.
God will forgive your sins and you will be washed clean with Heaven's rain!
Confess your sins to Almighty God and He will forgive you. Search your heart and find it within yourself to forgive someone who has hurt you. Forgiveness is the best present you can ever give or receive~ guaranteed.Then you can begin to heal and really live again.
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Dear Heavenly Father:
Thank you for your gift of forgiveness. Thank you that you make it available to all of us for the asking. Help me Lord to forgive people that have hurt me because I know that is what you command me to do. Help me not to hold grudges. Help me to wipe the slate clean and never bring it up again, because when I stand before you Lord, I want you to say to me " Good job, good and faithful servant, enter your Heavenly Home because your sins have been wiped clean. Thank you Lord. You are my everything.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen and Amen
Thank you for your gift of forgiveness. Thank you that you make it available to all of us for the asking. Help me Lord to forgive people that have hurt me because I know that is what you command me to do. Help me not to hold grudges. Help me to wipe the slate clean and never bring it up again, because when I stand before you Lord, I want you to say to me " Good job, good and faithful servant, enter your Heavenly Home because your sins have been wiped clean. Thank you Lord. You are my everything.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen and Amen
