Forgiveness Is A Dirty Job

 

 

Hate is a very strong word. I usually choose to say it when I see choices people have made that are self destructive or destructive to others. I hate when I see a child  neglected. I hate when I see pain and suffering. I choose NOT to hate anyone because that is not the christian thing to do. I choose to hate the actions, lifestyle and choices that people make that cause self destruction, sin or hurt towards others. That does not discount the justice that should be served on those that break the law.

 

I am a hyper-compassionate person. This makes forgiveness even more difficult.  As a child, I would often ask "why?" Why can't I go over my friends house? Why can't I buy that shirt? Why can't I watch that TV show? Sometimes I got an answer and sometimes the answer was simply, Because I told you so.  I never liked the "Because I told you so" answer. I always wanted to know "why?" In a sense Jesus gives me the same "Because I told you so" answer about forgiveness. But He also tells me the reasons why, and I share that at the end of this page.

 

When we hold on to anger and hatred, it eats away at us. It changes us and make us into persons we never wanted to be. If we choose to give our chains of hate, anger and the inability to forgive to the greatest of forgivers and ask for help so we can forgive, we will have peace in our spirits which allows us to LOVE.  God's mercy in forgiving us is the greatest of gifts. Forgiveness is about being able to live with the peace of love instead of hate, which tears and destroys.

 

In my past I was dealt a card that most would say is unforgivable. A wrong that affected my whole life and the lives of my children. Not to mention many others in my family and friends.  The normal experience of anger, bitterness, and mourning took hold of everyone affected. If these emotions are not dealt with, their root will grow and will lack inner peace. How can we love if we are angry? How can we love if we are bitter? I know people who are angry at everyone and everything and bitterness shows in their countenance.  It's a living hell to be this way.

 

In my book, I share about a time just hours after my husband died that made me very angry and hurt. I later chose to forgive the person who went against my wishes. Forgiveness was not a simple and easy thing to do. It took time for me to "choose" to forgive. My human nature stills struggles with forgiving, but my spirit tells me to forgive and re forgive again and again. And because of that choice, I receive peace.

 

Give yourself a priceless gift this Christmas Season! Make time within yourself to choose to forgive. Whether you forgive yourself or others, the help from the Lord over time will supernaturally change your spirit. And from that comes something so very priceless…………….Peace.

 

Colossians 3:13 to "make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

Mt 21-22: "Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!"

What does this mean? It means that there's no limit to the number of times we should forgive a person. Even if someone hurts you once and you forgive them and a minute later they mess up again, whether they ask for your forgiveness or not, you are to forgive them. Think about it like this – if Jesus can forgive our sins and remember them no more when we repent and ask for his forgiveness, then as followers of Christ we can do the same for others.

Mark 11:25 that "when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too."

Forgiveness requires that we address the situation in a positive and loving way, instead of with fear and hatred.

Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

 

 

The Lord's Prayer

 

Book News!

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