God wants us to forgive....no and, ifs, buts, or whys......

 

Luke 17:1-4

........It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe to him, through whom they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn, again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
 

*Offenses are going to happen, people are going to disappoint you,people are going to hurt you; it's a part of life. However even if they never ask you for forgiveness....FORGIVE anyway for your own peace of mind. When I looked up forgive in the Websters Dictionary it means: to cease from feeling resentment; to pardon an offender.*

 

I spent a long time holding on to unforgiveness in my heart....& somehow I made sense of why I was not forgiving certain people; isn't it amazing how you will make sense of your own feelings but not others. Often times we don't forgive because we are hurting.....we are damaged, wounded, having mental anguish...and because we are operating emotionally we can not see logically let alone rationally at the time....and what happens is you become an onion....with so many layers......unresolved pain turns into hurt, after a while you become resentful, then bitter, and then you build a wall {mind you this wall is built by negative thinking} so anything that is positive or good; although you long for it; you can not hold on to it for long because you have allowed your negativity to consume you; and eventually it will consume those around you......am I helping anyone.....I can't speak on anyone else I can only tell you my own personal story. Awhile back God had me contact every woman {whom He chose} that I had let go of in one way or another....now remember we all have fallen short of God's glory; so my testimony is not for judgement....but for wisdom to come about and let you know no one is exempt from falling short.......well, I had let go of people in my life that I felt some how or another was causing me pain, bringing confusion, or taking and not giving whatever the reason is....I cut the people out; now when God started dealing with CaLisha......He is the one who showed me;  some had hurt me and I never said anything {and you know the domino effect once you have been hurt} needless to say God had me apologize and ask for forgiveness to all these women. Now, I will be honest I was upset that I had to ask for forgiveness because I felt some of the things that they may have said or done they should be the ones to ask for forgiveness....but see I STOP by this morning to tell you; forgiveness is for you......forgiveness is so that you can go to the Father w/clean hands pure and purged heart.....my my my now I didn't know how they were going to react or if they were going to even respond....it was a 50/50....but the point was not to see who was going to forgive me, rather than if I was going to be obedient and ask for the forgiveness without hidden agendas or motives like my Father told me to.....well, even though you say the words "I forgive you" or "will you forgive me" it can be a painful ordeal depending how long you have been carry this in your heart......

 

Alot of us are still carrying wounds about what our parents did.....in our 30s & 40s not understanding why; we can't let it go...because we feel justified in the pain that we feel. Well just because you have a reason to feel the way you do; does not mean you have a right. Unforgiveness cripples you...it makes it hard for you to really be all that God had destined for you to be. Don't you want to have joy....deep down that shines through you; creativity, abundance, don't you want God to give you back your beauty from your youth, have compassion like Christ, have physical health be GREAT across the charts, have inner peace and unconditional love for yourself and those around you....you only experience this friend....by first forgiving; and one of the people that we have such a hard time forgiving is our self.....This is a tool the enemy has used for so long to keep Gods people in bondage.....When you ask for forgiveness.....it does not mean you give another person power on whether or not you will live in peace or regret.....noooooooo when you ask for forgiveness it is because it is vital for you; and it's a command from God....people are entitled to do with what they please; but you just make sure you do what God requires of you; and leave the rest up to Him.

 

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you

 

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

 

Our human nature wants to teach people a lesson this is why we do not forgive. We see revenge as away to pay someone back for what they did. Marcia Hollis wrote: "To receive a blow and to refuse to pass it on is an act that requires extraordinary generosity. For most people, it does not come naturally. We are too hard and resistant to be able to absorb the effect of an injury before we pass it onto a neighbor. We must become softer, gentler, more loving people, receiving a blow but unable by the fabric of our lives to transmit the force of it. Love and forgiveness are the special vocation of the Christian, and when we exercise them we are able to find healing for our own wounds and offer balm for the healing of others."

 

When we get out of the mind frame that "this world owes us something" because of the cards that have been dealt to us. When we walk with God; I mean really walk with God and ask Him what does He require of us.....It does not matter how successful I am in preaching, conferences, teaching, writing books; it's all in VAIN if I can not do what God commands me; and that is to forgive & love like Christ.....we have to learn to forgive without receiving anything in return...just because you ask for forgiveness from someone does not necessary mean people are ready to {and that's is their own problem} we all have to work out our own salvation.....You forgive because God commands it; and you need Him to forgive you; that's why we have new mercies everyday.......I challenge you friend to set yourself and others free.....FORGIVE, because it's the right thing to do.....And when you forgive don't throw it back up in some one's face....God never throws your dirt in your face....

 

If my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

Blessings

God's Faithful Servant