Friday, November 28, 2008

From The Archives: Unforgiveness


This is one that I needed to revisit and check myself. If I don't listen to the Holy Spirit and reject the 'Woe is me' attitude I will allow unforgiveness to settle inside my heart. It's not worth my prayer life and relationship with our Lord being hindered. Let us all remember to be quick to forgive. It's for our own good. Let's leave it in God's hands.
Unforgiveness
Has someone offended you or said something hurtful? Perhaps someone has betrayed or abandoned you? For your own good you must let it go!

Unforgiveness in your heart will only cause sickness and disease in your body. It takes so much energy to constantly think on how someone has wronged you. You do not want to let bitterness and resentment root deep in your heart because it will affect every relationship in your life. Your may even develop a terrible attitude and your countenance can change.

Forgiving someone who has hurt you is a choice. Sometimes you have to choose daily to forgive the offense, until you are at a point where it isn’t always popping up in your head. The bottom line is “It Is A CHOICE!” If you do not let it go and forgive your offender your relationship with the Lord will be hindered. In fact if you refuse to forgive our Heavenly Father will not forgive you either. (Matthew 6:14-15) Don’t continue to hold grudges. You are only hurting your own spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)

Don’t think of ways to get back at them. Instead pray for them. Pray for God to help them. (1 Peter 3:9) Circumstances can change drastically and one day your enemies may need you.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is the story of Joseph, the dreamer. His brothers were so jealous of his relationship with their father. They were always talking about him behind is back. They hated him. They even plotted to tell kill him but instead they sold him into slavery. His own family! Talk about abandonment and betrayal. He was hurt and lonely. But he allowed God to use him where he was at and continued moving forward in life. The Lord raised him up to a position of power. He was made him second in command to the Pharaoh. When there was a great famine in the land his brothers had to go Egypt to get food. So there they are in front of the one they betrayed trying to buy food, but they did not recognize him. This was Joseph’s chance to pay them back, but he didn’t. Joseph had forgiven his brothers and brought his family there to be with him during the famine. This is the example we should follow. (Genesis 37-47)

Unforgiveness is too heavy of a load to carry. Let our Lord have this hurt, this offense. He wants to carry your burdens for you. He wants you to give Him all of your worries and concerns because He cares for you and He is always thinking about you. (1 Peter 5:14) Make a choice today to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness.

2 comments:

dtbrents said...

Thank you for the post on forgiveness. We do have to forgive. Not forgiving can make you ill. To stay close to Christ we need to forgive. Doylene

Lisa C. aka Trophy of Grace said...

Your welcome..I agree with you. We need to stay close to the Lord to forgive..I know that I could not forgive anyone if I were not close to enough to the Lord to know that He has forgiven me. I forgive and have mercy ONLY because I know that Jesus has forgiven and had mercy on me. Without His love in me I could not forgive others or myself. Thank you Jesus for your forgiveness..

My God is Faithful!

My God is Faithful!
Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.