Remember when you and your kid brother or sister had a knock-down, drag-out fight? It was fine until a parent entered the room, separated you, made you say those two terrible words, "I'm sorry," and THEN, made you HUG each other! "Yuk," you thought. "WHY do I have to forgive THAT freak!"
You grew up...you got saved...and now you hear your PASTOR say, "You must forgive!" You know he teaches you the truth--it is just hard to translate into real life. "Yikes," you think. "I didn't do a thing--it is all HER fault (or HIS fault or THEIR fault!)--it's just NOT fair!"
Parents and pastors do their share of teaching us all about forgiveness. It's expected! But one day, I picked up a PAPER--USA Today--and read, "Learning to forgive can benefit the forgiver." An article followed (see link below)--and I couldn't believe my eyes. You'd almost think a PARENT or a PASTOR wrote it. It made a lot of sense as it said, "Forgiving others is a valuable gift for yourself, and even the most grudge-bearing people can learn how to do it, new studies suggest."
Someone once said, "To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner was YOU!" You see, when you can't, won't, don't forgive another, resentment and anger will bind your spirit and soul in chains. You will suffer more than the transgressor who may go his or her merry way, with not an ounce of repentance in sight.
Is it hard? Does it hurt? Of course - we've all been there...but I know ONE who has been there for all of us, One who models forgiveness for all of us. Listen to the MASTER TEACHER as He prays, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." It wasn't fair--but He forgave.
And so can you...Let it go--give it to the Father, and grace--God's abundant grace--will flow into your heart first, and then through you to whomever has hurt you. Don't harbor that hurt one day longer--give it to the Lord; let Him teach you to forgive--and you will have a blessed day!
Delight in a Word from the Well--a refreshing in the Water of His Word
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)."
Draw from the Well--a song and a prayer for renewing strength for this day
Set Me Free--from Songs of Praise.
"Lord, teach me to forgive; my family, my friends--sometimes the ones I love the most are the ones who hurt me the most. I give all the hurt, all the anger, all the "yuks" and "yikes" of each situation to YOU. I say, "YES, Lord, I choose to forgive." I let it go into Your hands, and I receive Your grace--grace that will allow me to forgive AND to forget--grace that will heal the hurt; I receive it, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
TODAY'S FEATURED LINKS
Forgiveness, Healing and Transformation by Anne Murchison
Forgiveness!--with thanks to Pastor Lou of The Grace Place!
Forgiveness is Like Chicken Soup!--a wonderful story about my mom.
All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Copyright 2000-01 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
Not to be copied without permission.
Your DAILY ASSIGNMENTS!
The Christian Armor Room--Don't forget your armor today!
Words from the Well poem--A prayer you can pray each day!
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Church of the Covered Dish--A daily Christian cartoon strip you'll love!
Reverend Fun--Another fun Christian cartoon of the day!
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A Daily Dose of God's Word from Barbara's Entourage
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Featured devo from Peggie's Place Peggie's Confessions of a Chocoholic!
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