Offense. The enemies snare. A stumbling block getting people caught up….
Focusing on the problem….Instead of the Savior.
And I have seen it, been it, and offered my own disrepair.
But now I watch as forgiveness becomes the great healer.
And sometimes there are no feelings. Just words….
“I forgive”.
Like Corrie Ten Boom who forgave her previous Prison Guard when she was a prisoner during WWII.
Cutting off this Bait of Satan that multiplies when we fester, ruminate, and cultivate the seeming satisfaction we get….
From being bitter.
Yet, I have heard it said…
Unforgiveness is like cancer, destroying the one who holds it.
Yet, before us….is the answer. The great Redeemer who we must remember…has forgiven us.
And when we remember, visit, witness, and understand….The fullness of what He did for us on the cross…..
How can we be bitter?
For He died to save us. And who of us where not sinners before grace made its way to us…
Who of us are not deserving of the death penalty? Or without sin? Or would have, could have been our own stumbling block….
To others?
I know I have been.
And see…
Forgiveness shatters bitterness, which creates trust….
Which looses our need to control; the stronghold simply given to us by our sin nature in the garden. When Eve wanted to possess everything around her, even that which she was told not to touch.
She wanted to be like God. And who of us have not. Wanted to be like God. At times.
Still, forgiveness not only frees us, it also frees others and offers them a chance to love….
And how can we not love when forgiven by the one we have hurt?
For those of who God has forgiven much, can love much. And all of us have been forgiven much.
And when we embrace humility in these times. These times of offense….
Avoiding attaching works or words, to our emotions…..
We can live free in Christ. Like a bird soaring to where He is leading; without needing to be held down by roots of bitterness, darts of offense, anchored by the weight of God-less tendencies.
Forgiveness creating freedom to live wholly, love unguardedly, reaching boldly to others…fearlessly being all God created us to be.
Who do you need to forgive? Will you forgive them today?
(Linking wth Missional Women, Spiritual Sundays, Michelle)
11 Comments
I read once (on a calendar I think) that the worst thing someone could do to you is to make you hate them (because the hate festers inside you).
About 12 years ago, my MIL tried to get custody of our children (then just the two boys). The boys were in no danger, and she had no standing to bring the case in the first place. She was a lot more financially stable than we were at the time. She dropped the case when she found out that we would not allow her to see the boys (without one of us being there) before the initial hearing.
Later that year at Christmas, at the family get together, she asked me if I hated her and her husband. I told her no; I did not agree with what they had done, but I did not hate them. Hate would do nothing to strengthen the family.
LuAnn – Oh I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been. So glad His will prevailed and you were able to find such nuggets of truth through that trial. Oh how love does cover a multitude of sins and light outshines darkness every time…if we let it.
Forgiveness heals us physically and emotionally too. We can really get offended or hurt everyday, but it is good to be reminded of God’s forgiveness, so we can also forgive. God bless you more.
Dropping by from: Spiritual Sundays. My entry: Going somewhere?
From: willyouhearfromme.blogspot.com
Joy – Great point! I so agree! Forgiveness does bring healing physically and emotionally also. Amazing how when we Let. It. Go. God restores all things broken. 🙂 What an awesome God we have! Redeeming what we give to Him.
Dear Jennifer
Oh, I think we all at some stage of our life wanted to be like God. This was Satan first lie he whispered to Eve. But we have a much better privilege; we can allow God to live in us and through us, feeding daily from the Tree of Life.
Blessings XX
Mia
Mia – Some of us may have stages of wanting to be God-like…but to be honest, some days it can be moment by moment that I need to jump off my throne and give a thought, idea, or dream to Him. Oh how…letting Him be God…can be so difficult at times as a woman, my friend. Hope someone else can relate!?
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Whenever I’m tempted to hold a grudge, I so want to remember how much the Lord has forgiven me of. It really is the key to letting go of bitterness. Thanks for sharing this today. It’s always a needed reminder to all of us!
My siblings and I are in a season of having to take care of my elderly parents. Old hurts are renewed, and new ones crop up. But, I remind myself that bitterness is the root of the enemy, and I pray often that it will be removed.
The Lord is working within me to remind me of the forgiveness I have been given – and then to give me the ability to pass it on.
GOD BLESS!
I’ve experienced both forgiving and and being forgiven. It brings such freedom and joy!
I love your powerful post. I always want to grow in forgiveness and I’m aware how offense stifles my very being.