Remembering a past hurt, I prayed about how to forgive. Obviously I sometimes don't listen well. But, here's what I found out; God was up to something when He tickled my Spirit inside, and being the mature and godly woman that I was, I was furious! "That woman does not deserve forgiveness, Lord" I ranted. My Father whispered, "Neither do you, child." I was still angry. "Lord, she is the one that hurt me," I cried. "Just as you have hurt me," He responded. I wasn't through. "I think it is only fair for me to wait for her to make the first move. And then she needs to come crawling on her hands and knees, begging for my forgiveness!" In the silence, I heard the words of the Great Physician, a voice I have come to love so much, "Aren't you glad I didn't wait for you to come to me?"
I suddenly realized I had a choice to make. I could choose to hang on to my anger and bitterness, making her my jailer, or I could choose to forgive her and set myself free! But I just couldn't forgive her on my own, so I did what David did. I cried out to God.
Psalm 40:1-3a (NIV) "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 song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."
As I wrestled with the choice to forgive, I learned several life-changing truths:
- If we make the choice to forgive, God will supply the forgiveness.
- There should be no limit to our forgiveness because there is no limit to His.
- Forgiveness is not a feeling or an emotion. Forgiveness is a deliberate choice.
- Forgiveness is our greatest need and God's greatest gift.
While we cannot change the past, we can change our response to the past and dictate the power it has over us. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist, but because our greatest need was and is forgiveness, God sent a Savior, Jesus Christ, who is calling us all to a higher place, a place of forgiveness. The choice is ours to make. Today, we can choose freedom by choosing to forgive.
Let's Pray Father, it is not within my power to forgive, but it is within my power to choose forgiveness. Right now, I surrender my pain and hurt to You. I choose to forgive as You have forgiven me.
In Jesus' name, I pray Amen
Now It's Your Turn For some reason, the holidays seem to intensify old wounds and resurrect old hurts. Examine your heart for wounds that have not healed. Decide today to deal with the pain of the past. Choose to give the gift of forgiveness and receive God's healing and restoration in return.
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