Tag: forgiveness

Forgiving Anyway

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For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

Are you harboring bitterness? It’s easy to.

When wronged unjustly, we feel the need to hold onto it, somehow justifying ourselves.

When kept close, it grows roots deep down, affecting thoughts, even remembering things incorrectly.

When the root keeps growing, we close our ears against anything that touches the root.

We love feeling bitter, not wanting to give room to love.

Is there any area in your life that is filled with bitterness, crowding out love?

When wronged, we have two choices: forgive and let go, or not forgive, holding onto bitterness.

It’s not easy to choose forgiveness, especially when the other person doesn’t deserve it.

We were wronged!

Bitterness seems familiar when we are used to holding grudges. It’s almost comforting to keep it close, justifying your continued actions as a result.

The prison of bitterness keeps only one person captive: you.

Relationships suffer and die when you choose that prison.

I completely understand wanting to stay for awhile. It feels safe. But it’s only a trap.

Ask God to help heal your heart.

To forgive with his strength, not yours.

To release the bitterness grown so familiar.

Ephesians 4:31–32 says “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

When you think about the mercy God has shown you, it’s easier to forgive others.

God asks us to forgive those who sin against us in Matthew 6.

Ephesians 4 asks us to be kind and forgiving.

Goes against our flesh for sure.

But God is here to help you. He asks us to forgive and He’ll help you do just that.

Ask Him and you’ll soon walk freely into the freedom of God’s forgiveness.

Photos by Annie Spratt & Lee 琴 on Unsplash

70 times 7

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Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22

This is one of the greatest difficulties we face as Christians.

Forgiveness. Releasing the offender from you.

Freeing them from their offense.

Even when they don’t ask.

Especially when they don’t ask.

How many times?

Seventy times seven.

Four hundred ninety times. Unlimited.

What if the person has offended you that many times?

Then for you, it’s four hundred ninety. And counting.

Doesn’t mean you allow abuse to continue. Or offense to keep knocking you down again and again.

But normal daily interactions often yield conflict.

And aside from Jesus asking us to do this, we do have a choice.

We can forgive or not.

If we forgive, we release ourselves from bitterness. From the prison of unjustly behavior revenge.

Is it funner to stay in the prison, stuck and alone? I’ll be the first to admit yes.

It’s where we nurse our wounds unprovoked by others. It’s where we feel justified in making others pay for their deeds. Hard time is what we want.

But the prison of bitterness is also where we stay stuck. Miserable. And you know who is too pleased when we do? The enemy. The father of lies, who tells us our prison is better accommodations than freedom’s path.

The good news is this: God. Not only does God know forgiveness is superior for our relationships, and our physical or emotional health, He helps us through the process.

We don’t have to feel like forgiving. We simply need to choose and obey God.

Ask God to help you forgive the offender. Release them back into the arms of Jesus. Ask God to fill your sense of injustice with peace, replacing the bitterness with joy.

God has promised to right every wrong. He’s the ultimate judge and your defender.

Practice this today as God unlocks your prison of bitterness.

It’s incredibly difficult. But you must trust God more than you trust your bitterness.

We don’t want the enemy happy with our location, do we?

Change your address today. God’s waiting to walk you to freedom.

Oh, and if your well worn path takes your feet right back to the prison out of habit?

Stop and turn. God will help you every single time.

Photos by Lili Popper, Jametlene Reskp, Cody Otto, & Jacob Bentzinger on Unsplash

Living From Forgiveness

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Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13

Are you living from God’s forgiveness for you?

If you’ve surrendered your heart to Jesus, He’s forgiven you all your sins.

Often we don’t realize just how sinful we are.

And when we do, God’s forgiveness means that much more.

Feels so great, doesn’t it? To feel forgiven?

I can remember lying to my grandfather when I was about six years old.

I had gotten the Little Professor calculator for Christmas.

Basically, it was a small light up math game and I couldn’t wait to sneak it into my bed.

What six year old wouldn’t want to see it lit up in the dark?

After I went to bed, my grandfather, who had been injured in WW2, slowly climbed the stairs, which were very hard for him.

Coming into my room, he asked me if he could see my new Little Professor calculator.

Not wanting him to have it, I actually climbed out of bed and pretended to look for it with him in my room.

Giving up, he said it was just fine. He’d look at it in the morning.

Back in bed, the calculator no longer held any interest. None.

My tummy felt awful lying to my grandfather.

How long did I hold in this lie?

An entire year. I literally thought about it almost every day.

It ate at me. How could I have lied to him?

One day I could no longer take it.

Climbing onto my father’s lap, I confessed.

I waited for my huge punishment.

As an adult looking back at this scene, I’m guessing my parents were trying to stifle a giggle.

They forgave me instantly.

I climbed down and felt like I could fly.

Ran to my brother’s room and played cars with him, even though that was my least favorite activity.

But I didn’t care. I was free. I was so happy. My smile was frozen to my face.

My six-year-old self began to live from forgiveness. It was pure freedom.

Ask for forgiveness if you’ve wronged someone. You’ll feel so much better, owning your behavior.

And if your offender fails to ask you for forgiveness? Forgive them anyway.

You’ll fling off the burden of offense and smile in spite of the situation.

Don’t let others block you from living from forgiveness.

Seventy-times seven.

Ask for forgiveness. Forgive others.

Choose today to live from the freedom of forgiveness.

Photos by Laura Pocho, Mary Blackwey , &  Ben White on Unsplash

Impossible Assignment

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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

You don’t understand, Lord.

They hurt me.

Like really bad.

They cut me down, bringing me to my knees.

As a result, I cried.

Ugly crying.

They don’t deserve my forgiveness.

I need to seek revenge somehow.

Something to get them back.

No?

You want me to forgive them?

Why?

Because You have forgiven me?

Yes, I know, but why do I have to forgive them?

I can’t.

You still want me to?

How? With Your strength?

But they hurt me. Deeply. To the core of my being, they hurt me.

You still want me to forgive them?

And give You my pain?

How will that help?

Will you right my wrongs for me?

You will eventually?

You want me to trust You?

With everything?

Even this?

Ok.

Thank you, God, for saving me, forgiving all of my sins.

Please help me to forgive others as they hurt me.

It’s an impossible assignment on my very own.

Help me to release this burdens and those in the future to You.

Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me.

Photos by Elijah Pilchard, Brooke Balentine, Grigorii Shcheglov, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash

Hardest Thing

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Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

What do you think is the hardest cross to bear as a Christian?

Let me put it another way.

God asks us to become more like Him.

When we accept God as our Savior, He begins to transform us into who He made us to be.

We begin to walk His path, noticing what He notices.

We begin to speak to others, speaking with the words He wants to share.

We begin to have compassion, spreading His love to those around us.

When we ask God for His salvation, we become His.

His to transform.

But we’re human with human desires, wants, feelings, and actions.

Plus our soul is full of cracks from lies, and our broken world.

When God asks us to forgive others who have not asked, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

For me, this is the hardest thing God ask of me.

Why?

Because it’s personal.

Personally painful when the other person doesn’t deserve it.

But when I don’t forgive, that person continues to strike blows after the words have faded away.

On the other hand when you forgive, you simply release that person back into the arms of God.

You let the offense fall away from your tightly gripped hands.

You allow the boulder to roll down and off your back.

Is it fun to hold onto unforgiveness because you’re justified?

Of course.

But is it worth the cost?

The cost of your peace?

The cost of a broken spot in your relationship?

Nope.

God forgave you for way more then He’s asking you to forgive now.

You didn’t deserve it either.

But God forgave you all your sins.

All your sins from yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Allow God’s strength to help you release your unforgiveness.

I know, they don’t deserve it, but that’s beside the point.

God asks us to forgive. Period.

Swallow your pride, forgive, and let God move in your life and theirs.

God will help, and His peace will rush in, helping you each time you choose to forgive.

Photos by Jametlene Reskp, Cody Otto, Felix Koutchinski, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Tasting Suffering

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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

How do you identify with Christ’s suffering?

Not a fun topic, I know.

Can’t we all just identify with his happy traits instead of his suffering or forgiveness?

Because Jesus came to earth fully human yet fully God, we can identify with Him when our humanness overwhelmes us.

When life on this earth is less than celebratory.

As mamas, we give our bodies over when producing life.

Our bodies are literally changed forever. Marked with our child.

Further, we give ourselves to them for care.

Whether a child grows within your body or heart, you are forever changed by that child’s mere existence.

Jesus gave his body for us.

He willingly gave up his body for our salvation.

Does all of human creation daily cry out songs of thanksgiving for His sacrifice?

Nope. Not even close.

How many have been lost, not clinging to God’s plan for salvation?

Not recognizing Jesus’ human suffering on the cross for us?

What does Jesus think when those who are lost come to mind?

When those who have rejected His sacrifice beg to do life instead all on their own?

He has compassion.

He sees them through love.

He still wants their heart.

And He doesn’t give up. Ever.

Mothers sometimes get the short end of the stick.

But when we do, we must look to Jesus’ example of love.

He keeps loving even when others don’t love Him back.

Even knowing some would reject His willingness to sacrifice for their eternal life, He still went to the cross for them.

As we keep walking forward during the more uncomfortable times of life, may we look to Jesus’ example and love all anyways.

Photos by Camila Damásio, Larm Rmah, JESHOOTS.COM, &  Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Freedom Walk

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11

Are you as free as you can be?

As Christians, we profess to be free from death, sin, and the grave.

Free from eternal damnation.

And yes, that would be correct.

As a Christian, you have placed your trust in Jesus, and He has paid the penalty for your sin.

So, yes, technically, you are free from all of the above.

But what about freedom as we step upon this earth?

Are you walking as if you are free?

Just because you are free from the penalty of sin, does not mean you are free from its effects.

Do you feel pitiful and ugly when someone ignores you?

Do you feel a rush of anger when someone wrongs you?

Do you feel sarcastic while belittling someone who doesn’t understand you right away?

Do you put others down, lifting yourself up instead?

Do you put your needs first, serving your number one above all else?

Do you refuse to look at life through the lens of another, wanting your way instead?

How are you at listening?

Or, gasp, asking for forgiveness when you are wrong?

How are you at even admitting you are wrong?

Do you help others before asked?

Leave the room better than before you walked in?

When we do not clothe ourselves with the fruits of the spirit, walking as Jesus did, we are not free.

When we jump to satisfy ourselves over others, we are not free.

When we listen to lies in our head, we are not free.

When we become defeated in our many mistakes, we are not free.

Only with the power of God, can we break the chains that bind us.

Speak Jesus’ name over what binds you.

Over your flesh that speaks louder than your spirit.

Cancel the enemy’s assignments and send it to the dry desert.

Ask Jesus to cover you with His wisdom, power, strength, and joy.

And remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

That, my friends, is freedom.

Photos by Michael Baccin, Rikke Hembre, Anita Austvika, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Let Go and Live

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And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

How many offenses do you carry?

How many follow you while you go about your day?

Dozens?

Hundreds?

Thousands?

Even one is too many.

Why?

Because offenses discolor our moods.

They cloud the lens we view life.

Not only do offenses keep us in moods not worthy of companionship, they cause us to stink.

Ever been around someone easily offended?

You tend to step back, because you don’t want to get near their odor.

Those people are obvious.

But there’s another type of offense.

It’s the subtle hurt you carry because of unforgiveness.

Yes, it’s probably justified as you were wronged, but you still have a choice.

You can choose to let go and forgive, or keep the hurt and the offense.

Choosing to keep it close, bitterness enters your heart and mind as you begin to dwell on the pain.

And that causes you to stink.

When you don’t forgive, you allow the offender to continue hurting you.

You let them win again and again.

And there’s no winning.

Unfortunately, you’re the big loser with unforgiveness.

When you choose to forgive, you simply release it back to God.

You are asking God to cover the offense with His peace and forgiveness.

As you ask God to help you forgive, He rushes in with His peace to cover the wrong done to you.

Doesn’t mean you reconcile with the person, justify the hurt, or anything of the sort.

You simply let it go, so it does not control you anymore.

We talk a lot about control, because as humans we want control.

But you know as well as I, that we cannot control other people.

We cannot make them humbly apologize.

We cannot make them change for the better.

And we cannot make them be nice to us in the future.

But you can change yourself.

You can release it to God, asking Him to help you forgive that person.

You can choose freedom.

But it’s all up to you.

I know it’s hard to forgive when the other person seems to get away with any and all things.

But don’t allow the real prisoner to be you.

With God’s strength, you can forgive, freeing the prisoner. You.

Photos by Annie Spratt  and  Kiwihug on Unsplas

Forgiveness

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Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and pure heart. Psalm 24:3-4a

What does it mean to have clean hands and a pure heart?

It’s one who seeks God. Who seeks God’s will, purpose, and plan for his life.

One who seeks the face of God.

One who lives within the forgiveness of God, extending in turn forgiveness to others who wrong him.

One who lives humbly under the authority of God.

One who stands in awe of God’s power, remembering Who is ultimately in control.

One who walks daily with God, obeying His written word and the promptings within his heart.

Clean hands require God’s grace, mercy, and strength.

There is no possible way to successfully rely on ourselves instead.

We are dependent on God. We must remain dependent on Him.

He gives us strength to obey His word.

He gives us grace for others when we must forgive.

He gives us peace amidst the storm.

He gives us salvation from our sins.

But we must choose to clean our hands.

We must choose to walk with God, asking Him to fill our hands with His plans.

Extending forgiveness to others ranks high on the “later, Lord” list.

But how can we have clean hands and a pure heart when we harbor un-forgiveness?

Even if it’s not deserved, we must.

We must forgive.

Doesn’t mean we are now forgetful or best friends with the offender.

Means we let the offense go, allowing God to heal our hearts.

I did that recently. Someone who has known me a very long time.

I let it go. And you know what? It freed me.

God reminded me how much He has forgiven me.

Immediately I knew it must be extended to others.

My person didn’t deserve it.

But neither do I.

I don’t deserve God’s forgiveness.

Want to ascend the hill of the Lord with me?

God wants us to have clean hands and a pure heart.

Includes forgiveness.

Ask Him to help you, and grab those shoes. The hill looks lovely.

Photos by Joseph Liu, Adrian Jakob, Tim Wildsmith, & Thomas de LUZE on Unsplash

Living Within Forgiveness

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

What if you lived from a place of forgiveness towards others?

Those who hurt you, often repeatedly?

God, whose faithfulness endures to all generations, is merciful.

He promises to hold you upright as a steadfast Rock.

And He’s forgiven you all of your sin.

All of it.

So what if you lived within God’s forgiveness, granting others grace as well?

You might feel justified withholding compassion or forgivness.

But that’s not for your concern.

Your concern is not doling out justice. That’s God’s business.

If you live without the lens of forgiveness, your disposition, attitude, and even health are affected.

But if you allow yourself to live within God’s forgiveness flowing through you, everything will be different.

Don’t let people walk all over you, but live within the grace of God.

Stand up gracefully for yourself, but allow others to make their own mistakes.

Living within forgiveness frees others.

But the biggest reward is for your heart.

When your heart lets go of bitterness, the ugly parts melt away, revealing the heart of God.

Only possible with God’s love all mixed up with yours.

Would you rather have a heart full of scars and ugly dead parts?

Or a heart with God’s love all mixed up with yours, sending life everywhere it travels?

Ask God for His infusion today.

And run into that freedom He has for you.

The freedom He died to give you when He forgave you all your sins.

Photos by Melanie Stander, Alex Shute, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

I Refuse

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

..to allow my child’s negative attitude bring mine down to their level.

..to participate with fear when it whispers into my ear.

..to give worry any seat at my party when I know God holds my future in His capable hands.

..to withhold forgiveness from those who don’t deserve it.

..to filter life through a negative lens.

..to dwell on justified wrongs from others instead of living within my blessings from God.

..to participate with negative attitudes from those around me.

..to focus on what I don’t have, switching to all the blessings I do have from God.

..to agree with the lies from the pit of hell, instead purposing to agree with who God says that I am.

..to find my worth in ungrateful children who have not matured to what God has given them.

..to rely on the world to give me my worth in their terms.

..to define my value in the world’s unreachable standards.

..to stoop to the devil’s level as he tries to fill my head with destructive thoughts.

..to rely on myself, instead relying on God and His Holy Spirit to fill me with His power and all truth.

..to be a door mat, ignoring my God-given desires, quietly asserting my value within my home.

..to be ungrateful, instead smiling as I remember all the good things God has given to little ole’ me.

..to forget what my salvation has cost my dear Savior who sacrificed everything.

..to define parenthood on the ungrateful whims of children no matter their age.

..to seek my selfish desires above what plans God has for me.

..to expect more of others than they are capable; God is everything, filling in holes created by others’ lack of compassion or thought.

..to keep pursuing my own selfish ambitions, instead asking God what He has for me and my future.

..to listen to the devil as his only purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy all that I hold dear.

May God give us His strength to purpose our thoughts only on Him.

He is all that we need.

May God fill us up with His strength, power, peace, and love as we go forth spreading His purpose to others.

Listen, my friends, to our Lord, ignoring your flesh and the devil’s deception which foil God’s plans for you.

Photos Priscilla Du Preez, Drew Beamer, Miguel Bruna, Clay Banks, Heather Ford on Unsplash

Canceling The Devil

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Ever think about this: the devil knows he’s lost.

He’s going to do everything he possibly can to take you down with him.

Doesn’t care if you’re a Christian.

If the devil can keep you down and depressed, full of fear or self-pity, you’ll infect those around you for him.

For the devil.

Living for yourself, you place a tally on the devil’s side. Score one for him!

Is it worth it?

Are those justified feelings of anger, self-pity, or revenge worth letting the devil have a point?

Nope.

Helps to look at sin from a different perspective.

Never want to let the devil win at anything in my life.

Unfortunately, I let him win daily when I think of myself before others and pride steps in, begging to put self first.

I know it’s unrealistic to think we can always be our best for God.

But if we ask God to help us each moment of every day, we’ll have a winning shot.

And when we ask God’s forgiveness when we mess up, the devil’s point evaporates. Poof!

Purpose your mind on Christ. Give Him yourself again today.

As God helps you, you’ll provide less and less chances for the devil to play the game.

Devil, you’re canceled.

Photos by Michael Dziedzic, Brina Blum, & Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

I’m Sorry

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Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13

What do those words mean to you?

An apology?

Heartfelt from you to the offended?

Or a necessary evil?

Something to get your loved one off your back?

Apologies mean the world.

They write the wrongs.

Cover the faults.

Restore relationships.

Why is it so hard sometimes to apologize?

Pride?

What is true Christ-like apology?

Acknowledging your part with no strings attached.

Simply saying you are sorry for what you have done.

End of story.

No excuses.

Is that what you do?

Or do you apologize on the wings of accusing the other person along the way?

True apology only acknowledges your part.

You and you alone.

Fess up and relent.

Accept responsibility for what you and you alone have done.

End of story.

When you offer a sincere apology, void of blame and accusation, all will be well.

Relationships will be smoothed and offenses forgiven.

But only if you take responsibility for your own actions.

Don’t apologize by blaming the other person.

Simply say you’re sorry for what you did.

Honestly and sincere.

Look at the other person and say those words.

Only then will God redeem your situation.

Forgiveness is quick and sweet.

Humble yourself and ask.

It’s the only way.

Photos by Brett Jordan & Sandra Grünewald on Unsplash

Expectations

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Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

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Why live with chips?

Not talking about the potato or tortilla kind.

Chips on your shoulders.

Offense.

Irritation.

Failed expectations of life or others.

Why carry those around?

Shedding doom and gloom with every step?

Because you have a right.

You were wronged.

According to your expectation, you need some sort of justice.

And you’ll keep that chip on your shoulder until your wrong has been righted.

At least that’s what you think.

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Is your wrong justified?

Maybe.

Possibly even definately.

But don’t move your unmet expectations into sin.

Because then YOU’RE in the wrong.

Sinning while offended looks like many things.

Silent treatment.

Snarky comments.

Eye rolling.

Refusing to participate in activities.

Withdrawing.

Or full fledged anger.

Those, my friends, are sin.

When you are wronged, your expectations are at fault.

If someone failed to meet your expected needs, forgive.

If someone forgets an important date, forgive.

If heated words are offered in exchange for your questions, forgive.

When you allow God to free you from keeping the offense, you are set free.

Literally.

The feeling of freedom far surpasses the prison of someone’s offense.

Live within the forgivness of God.

Extend your grace from God to others.

Ask God to solve your situations of doubt.

Instead of living in fantasy land of perfectly fulfilled expectations, live in the grace of God.

Aligning your expectations to God’s instead.

God will ALWAYS meet your expectations of Him.

And in fact, He’ll far surpass them.

Everytime.

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Photos by Dawid Zawiła and Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Controlled by Anger

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And do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27

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Is it ok to be mad?

Super angry at an uncontrollable situation?

Yes.

It’s ok to be mad.

Just don’t let it control you.

There’s a difference.

A difference between anger and a life dictated by it.

The anger.

Sometimes situations in life have justifiable angry responses.

Literally justified.

But if you hold onto that anger, it controls you every time.

Every time you are reminded of the situation, your body will respond as trained.

In anger.

Blood will boil.

Tempers will flair.

You will lash out at people for no apparent reason.

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It’s sin.

Why?

Because the anger controls you.

You have trained your body in that way.

And don’t sin by letting anger control you.  Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.  Ephesians 4:26-7

When God talks about letting go of anger, He means just that.

Let it go.

Guess He coined that phrase long before the Norwegian ice princess movie we have all watched way too many times.

Doesn’t mean to forget or allow yourself to be hurt again in the same way.

It simply means to keep your peace.

To surrender the anger, knowing God is in control.

To  choose peace over anger, learning instead from the pain.

Giving a foothold to the devil is keeping your anger.

Choosing to wallow in it.

Probably deservedly, yes, but that’s not the point.

Living in freedom with God sometimes defies all logic.

Logically, you should be mad as you know what.

But God wants you to live in freedom.

And you cannot dwell in His freedom if you are shackled by anger’s prison.

Break free and allow God to heal your wounds.

How?

Ask God.

Remember, forgiving is not forgetting.

But it’s freedom.

Ask God to forgive through you.

Then whenever it pops back into your brain (you know the devil will insist on reminding you often!), throw it back to God.

Forgive again and again.

Your body will begin to retrain itself, reacting instead with peace.

The absence of anger will release you from the prison of pain.

Learn from situations, yes.

But don’t keep the anger.

It’s simply not worth your time.

Or your peace.

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Photos by Clem Onojeghuo, Kenni Fil , &  Lauren McConachie on Unsplash

Bigger Person

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Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

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Ugh.

I don’t like that.

Being the bigger person.

Don’t like being the one to apologize first.

To begin the amends.

To swallow my pride.

To open the floodgates of forgiveness.

Rather have the other person go first.

Makes me feel better.

You?

When my honest selfishness invokes horror upon reading what I wrote, I stop.

I think about what God would want me to do.

1 Peter 3:9 reminds us not to “repay evil with evil or insult with insult.”

That’s pretty clear.

Doesn’t mention being first, but fortunately the verse goes on.

Verse 9 continues, ” On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

I for one want a blessing.

You?

The other side of the coin is this: who do I want to please?

God or Satan?

I’m guessing Satan is pretty darn pleased when I stick my feet in the mud, determining to withhold forgiveness unless asked and pleaded with from the other guilty party.

Know God is pleased when I make the first move.

While it’s fun to feed my flesh, it, in turn, pleases Satan.

Yuck.

Double yuck.

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I want to please God.

More than anything, I want to give Him my everything.

That includes forgiving others when they wrong me.

First.

Being the bigger person.

And what if they never ever apologize?

I can move on, because I don’t need it.

All I need is God.

I am responsible for me.

Can’t be responsible for others.

Can’t let others’ sins weigh me down anymore.

As 1 Peter says, “I will be blessed when I repay evil with a blessing.”

Time to make the switch and be the bigger person.

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Photos by Lina Trochez, Felix Koutchinski, Alvin Mahmudov, & Dương Hữu on Unsplash

 

First to Forgive

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And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

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My forgiveness towards others should not be dependent on how sorry they are.

Or if they even ask my forgiveness towards them.

Because they might not.

Might not think they were wronged.

If you find yourself in this boat (and we all will time and again), you’re in great company.

My company, but that’s not who I want to focus on.

Jesus.

He’s our greatest example of forgiving others before we asked.

While suffering on the cross, Luke 23 records Jesus declaring, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus forgave the people around him, while they were still hurling insults.

He forgave those who murdered Him before they repented.

Way WAY harder to forgive that than our petty situations.

And He forgave us before we ever asked.

He has forgiven us already.

But we must claim it.

We must ask Him for what has already been done.

Only then are we set free.

Only then are our sins wiped away.

In turn, YOU will be free when you freely give others forgiveness.

Who in your life has not asked forgiveness of you?

Have you already forgiven, exchanging the hurt for God’s peace?

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Photos by Alireza Esmaeeli & Andre Hunter on Unsplash

Known

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Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. 1 Kings 8:56

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How is God known?

Through the things that don’t make sense in our lives.

Through the trust we show when the next step we cannot see.

Through His grace demonstrated in us each and every day.

Through His love poured out from our fingertips to others.

Through His peace we feel while tossed to and fro.

Through His forgiveness we give to those who’ve deeply hurt us.

Through the giving we provide to those who lack.

Through the servant we become when thinking more of others.

Through the prayers we pray and the answers that surprise us.

Through the deliverance of trauma, healing the holes left behind.

Through the wisdom we have when asking God for help.

Through coming out on the other side of life’s trauma.

And living, not dying from it.

God is known through our Bible reading, our praying, our worship, and our very lives.

Each and every day, God is known through the big and small things.

How well do you know Him?

Well, I hope.

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Photos by Marlon Langoni, H A M A N N, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

 

Disappointing People

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Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10

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Ready for a bombshell?

Mind blowing reality check?

People are not perfect.

Shocker?

People will fail you.

Regularly.

No, really?

We often become disappointed in people.

Could even say all the time.

It’s almost like we expect them to be perfect, especially in their actions towards us.

We expect people to act entirely better then ourselves.

It’s almost like we allow ourselves to behave however we please, expecting others to never falter. Ever

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Whose standard are you holding yourself to?

I’m not asking for perfection from you.

You can’t be perfect either.

Just don’t expect perfection from others.

You do, and you’ll continually be disappointed.

Continually.

Spread the grace of God you’ve been given to others.

Love them even when they fail you.

Even when they disappoint.

Newsflash.

I can guarantee that you, in turn, also regularly disappoint them.

You’ll want the same grace extended from them to you, regularly, won’t you?

Give grace.

Walk in forgiveness.

And smile with absolute gratefulness at the blessings of those surrounding you.

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Photos by Nicole Honeywill , Pascal Lottenbach , & Ivana Djudic on Unsplash

Last Day

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“Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36

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Oh, Jesus, I see you.

I am near.

A face in the crowd.

I see your aching eyes.

I see what’s left of your precious body clinging to that horrid cross.

I’ve been a witness all day.

Your death is so real.

I cannot bear to look.

To think You are doing all of this for us.

For me.

What was it like to walk around this earth, knowing how your death would ultimately end?

How did your heart keep from worrying?

How did you keep your mind on the last supper, not worried to death anticipating the agony you knew was soon to come?

And even last month, how were you not overcome with preoccupation?

What did you do when fear and the temptation of avoidance entered your thoughts?

I know you are human with all the thoughts that flood our minds.

Yet you did not sin.

Teach me.

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How did it feel when your best friends fell asleep that night, not watching your back or comforting you?

How about when your friend betrayed you in the garden?

I know you expected that, but it must have still disappointed you.

How did you deal with feeling alone during this time?

Teach me.

What was it like when the soldiers mocked you?

Didn’t you long to put them in their place?

That must have been difficult.

Teach me.

You let them taunt you, wetting your face with their spit.

What was it like to have your body whipped to the point of near death?

I cannot even imagine.

Or when they thrust the crown into your precious head?

The thorns went so deep.

I could hear the soldiers laughing, mocking your royal self after they “decorated” you.

I’m so sorry.

When they paraded you around in front of the cruel crowds, half naked and badly bleeding, it was unspeakable.

What were you thinking?

Was it hard not to speak in front of Pilot?

Was it difficult not to call down the angels to deliver you?

How did you stumble along the winding path, bearing the weight of the cross upon your weary body?

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When they nailed your hands and feet, how in the world did you deal with that agony?

How did the unspeakable weight of the world’s sins feel on your shoulders?

You had never felt sin before.

Was that feeling of separation from God even worse than the physical pain, hard as that is to imagine?

How were you still filled with compassion for the lost while bearing unspeakable pain on the cross?

Teach me.

Every time I think about what You have done for us, I am brought to silence.

There are no words.

Except thank you.

Thank you for leaving heaven to give Your life for us here on earth.

You needed nothing, yet You gave it all up for us.

You came.

Willingly.

And now You are dying in place of us for our sins.

All of our sins.

All for us.

For me.

All because of love.

Your love for us.

For me.

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I look once again at You, my precious Lord, dying on the cross.

Your breathing is slow.

Wait.

You are speaking.

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

You’re right.

They don’t know.

They couldn’t possibly do what they have done to you, knowing who you are.

Whose you are.

But I do.

Your body is still.

The sky is dark, almost like night.

My eyes are lowered in humility.

My tears fall onto the ground wetting the earth.

You were selfless until your last breath, which prayed for the lost.

How did You manage this cruel death, emotionally and physically?

Because of love.

Because of life.

Eternal life.

Because of the promise of life eternally with You.

Us with You.

Forever.

You gave your life for us.

May we in return live each day for You, reminded of Your selfless love, which died upon the cross securing our spots in heaven forever with You.

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Photos by Jacob Meyer, Matthew Henry, phil thep & Austin Thesing on Unsplash

Clothed With Him

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The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

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In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.

We are nothing without Him.

Mere shells devoid of purpose or real change.

With Him, everything changes.

When we are clothed with His mercy, we give others compassion.

When we are clothed with His love, we give others significance.

When we are clothed with His forgiveness, we give others freedom.

When we are clothed with His peace, we give others rest.

He continually pours out His blessings to us, so we can spread His character to the ends of the earth, blessing others with Himself.

His mercies are new every morning.

His precious ways are counted among the saints.

Taste and see how God is good.

So very good.

Allow Him to fill you up with His goodness.

Every morning.

Watch His good news spread to the thirsty souls near you.

Photos by OC Gonzalez & Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash

Loving Your Enemies

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Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

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Jesus says to love your enemy.

Even people you don’t particularly like.

Jesus says to pray for those who persecute you.

People you don’t get along with very well.

Or who do you harm.

Oh, but I’m justified in my disgust.

You don’t know what they’ve done to me.

I could never pray for them.

Jesus is our example.

Jesus could have said many things while standing before Pilot.

He could have yelled at them while being whipped.

Or while the nails were thrust into His hands.

But instead, what did He say while hanging on the cross?

“Father, forgive them….for they know not what they do.”

Didn’t they know what they were doing?

They held the whip and knew it would shred His back.

They held the crown and knew it would pierce His head.

They held the hammer and knew they were going to nail Him to the cross.

However-

they didn’t know Jesus was the Son of God.

The eyes of His accusers could not see who He was.

Their eyes were closed because Jesus had to die for our sins.

They had no idea what they were doing.

 Everyone played their part in God´s plan for our salvation.

Yet instead of hurling insults at His persecutors, Jesus prayed for them.

He could have said many brilliant things to combat their assaults.

But He didn’t.

When you pray for someone you don’t like, pray that God will fill you with compassion for that person.

Notice Jesus didn’t condone His persecutors.

He didn’t welcome their pain.

But He prayed for them.

While hanging on the cross, in more agony then we will ever know, with the weight of the world’s sin on his back, Jesus chose to pray for His enemies.

He wanted God to keep pursuing them.

To bring His enemies into forgiveness.

Your enemies don’t really know what they are doing either.

Just like you don’t know what’s really going on inside of their heads.

People act to protect themselves.

And sometimes, they don’t care who they take down in the process.

We can only forgive our enemies with God’s help.

And with His love pouring through us, we can extend grace to others.

Even those who are mean.

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