Learning Forgiveness

Hi Ladies! I pray that you're all well in spirit and in body. For a while now, the Lord has been speaking to my heart with regards to forgiveness...others and self. Not too long ago I was up throughout the night with the topic on my mind and decided to write my thoughts. I pray it is a blessing to you.

In His Love,
Kristina
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Here it is 2:47 AM and I'm wide awake like a baby cooing and yearning to play at the ungodly hour of a 3 AM feeding. Why is it that babies want to play when you're trying your best not to drop the bottle or Lord forbid, the child in your feeble attempt to stay awake? Babies are not as innocent as they appear...haha, just kidding. Anyway, I did not intend on spending that much time on babies...I do have a topic in mind for this post.

Usually whenever I'm awakened at "odd" hours of the night and sleep punches the time-clock early, I find myself cuddled up with a page-turner novel or The Good Book until sleep decides to punch back in. Instead, tonight, I pulled up one of Adrian Rogers' podcasts over the internet for a little early morning food for thought. After browsing the topics (there were many), I settled on a message about learning forgiveness. In a nutshell, he talked about the importance of forgiving those who wrong you in life, whether they ask for forgiveness or not. Essentially, forgiveness is an obligation that frees you from the burdens that others have placed on...or you've placed on yourself.

A few weeks ago, the topic of one of Oprah's shows was forgiveness. On this show, a woman was napping in her friend's home (she was the only one there), and two teenage boys (15 yrs old & 16 yrs old) came through an open garage to steal the car. The 15 yr old walked through the house to see whether anyone was there and noticed the woman sleeping, so he closed the bedroom door and went back to the garage to take the car. The woman was awakened from her sleep when she heard noises in the garage, and she walked in on the teens stealing the vehicle. The youngest teen ordered her back in the house at gunpoint, pushed her to the ground in the living room, placed a pillow over her head, and shot her in the head, leaving her for dead.

Miraculously, she survived...but not without life-altering scars. She is now legally blind, she had to learn to walk, talk, chew, swallow, and most other basic life skills after being in a coma for 6 months. Do you know that woman forgave her attackers?! With slurred speech and a staggered walk, she went to the prison to tell her attackers that she forgave them and that she was choosing to love them. WOW! What a testimony!

Towards the end of the show, the following comment was made: Harboring bitterness and unforgiveness is like drinking poison, hoping that the other person would be harmed.

Oh, how truth rings in that statement - bitterness and unforgiveness does more damage to the one hurting than it does to the one who caused the hurt.

All throughout the Bible, we are admonished to forgive others:

(1) "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13).

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

(3) "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matthew 6:14).

(4) "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25).

(5) "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37).

I believe there are so many Scriptures about forgiveness in the Bible because God knew we would encounter numerous circumstances in life where we would experience hurt, betrayal, anger, resentment, and other emotions that if allowed to fester, our whole person would be wrecked. He tells us about forgiveness so that we can continue to live in wholeness, walk in the spirit of love, continue to be in right relationship with Him, and foster a sweet dwelling for His Spirit to reside.

Yes, the act of forgiveness can seem like an impossible task when the offense stings and hardens the heart. But see, that's actually the result of unforgiveness - a hardened and cold heart...a heart that is bound. Forgiveness liberates you form such strongholds. There is freedom in forgiveness...the freedom from guilt and bitterness. There is peace in forgiveness...it releases the debt and eases the mind. There is even joy in forgiveness...our spirits are lifted and the will to move forward emerges. Yes, yes, all this is true!

As the years go by in my life, I am learning that there are three traits we must certainly possess to walk in true freedom and pure joy: unwavering faith, love for others, and a forgiving heart.