Friday, August 8, 2008

Forgiveness = Freedom



"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you" -C.S. Lewis

Today, I am really dealing with something heavy. It is something that I seem to not let go of. This is something that my heart just can't seem to grasp. It is FORGIVENESS. I have been stressing about someone who has done me wrong and that bitterness pill is setting in. Along with bitterness comes hate, disgrace, revenge, and hurt. I have been back and forth in my mind on how to forgive this person but I still see the wrong that was done against me. I still feel the hurt and betrayal from this person. Forgiveness is my obligation as a Christian to grant. I know through God's grace that I have received forgiveness of my sins but how is it that I can't bestow that same forgiveness on the one who wronged me?

Is it me or is this one of the hardest things to do in life. I feel like I would rather go to the dentist or doctor than forgive the person who has wronged me. This is an uncomfortable position that I am in because

1. I want God's forgiveness for my sins and I don't want Him to stop forgiving me
2. My negative emotions are getting the best of me
3. As my commitment to Christ, I feel as though I am in disobedience

These are the things that I just can't get past in order to start the process of healing and reconciliation. How do I forgive someone who has wronged me who I feel like has gotten away with it? How do I forgive a so called "friend" who betrayed me? How do I forgive this person if they haven't asked for it?

This week I have been repeatedly reminded to let go of the past and move on through to forgiveness that it has taken a toll on me. What I mean is that I feel stuck. I feel as if everything around me has stopped moving or is in slow motion, my business, my job, my life, etc. I feel that the enemy has laid the foundation for this hatred in my heart and now I am fighting to renew my faith. The one thing I do realize is that until I choose to have faith, display love, and release the past; forgiveness is not going to happen. The doors of opportunity will remain closed. The pathway to healing will stall. The peace of God will be held up in this storm. I have to learn from the past experiences, less the stress involved, in order to gain wisdom into what God is showing me. I need to move past my circumstances and gain the vision that God has before me. I have to lay my feelings aside and trust God to help me out.

Forgiveness is God's extended mercy. Its main ingredient is love. It leads me to a doorway where restoration and understanding are present. Although the gift of forgiveness is free for us, Jesus paid the price with His blood. As a child of God, He has supplied us with an overflow of forgiveness through His love and sacrifice. Once we humble ourselves and confess our sins then will he completely remove our sins and remembers them no more. So why is forgiving this person so hard for me? It would really take a miracle right now for this to happen. I don't want to stop receiving forgiveness for my sins just because I won't do what He has asked me to do. I don't want this person living in my head, rent free, for years before I make up my mind to evict him. To forgive is not easy but I know it is possible. I have to let go of this grudge and pray for this person who has hurt me. This is my journey to healing. I desire to live at peace with God so I have to set this person free, and myself, if I want God to set me free from my past. This is my greatest challenge today but I wanted to make it known that it can be done and you are not alone. As I write this I am helping myself. A forgiving spirit blesses both myself and others.

So remember this, FORGIVENESS is the gift that is necessary to share as often as possible for healing and to be made whole as God has granted us this responsibility. I am doing this for myself, my health, and my well being.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you" - Lewis Smedes

1 comment:

Lisa C. aka Trophy of Grace said...

Kesi I just wrote about unforgiveness at the beginning of July because of some times I was going through. I just want to share with you what I wrote..

Unforgiveness..

Has someone offended you or said something hurtful? Perhaps someone has betrayed or abandoned you? For your own good you must let it go!

Unforgiveness in your heart will only cause sickness and disease in your body. It takes so much energy to constantly think on how someone has wronged you. You do not want to let bitterness and resentment root deep in your heart because it will affect every relationship in your life. Your may even develop a terrible attitude and your countenance can change.

Forgiving someone who has hurt you is a choice. Sometimes you have to choose daily to forgive the offense, until you are at a point where it isn’t always popping up in your head. The bottom line is “It Is A CHOICE!” If you do not let it go and forgive your offender your relationship with the Lord will be hindered. In fact if you refuse to forgive our Heavenly Father will not forgive you either. (Matthew 6:14-15) Don’t continue to hold grudges. You are only hurting your own spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)

Don’t think of ways to get back at them. Instead pray for them. Pray for God to help them. (1 Peter 3:9) Circumstances can change drastically and one day your enemies may one day need you.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is the story of Joseph, the dreamer. His brothers were so jealous of his relationship with their father. They were always talking about him behind is back. They hated him. They even plotted to tell kill him but instead they sold him into slavery. His own family! Talk about abandonment and betrayal. He was hurt and lonely. But he allowed God to use him where he was at and continued moving forward in life. The Lord raised him up to a position of power. He was made second in command to the Pharaoh. When there was a great famine in the land his brothers had to go Egypt to get food. So there they are in front of the one they betrayed trying to buy food, but they did not recognize him. This was Joseph’s chance to pay them back, but he didn’t. Joseph had forgiven his brothers and brought his family there to be with him during the famine. This is the example we should follow. (Genesis 37-47)

Unforgiveness is too heavy of a load to carry. Let our Lord have this hurt, this offense. He wants to carry your burdens for you. He wants you to give Him all of your worries and concerns because He cares for you and He is always thinking about you. (1 Peter 5:14) Make a choice today to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness.

P.s. I also wrote a short article on praying for your enemies. Here is a link if you would like to read it. Pray For Them & Leave It In God's Hands. . I hope this helps..I will be praying for you.