'Whenever
you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your
Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.' Jesus in Mark 11:25
Forgiving is hard. Yet, without it, most of our prayers are
futile.
Not futile because God will be mad at us and won’t listen
till we shape up. Futile because we cut ourselves off from God by being
unforgiving. To forgive is to let go of a wrong you have every right to collect
on but decide not to. Christians don’t collect because holding on to an “unforgivable”
debt weakens us and walls us off from God’s love. God’s renewing and
healing love. God’s identity is rooted
in forgiving.
Too many people are in church but “walking wounded” because they
will not let God in, thinking that they have to hold on to a hurt.
God never wastes a hurt. Give yours to God. God is big
enough for both of you.
Consider
- Forgiving does not mean trust is regained. Trust is earned.
- Forgiving does not have to feel good. Nor does it mean old feelings are restored.
- Forgiving does not mean you were somehow wrong.
- Forgiving does not relieve others of the consequences.
- Forgiving means to move on. The debt is now God’s. (no backsie’s)
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