Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Letting Go of Offenses...Let It Go!


Isn't it funny how you "preach" things only to be slapped with what you preached about shortly after?  I had posted my blog post about being humble and, surely, the next day I exploded.  Talk about humbling....

It happens to all of us.  We try to help others and we end up feeling like we got the short end of the stick.  Or, we sacrifice something in some way and we feel as if it was clearly not appreciated.  We all have had these scenarios happen to us but, when they do, how do we stop from harboring bitterness?  Because we all know how UGLY bitterness really is.

In Joyce Meyer's Beauty for Ashes series she says:

“First, let me say that it is not possible to have good emotional health while harboring bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.  Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die!  Unforgiveness poisons anyone who holds it, causing him to become bitter.  And it is impossible to be bitter and get better at the same time!”

Let me tell you firsthand, those words are SO VERY TRUE! 

When you become bitter, everything changes you....the way you feel about all circumstances, the way you feel about others and, more damagingly, the way that you feel about yourself.  It is a downhill spiral and you HAVE to find a way to let it go and let it go quickly!

We have to understand that FORGIVING does not mean that you are condoning what has happened.  It just means that you are letting go of the strain that is slowly killing your heart and soul.  You have to forgive the action.  I mean, you REALLY have to forgive!  Forgiving does not mean that you are a doormat now that you have forgiven.  It just means that you are giving others the grace that God gives us on a daily basis.  Think about this Bible scripture:

Mark 11:25-26:  “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.”

And, don't forget about the verse that states:

Matthew 18:20-21:  "21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

That's forgiving someone 7 x 70 times, which means keep forgiving until you have found true forgiveness!

We have to keep in mind that the enemy (Satan) is after our happiness, after our hearts.  He wants us to be broken.  He wants our lives to be lived in chaos and distress.  He wants us to not enjoy one single minute of this glorious life that God has given us all.  He is out to kill, steal, and destroy.  When he is able to do this, this will put a huge wedge between ourselves and God and we surely do not want that!

Take a long look in the mirror.  Sincerely look at yourself and see if your heart has hardened, check to see if you have been living under an enormous amount of unneeded stress, see if you feel bitterness towards others.  If so, it's time to lay it all down at the altar, lay it down at the feet of Jesus.  He wants to forgive you but you need to forgive others.  We all do.

Love always wins!

~ Amy




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