FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT - January 31, 2011

January 31, 2011

Forgiveness. Hurt. Betrayal. Pain. Everyone struggles. I talk to people frequently who have trouble forgiving others who have hurt them. Believe me when I say, we have all been hurt and all of us have had times trouble forgiving others. Some people have been hurt more than others - whether it be abuse, betrayal, unfaithfulness, lies - it all hurts - our GOD commands that we forgive others so HE can forgive us and we can serve HIM. We cannot serve HIM if we have unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts.

Yes, it can be very difficult to forgive someone who has hurt us, especially if it is over and over. Have you been emotionally or physically abused? Have you lost someone you love to a tragic accident or even murder? GOD still commands that we must forgive - no matter what the circumstances are. If GOD can send HIS only begotten SON to hang on a cross, being tortured, to forgive us from our sins - then we can most certainly forgive others who have hurt us. JESUS was tortued, betrayed, murdered on the cross - and HE still forgave all the worst murderers and haters - HE said "it is finished" - HE did not say "only certain people" - HE died for ALL of us. WE are no better than GOD - so we do not have the right to hold unforgiveness and bitterness in our hearts?

How do we do that? We do that with fervent prayer. Pray every day for the person who hurt you - pray for GOD to forgive them, and for GOD to help you to forgive them. Over time, it will happen.

Just like everything GOD has blessed us with, we must choose to forgive. No one can make you. GOD will not make you. You have to choose it. First, choose to forgive, then pray for them every day. You do not have to understand what happened. But you DO have to forgive. Do not let bitterness and unforgiveness keep you from the Love of GOD through Christ Jesus. There is Love, Healing, Forgiveness, Peace from GOD waiting for you. Go to HIM. Ask GOd to forgive you for your sins and ask GOD to help you forgive others.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST - LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER - DEAR PRECIOUS SAVIOR, I HAVE BEEN HURT. I FEEL BETRAYED AND USED. AND IT IS HARD FOR ME TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE HURT ME, BUT I ASK YOU, WITH HUMBLESS IN MY HEART, TO HELP ME FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE HURT ME - HELP ME TO TURN AWAY FROM BITTERNESS AND PAIN AND TURN TO YOU, THE ONE TRUE GOD, WHO HEALS AND SAVES. FILL ME WITH FORGIVENESS, PEACE, AND JOY, SO THAT I MAY SERVE YOU WITH GLADNESS AND HELP OTHERS - EVEN MY ENEMIES. AMEN.

PSALM 130:3-5 (NIV)
3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

MARK 11:24-26 (NIV)
24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.