Susan's Blog: Forgiveness an Act of Obedience

Monday, August 31, 2015

Forgiveness an Act of Obedience

This weekend I encountered a situation which required me to make a choice. Should I hold on to unforgiveness or should I forgive?

Unforgiveness not only poisons my relationship with the person who hurt me, it also messes with my relationship with God. My focus is on the offense and rehashing it over and over and over again in my mind. I try to come up with the perfect comeback that will silence and bring the one who hurt me to repentance. Then there is the questioning of God. “God, why do you let them do this and get away with it?” Yeah…questioning God…not the best or smartest move on my part.

So rather than having the brief sting of someone hurting me, forgiving and moving on…I can drag the drama on for hours if not days. Not real smart is it?

Thank You Lord for Your patience and Your Holy Spirit doing a work in me. Thank You for helping me to remember that forgiveness is an act of my will, not necessarily a feeling. Thank You for helping me to desire to obey You. Thank You for reminding me that this person is a believer and You’ve already paid the penalty for their sin. Their sin has been punished and their sin debt has been paid in full. Thank You for reminding me that while You hung on the cross You forgave those people who crucified You. My hurt doesn’t even amount to a tiny little scratch in comparison. Thank You for the instructions that You recorded in Scripture when You tell Your disciples that they are to forgive 70 x 7...I’m not supposed to put a limit on how much I will forgive someone. Thank You for the reminder that when I sin, I want to be forgiven and not have something held over my head. Thank You for the reminder, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, including forgiving someone when I’m hurt. Thank You for the promise that You will one day heal our hurts and brokenness when we are in heaven.

Lord…thank You for helping me to forgive. Please Lord, let my feelings catch up with my will and let the memories of hurt fade away.

4 comments:

Ceil said...: Hi Susan! what a blessing that you had the grace to forgive. I really related to your thoughts on dragging out the drama. How true that is! It's so much better to dive in and forgive, no matter what it cost. As you pointed out, Jesus didn't count the cost when He forgave me. I should do the same.

I'm glad it worked out for you this weekend!
Ceil; 4:10 PM
susanwalkergirl said...: Hi Ceil,

Thank you for your note of encouragement! By God's grace He is teaching me to forgive. You are so right...it's much better to dive in and forgive.

Lord bless...Susan; 4:31 PM
Denise said...: bless you for being forgiving.; 8:36 PM
susanwalkergirl said...: Hi Denise,

Thank you for your words of encouragement! Praise God for the Holy Spirit and how He guides us and grows us. He helps us to do what doesn't come naturally!

Lord bless...Susan; 2:55 PM

My Colors Will Be Clear

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight seeing, smooth knees, color-less dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, "chinchy" giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my destination is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few. My Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of the One that gave me life, drew the line in blood for me in the hour of my destiny.

I am one of Christ's remnant people. I belong to Him and none other. All I do to bring this life to another is done because of that blood covenant poured out for me.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I must share will all that one more might hear and be drawn from the flaming darkness that longs to consume. Reach for another, touch but one more!

Until that moment...He will have no problem in recognizing me- my colors will be clear!!!

Not only are the words inspiring but so is the man behind them. The above letter was written by a Pastor in Africa who was undergoing severe persecution. On the eve of his execution he sat down and wrote the above note.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Forgiveness an Act of Obedience

4 comments:

With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin – Likeable, Thoughtful Characters