F O R G I V E N E S S ... to hard to do you say? If God thought it was to hard to forgive, He would not have warned us to not hold unforgiveness in our spirit. He NEVER tells us to do or not to do something that is impossible. It really is a choice you know, we can make a decision to forgive.
Total forgiveness does not always mean their will be restoration in the relationship. What it does mean is that we can move forward and not allow the offense to stay in our heart. We can choose to not hold onto it. Leave it, Let it go, Give it up, Drop it..off your mind ~ out of your mouth. One of the most challenging things we will do in our lives is to practice walking daily in unforgiveness. You may not be able to help how you feel, but you can have control over what you do.
A very interesting point about "offense". Offense is all around us. People walk on eggshells as to not "offend" someone. People who have been offended will go so far as to end relationships because of the offence. I read that the Greek word for offence is skandalon http://www.christianforums.net/f34/another-interesting-greek-word-skandalon-trap-quot-10549/. Skandalon in the Greek means "trap". The piece of the animal trap where the bait is hung to lure the victim into the trap. Oh, how cleaver of Satin to cause many to have offence in their hearts .... The trap to end relationships. Matthew 24:10.
So are you ready for the questions? Brace yourself because you may not like the answers.
1. Do you have to keep telling the story?
2. How do you feel when you hear they receive a blessing, something good in their life?
3. Can you be good, kind, and merciful to them?
There it is....the oucy test. Please do not beat yourself up if you still have unforgiveness in your heart. It is really not as hard as you may think to remove it. First you must admit it is there, second you have to ask for God to remove it and third you have to learn to STOP and pray for them the very second you feel the unforgiveness returning. You can do that! The freedom you will receive is so worth it. Decide today that you are gong to live a life style of refusing to be offended!
Proverbs 19:11
Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.
Amplified
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
Life Application
A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
New American Standard.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
New King James
Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
The Message
Read it, study it, live it...the Word of God.
It is powerful and full of tools to live by.
Have a Super Wonderful Day...
Smile at everyone you walk past, it will make them wonder what mischief you have been up to.
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