Tag: Forgiveness

ADMITTING TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER…

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Okay, you were hurt. BAD!

Not only that, but you were hurt by someone who loves you. Someone who is close to you. Someone who instead of having your back, instead of scratching your back…stabbed you in it…talked about you behind it…didn’t watch it.

But, you know what the word of God says…

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Plus, the relationship you have with them is important to you. It’s bigger than the betrayal. It’s bigger than the denial. It’s bigger than the pain they caused you, so you make up your mind to forgive them. And, the fact is that you know that as much as people say that you can forgive and not be in relationship anymore, the truth is that no matter how bad we hurt God, He is always willing to forgive us and remain in relationship with us.

Yep, you’re not just saying you forgive them to be SC (Spiritually Correct instead of Politically Correct). You’re aren’t just saying it because it’s the right thing to say. You aren’t even saying it to manipulate God into forgiving you for your sins because you know His forgiving you is based on you forgiving others.

You really forgive them….so why do you still feel ‘some type of way’ about them?

And, the truth is that the pain is not as bad as it once was, but it’s till there. You have to admit to yourself that…

YOU’RE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER THAN YOU WERE…

Is it because looking at them, places, people, songs, smells…things periodically, when you’re mind is not even on what they did brings it all back? Or, is it because you find yourself trying to think about it sometimes?

You really forgive them. You want to. You are consciously trying to. Forgiveness is in your heart. You want to move on as if it never happened…why does it still bother you sometimes?

The fact is that the decision to forgive and proclaiming forgiveness is the easiest, first step. The act of true forgiveness is a process that takes time. Just as much as God is working in you to get over it, the enemy is trying to find ways to make you hold on.

One of the most powerful revelations to obtaining forgiveness and remaining in relationship is when you realize, accept and rejoice in the fact that…

Even though your relationship may never be the same, it could still be better than it was before. Click here to read… JUST BECAUSE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T BE BETTER…

THIS IS POWERFUL…

One of the reasons people remain bitter is when they keep comparing their present relationship to what it was before. Make up your mind that “All things have become new! (sound familiar?)” When you set your mind on building a better relationship on what you have…learned lessons and all, it can actually be better.

When you think about it, this is what God does with us when we accept Yeshua, Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. He knows that the relationship He had with us before will never be the same, but all things are new and it will be better because His Spirit now works in us to convict us of our sins…

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

It takes just as much love to truly repent, humble oneself and ask for forgiveness as it does to forgive.

Come on now, you know how hard it is to say “I’m sorry” sometimes!

So, if you are in the process of getting over something. If you are hurt, but not as hurt. If you are thinking about it less and less… Keep praying, fasting if necessary, and keep nurturing the relationship just as God does you when you ask Him for forgiveness.

And, if you are seeking forgiveness, but it seems they aren’t quite over it. If it’s not quite as bad as it used to be, but they still have their moments… be thankful that it’s getting better. Pray for God to continue to heal their heart, and respect the pain you caused them. Don’t become bitter over their bitterness.

Bitter but better is still progress. Celebrate the  progress, you can go from BITTER TO BETTER, TO BETTER THAN EVER.

Or, do you really mean it when you say…

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do ALL things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

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YOU CAN FORGIVE ANYTHING…TODAY! #FORGIVENESS

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Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you

 

MORE THAN CONQUERORS (Romans 8:37)

Isn’t it funny how some of us can claim to be more than conquerors…

Be filled with the Holy Spirit…

Blessed and highly favored…

Testifying every time we can get a chance…

Claim, “I love everybody!”…

…And REFUSE to forgive!

We can serve as a deacon, preach every weekend, sing in the choir, give to the poor…BUT WON’T FORGIVE.

There are preachers who get up and preach to some members whose souls they are responsible…and are withholding forgiveness from some of them.

Too many of us are holding on to…

Anger…

Animosity…

Hatred…

Resentment…

Bitterness…

Wrath…

PAIN…

What ever emotions, moods and attitudes that prevent us from FORGIVING.

Withholding forgiveness is one of the enemy’s most successful distractions.

We can’t love like God expects us to when we don’t forgive.

The enemy doesn’t mind you going to church or even serving in the Kingdom of God if you don’t forgive because it dims the light of God in you.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (Matthew 5:14)…We can’t be light if we are DISTRACTED! Being unforgiving is a distraction…

Think about this…

The SUN provides light & the MOON reflects…

Sometimes Moon blocks light from Sun…This is an eclipse.

Sometimes Man blocks light from Son…This is a spiritual eclipse.

Distractions block eclipse our light from the SON…

Anger is a spiritual eclipse…

Bitterness is a spiritual eclipse…

Being unforgiving is a spiritual eclipse!

Our marriages, families…relationships CAN NOT exist WITHOUT forgiveness, but sometimes it’s so hard because of the pain…Because we are flesh.

Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)

41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

God understands we are flesh, but he also expects more from us. It is not God’s will for us to go day in and day out holding on to STUFF!

Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)

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

FORGIVENESS CAN BE A STRUGGLE FOR MOST CHRISTIANS.

We can put effort into ‘conquering’ everything, but forginvenss….getting a house, car, job, promotion, man, woman, getting a closet full of shoes, purses, ties…our neighborhoods full of crime, immorality, poverty, while many Christians are worried about conquering the ‘good life’.

That’s why some of us give, just so we can get….to some giving is a BLE$$ING bill. That’s why sometimes cousins, sisters, brothers  and relatives keep coming asking for money cause that’s the only way God can get some people to spend money on someone besides themselves. Does anyone owe you money and you haven’t forgiven them?

The enemy knows God ONLY forgives us AS we forgive others…(Matthew 6:12)

That means if there is something that you haven’t forgiven someone for…your sin that you asked forgiveness for is still there.

Don’t let someone die before you let them know THEY ARE FORGIVEN!

Is anyone you refuse to forgive WORTH forfeiting your forgiveness over? Don’t let your feelings towards them come between you and God.

Remember, there’s someone out there that you have hurt too…

You may not know what you did, but most of the time you do!

THE ENEMY KNOWS WHAT’S HARDEST FOR YOU TO FORGIVE…

The enemy knows how to present the right situation to you…

The right person…

That one thing that he knows that’s most difficult for you to forgive…

That’s the thing that he will use.

It could be your wife, your husband, your sister or brother, mother or father, best friend…it could be a pastor, that job who fired you, that team that didn’t pick you….you know what it is.

Stop right now and think about that one thing you are still holding on to.

God WANTS…DESIRES…TO FORGIVE US!

Think about how much we hurt God and He forgives us…

Psalm 103:8-12 (NKJV)

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 

We (his church) are the bride of Christ…we ‘cheat on God’ every time we sin/ That’s why I know we can even forgive infidelity.

Every shameful thing done in the presence of His angels supposed to be there to protect you

He is there when we are tempted

He is there when we think about the fact that this is wrong and we still decide to do it

He is there when we do it.

That same conversation that the enemy had with God about Job, he had about you…Consider my servant ____________ !

Job 1:8a (NKJV)

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job…”

God witnesses us every time we cheat on Him…Every time we put Him to open shame…

He is willing to forgive us…

How could He be so willing to forgive? Because He WANTS to forgive us!

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool…

God is practically begging us to come to Him for forgiveness.

 God wants to forgive you! God gets angry, but He doesn’t stay angry!

Psalm 103:8-9 (KKJV)

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

God can forgive us over and over because He DESIRES to do so! And He doesn’t WANT to stay angry.

God CHOOSES to forgive us!

Forgiveness is OUR CHOICE.

You can’t control how people treat you, but you can control how you react.

When we are honest with ourselves, we don’t forgive because WE DON’T WANT TO.. WE want to stay angry!

If we forgive…we take away our ‘excuse’ to be angry…

You can even hear the person who hurt you has made a change for the good, and it can make you angry…you don’t want them to do better. This can lead you to judge them saying, “They’re change isn’t sincere!” You can get to the point that you don’t even care about their salvation.

We don’t want to forgive due to our pain…

We don’t want to forgive because of our pride…

We don’t want to forgive because of our shame…

No matter how heavy it is, uncomfortable it is…we still hold on to it, because we want to do so! When our arms up…after a while we have to put it down, because they get too heavy

That’s what we have to do with our pain…put it down.

How?

Stop asking God to TAKE AWAY what He told you to PUT DOWN!

If your spouse is cheating, and you love them, do you want to make them stop, or for them to stop on their own?

Notice God Always tells you to put it down…

Colossians 3:8 (NKJV)

But now YOU YOURSELVES are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

FORGIVENESS IS EASIER THAN YOU MAY THINK! AND WHEN IT HAPPENS…IT’S INSTANT!

No matter how slow or gradual any transition may seem…when you think about it, the change…the moment of change…the instant of change…no matter how minute the shift in thought or direction – THE CHANGE IS ALWAYS INSTANT!

MAKE UP YOUR MIND, AND IT WILL CHANGE!

This is simple but powerful…

TELL YOURSELF AND MAKE UP OUR MIND… “I DON’T WANT TO BE MAD ABOUT THAT ANYMORE!”

I’m tired of being angry…

I’m tired of being sad…

I’m tired of being bitter…

I’m tired of being resentful…

I’m tired of avoiding them…

I’m tired of wanting everybody else to be mad at them too…

I REFUSE TO FEEL THIS WAY ANYMORE!!!!!

Romans 12…Be transformed by the renewing of you MIND!

Refuse to let your emotions dictate how you feel and behave.

Controlling your EMOTIONS is the closest you can come to controlling your world.

Hebrews 12…How did Jesus react to Emotion? He “scorned” the shame of the cross for the “joy” thats set before him.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry….it will go away.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry….you can forgive.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry…you can forget.

Let me define forget…you will still think of it, but not the same way! You will forget that frame of mind…such as “What was I thinking when I dated him or her!”

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry…you won’t even need an apology.

Why do you not need an apology? Because God still keeps showing you His love and kindness…even when you haven’t apologized or repented…

He keeps letting your heart beat…

He keeps feeding you and letting you live in the home He provided…

He keeps giving you strength to work…

He keeps on protecting you from harm…

He’s willing to forgive, even when He knows you will do it again.

One of the best exercises you can have in patience is to hold it together when you are being mistreated. Going on without an apology…showing character and patience of God will help you grow.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry…you can actually feel sorry for the one who hurt you. GUESS what? You are doing what God does! You are learning to love and learning to forgive like GOD!

That’s how you can even feel sorry for your enemies.

Jesus died on the cross to give the opportunity of salvation to those He knew would not only ask appreciate it, ask Him for forgiveness, or even believe in Him.

Exercise in forgiveness…Pray for God’s Spirit and Get a picture or go to a place, whatever reminds you of your pain. And practice looking at it and telling yourself..I don’t want to be mad at you…I don’t want to be bitter…sad and tell yourself that you won’t…

That’s what God does to us.

Sometimes people will try you back acting like they DON’T APPRECIATE YOUR FORGIVENESS…Be strong, cause that’s how we treat God sometimes.

Let your light shine…Get back your peace….Forgive as God is willing to forgive you!

YOU CAN GET OVER ANYTHING…TODAY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ADMITTING TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER…

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Okay, you were hurt. BAD!

Not only that, but you were hurt by someone who loves you. Someone who is close to you. Someone who instead of having your back, instead of scratching your back…stabbed you in it…talked about you behind it…didn’t watch it.

But, you know what the word of God says…

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Plus, the relationship you have with them is important to you. It’s bigger than the betrayal. It’s bigger than the denial. It’s bigger than the pain they caused you, so you make up your mind to forgive them. And, the fact is that you know that as much as people say that you can forgive and not be in relationship anymore, the truth is that no matter how bad we hurt God, He is always willing to forgive us and remain in relationship with us.

Yep, you’re not just saying you forgive them to be SC (Spiritually Correct instead of Politically Correct). You’re aren’t just saying it because it’s the right thing to say. You aren’t even saying it to manipulate God into forgiving you for your sins because you know His forgiving you is based on you forgiving others.

You really forgive them….so why do you still feel ‘some type of way’ about them?

And, the truth is that the pain is not as bad as it once was, but it’s till there. You have to admit to yourself that…

YOU’RE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER THAN YOU WERE…

Is it because looking at them, places, people, songs, smells…things periodically, when you’re mind is not even on what they did brings it all back? Or, is it because you find yourself trying to think about it sometimes?

You really forgive them. You want to. You are consciously trying to. Forgiveness is in your heart. You want to move on as if it never happened…why does it still bother you sometimes?

The fact is that the decision to forgive and proclaiming forgiveness is the easiest, first step. The act of true forgiveness is a process that takes time. Just as much as God is working in you to get over it, the enemy is trying to find ways to make you hold on.

One of the most powerful revelations to obtaining forgiveness and remaining in relationship is when you realize, accept and rejoice in the fact that…

Even though your relationship may never be the same, it could still be better than it was before. Click here to read… JUST BECAUSE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T BE BETTER…

THIS IS POWERFUL…

One of the reasons people remain bitter is when they keep comparing their present relationship to what it was before. Make up your mind that “All things have become new! (sound familiar?)” When you set your mind on building a better relationship on what you have…learned lessons and all, it can actually be better.

When you think about it, this is what God does with us when we accept Yeshua, Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. He knows that the relationship He had with us before will never be the same, but all things are new and it will be better because His Spirit now works in us to convict us of our sins…

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

It takes just as much love to truly repent, humble oneself and ask for forgiveness as it does to forgive.

Come on now, you know how hard it is to say “I’m sorry” sometimes!

So, if you are in the process of getting over something. If you are hurt, but not as hurt. If you are thinking about it less and less… Keep praying, fasting if necessary, and keep nurturing the relationship just as God does you when you ask Him for forgiveness.

And, if you are seeking forgiveness, but it seems they aren’t quite over it. If it’s not quite as bad as it used to be, but they still have their moments… be thankful that it’s getting better. Pray for God to continue to heal their heart, and respect the pain you caused them. Don’t become bitter over their bitterness.

Bitter but better is still progress. Celebrate the  progress, you can go from BITTER TO BETTER, TO BETTER THAN EVER.

Or, do you really mean it when you say…

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do ALL things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

2

WHY A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY…

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DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WITH YOUR APOLOGY

Has anyone ever embarrassed, hurt or insulted you openly in public? Have you ever done so? Have you ever made public some information about someone later to find out that information was wrong? Have you ever defamed or slandered someone?

For whatever reason, we all openly hurt one another from time to time. Sometimes we do it on purpose, and sometimes it’s unintentional. These ‘public displays of ‘non-affection’ can leave bad impressions and potentially ruin reputations of all parties involved.

Many times when we realize what we’ve done, truly feel sorry and want to apologize.  We’ll pull the person or persons to the side and tell them, “I’m sorry… I was wrong”.

This is good but not good enough…

Acts 16:37 (NKJV)

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

Those who heard or witnessed the embarrassment may still think you were right. Those who heard or witnessed the insult may still be influenced by what you did or said…that public embarrassment deserves a public apology.

I remember growing up in church that sometimes in testimonies, people would stand before the church and proclaim, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt anyone here today, I’m sorry”…if you know who you hurt and what you did, this also is not good enough.

If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough. If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.

If you know what you did and who you did it to, then you need to show enough respect to call out their name.

It’s good to apologize, but if we aren’t careful, we can take the easy way out and not fully respect the person or persons that we have hurt.

 

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Don’t take the easy way out with your apology.
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
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IF YOU’RE STILL GLAD YOU DID IT, THEN GOD HASN’T FORGIVEN YOU…YET.

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We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

 We have all done some things of which we are ashamed…at least I hope so.

Why?

Because our shame is what leads to godly sorrow…which leads to true repentance…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

 Remember that repentance isn’t simply just asking God for forgiveness, but a made up, resolute mind to completely turn from the sin that we’ve committed or have been practicing. Repentance according to Strong’s Concordance literally means “a change of mind”. All sin, no matter how spontaneous, begins with a thought.

Repentance is a legal U-Turn in your mind…

God wants us to REPENT and not REPEAT!

So, it’s good when we have regret of what we did. In fact, we should make the most of our regrets to be better people. Find out more about this in my article, “How to Make the Most of Your Regrets”.

But, what about when we don’t have regrets? What about those things that we’re glad we did?

It may have given us pleasure…

We may have felt vindicated…

We may have ‘gotten even’ with someone…

It might have given us glory…

We may have gained wealth and prominence…

Whatever the reason…you know in your heart that it was WRONG, but you’re still GLAD (sometimes even proud) you did it.

I remember when I was a teenager, I used to have older men come to me and brag about how they used to ‘run the women’ when they were younger…but not in a shameful, “Don’t make the same mistakes I made” type of way. No, they were bragging. They were trying to impress me. It was clear they were still proud of if. Well, if they’ve asked God to forgive them…the sin is still there.

God only forgives us when we repent. Yes, we’ve all gone back and done some things that we had not only asked forgiveness for, but also promised God that we would not do again. He knew when we said it.

But, God knows the difference in a changed mind that really worked hard, and sometimes even struggled not to go back…And, when someone is actually proud of what they did.

God knows when we unexpectedly end up in tempting situations…And, when we actually position ourselves to commit the same sin again.

Think for a moment. Is there a sin in which God hasn’t forgiven you?

If you’re still glad that you did it…

If you know in your heart that you would do it again…

If you think back on it fondly…

If you sometimes brag about it…

If you have no shame…

Then it’s a good chance that you haven’t repented, and if not…that sin is still there.

Think of how you feel when someone has hurt you, and even though they say they’re “sorry”…they continue to do it over and over, or they don’t show any remorse.

That’s evidence that we’re made in God’s image, the fact that we can hurt just as He hurts when done wrong.

You see…we’re like our Father in heaven…

We want people to REPENT and not REPEAT too.

Examine yourself today. If there is sin in your life that you don’t regret. Pray for a repentant heart. Make an effort to have a total change of mind about that sin.

If you don’t regret it because it gave you pleasure…think of how that pleasure hurt God.

If you don’t regret it because you felt vindicated for got even…forgive.

If you don’t regret it because it gave you glory…think of the fact that you were sharing that glory with the devil and not God.

If you don’t regret it because you gained wealth or prominence…use your resources and influence to give glory to God.

Be ashamed enough of what you did that it hurts you to think of yourself doing it again…

Make a legal U-Turn in your mind.

REPENT and don’t REPEAT

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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5 REASONS WE SOMETIMES DON’T WANT TO FORGIVE OTHERS…

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Have you ever been so angry with someone that you didn’t want an apology from them?

“I don’t wanna hear it!” “I’m not ready for that right now!” “You don’t mean it!”

We must always be ready to forgive as God is always ready to forgive us.

Hear are 5 reasons why we sometimes don’t forgive…

FORGIVING THEM TAKES AWAY OUR EXCUSE TO BE ANGRY

Sometimes when we’re honest with ourselves, we want to remain angry about what they have done. True forgiveness takes away our excuse to be angry at them.

Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV)

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [a]clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

REMAINING ANGRY CAN MAKE US FEEL POWERFUL

When we’ve been hurt, it can make us feel weak, vulnerable and foolish. However, our anger can give us a perverse feeling of power and strength over the person or persons who hurt us. Forgiveness can make us feel weak if we don’t remember that it is an act of mercy that makes us look more like God.

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

FORGIVING THEM FORCES US TO MOVE ON

 If we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves getting a sense of ‘enjoyment’ out of lingering in the past and constantly thinking about and dwelling on what was done to hurt us. Sometimes people just don’t want to move forward.

 Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY ( 8 TIPS)…

HOW TO FORGET A PAST THAT YOU CAN’T FORGET…

FORGIVING THEM ALLOWS THEM TO MOVE ON

Forgiveness is a selfless act that frees the offender from the offense, as it does when God forgives us. God gets nothing out of forgiving us for our sins. He does it to free us and allow us to move forward. Sometimes we can have been hurt so badly by someone, that don’t want them to be free of the offense and don’t want them to move on. We can want them to live in a state of perpetual regret for what they’ve done. Forgiving them frees them from owing us an apology. Remember what Yeshua, Christ Jesus said…

 Matthew 6:15  (NKJV)

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

WHY WE SHOULD STOP SAYING, “FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THEM, IT’S FOR YOU…”

FORGIVING THEM ALLOWS THEM TO BE ‘GOOD’ AGAIN

When someone hurts us bad enough, we can find ourselves wanting them to be characterized as bad no matter what they do. Be careful when you feel someone isn’t sincere in their repentance or apology or not worthy of repentance.

Do any of these 5 reasons apply to you?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

1

WHY A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY…

wp-1482415568805.jpg
DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WITH YOUR APOLOGY

Has anyone ever embarrassed, hurt or insulted you openly in public? Have you ever done so? Have you ever made public some information about someone later to find out that information was wrong? Have you ever defamed or slandered someone?

For whatever reason, we all openly hurt one another from time to time. Sometimes we do it on purpose, and sometimes it’s unintentional. These ‘public displays of ‘non-affection’ can leave bad impressions and potentially ruin reputations of all parties involved.

Many times when we realize what we’ve done, truly feel sorry and want to apologize.  We’ll pull the person or persons to the side and tell them, “I’m sorry… I was wrong”.

This is good but not good enough…

Acts 16:37 (NKJV)

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

Those who heard or witnessed the embarrassment may still think you were right. Those who heard or witnessed the insult may still be influenced by what you did or said…that public embarrassment deserves a public apology.

I remember growing up in church that sometimes in testimonies, people would stand before the church and proclaim, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt anyone here today, I’m sorry”…if you know who you hurt and what you did, this also is not good enough.

If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough. If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.

If you know what you did and who you did it to, then you need to show enough respect to call out their name.

It’s good to apologize, but if we aren’t careful, we can take the easy way out and not fully respect the person or persons that we have hurt.

 

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Don’t take the easy way out with your apology.
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
2

ADMITTING TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER…

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Okay, you were hurt. BAD!

Not only that, but you were hurt by someone who loves you. Someone who is close to you. Someone who instead of having your back, instead of scratching your back…stabbed you in it…talked about you behind it…didn’t watch it.

But, you know what the word of God says…

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Plus, the relationship you have with them is important to you. It’s bigger than the betrayal. It’s bigger than the denial. It’s bigger than the pain they caused you, so you make up your mind to forgive them. And, the fact is that you know that as much as people say that you can forgive and not be in relationship anymore, the truth is that no matter how bad we hurt God, He is always willing to forgive us and remain in relationship with us.

Yep, you’re not just saying you forgive them to be SC (Spiritually Correct instead of Politically Correct). You’re aren’t just saying it because it’s the right thing to say. You aren’t even saying it to manipulate God into forgiving you for your sins because you know His forgiving you is based on you forgiving others.

You really forgive them….so why do you still feel ‘some type of way’ about them?

And, the truth is that the pain is not as bad as it once was, but it’s till there. You have to admit to yourself that…

YOU’RE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER THAN YOU WERE…

Is it because looking at them, places, people, songs, smells…things periodically, when you’re mind is not even on what they did brings it all back? Or, is it because you find yourself trying to think about it sometimes?

You really forgive them. You want to. You are consciously trying to. Forgiveness is in your heart. You want to move on as if it never happened…why does it still bother you sometimes?

The fact is that the decision to forgive and proclaiming forgiveness is the easiest, first step. The act of true forgiveness is a process that takes time. Just as much as God is working in you to get over it, the enemy is trying to find ways to make you hold on.

One of the most powerful revelations to obtaining forgiveness and remaining in relationship is when you realize, accept and rejoice in the fact that…

Even though your relationship may never be the same, it could still be better than it was before. Click here to read… JUST BECAUSE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T BE BETTER…

THIS IS POWERFUL…

One of the reasons people remain bitter is when they keep comparing their present relationship to what it was before. Make up your mind that “All things have become new! (sound familiar?)” When you set your mind on building a better relationship on what you have…learned lessons and all, it can actually be better.

When you think about it, this is what God does with us when we accept Yeshua, Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. He knows that the relationship He had with us before will never be the same, but all things are new and it will be better because His Spirit now works in us to convict us of our sins…

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

It takes just as much love to truly repent, humble oneself and ask for forgiveness as it does to forgive.

Come on now, you know how hard it is to say “I’m sorry” sometimes!

So, if you are in the process of getting over something. If you are hurt, but not as hurt. If you are thinking about it less and less… Keep praying, fasting if necessary, and keep nurturing the relationship just as God does you when you ask Him for forgiveness.

And, if you are seeking forgiveness, but it seems they aren’t quite over it. If it’s not quite as bad as it used to be, but they still have their moments… be thankful that it’s getting better. Pray for God to continue to heal their heart, and respect the pain you caused them. Don’t become bitter over their bitterness.

Bitter but better is still progress. Celebrate the  progress, you can go from BITTER TO BETTER, TO BETTER THAN EVER.

Or, do you really mean it when you say…

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do ALL things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

5

WHAT IF WE CELEBRATED A ‘DAY OF RELEASE’ (IN HONOR OF 5782 – THE YEAR OF JUBILEE) …

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LET IT ALL GO!

Families are a blessing, but they come with challenges. We have disagreements, frustrations and unmet expectations. We often hurt the ones we love most.
It’s important that we keep a heart of forgiveness and are willing to LET THINGS GO…CONSTANTLY. This is the only way our families can survive and thrive.
The bible teaches us that the new covenant that Jesus instituted on the cross fulfilled the law, (Jeremiah 31:33, Matthew 5:17, Roman’s 10:4, Hebrews 10:1) and is/was a shadow of things to come.
Jesus encourages us in the “Model Prayer” to ask for forgiveness of our debts (sins, offenses) as we forgive our debtors…

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors

Okay, now consider this…

Deuteronomy 15:1 gave Israel “The Year of Release” (Jubilee)

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. 2 And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.”
As you see God commanded that Israel forgive all outstanding debts of their ‘brothers’ every SEVEN years. Every SEVEN years all debts are to be forgiven. God did this to promote a culture that would discourage poverty and debt. He demanded that the people be more intentional in showing acts of kindness to the poor and warned against hardening their hearts towards them.

September 7, 2020 is the beginning of the Biblical year 5782, which is The Year of Release or Jubilee.

Even though this hasn’t been ‘officially’ observed in the Bible for centuries, God’s reasoning for the principles are still relevant.

What if we in the Body of Christ use that same God-given principle and every seven days institute a Day of Release each week, not to erase financial debts (but that would be great too_, but for FORGIVENESS. Any “DEBT” as mentioned in Matthew 6:12... Any offense or pain that we have been holding on to all week, should be RELEASED.

If you have gone days without speaking, or seeing each other? This is the DAY TO LET IT GO!

Choose a day each week, it doesn’t matter which day, but agree on a day each week that you and your family will agree to RELEASE or LET GO of anything you’ve been holding on to. Even without an apology, this promotes a spirit of forgiveness.

We will always hurt the ones we love, and we don’t all have a spirit of reconciliation at the same time…but true love will always eventually repent. True love will always regret the hurt. Love always wins, when we let it…

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

It is essential that we promote a family culture that facilitates peace…allowing love to work. Get your family together…choose a day…and once a week get together and pray together during your DAY OF RELEASE. Ask God to help you let go of the little things that turn into big things. Ask God to help you reduce the big things to little things.

Agree to that you won’t allow the issues of the previous week carry over into the next. LET IT GO and LIVE!

Finally, commit to be more intentional about showing more kindness towards the poor, without being judgemental. Take advantage of those God-given interactions with the poor to leave behind examples of His love.

PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU IGNORE A HOMELESS PERSON…

HAVE YOU TURNED AWAY LAZARUS?

7 REASONS IT’S A BLESSING TO BE APPROACHED BY A BEGGAR…

HOW DO ‘YOU’ ASK, “WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT TONIGHT?”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

0

A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY

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DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WITH YOUR APOLOGY

Has anyone ever embarrassed, hurt or insulted you openly in public?

Have you ever done so?

Have you ever made public some information about someone later to find out that information was wrong?

Have you ever defamed or slandered someone?

For whatever reason, we all openly hurt one another from time to time. Sometimes we do it on purpose, and sometimes it’s unintentional. These ‘public displays of ‘non-affection’ can leave bad impressions and potentially ruin reputations of all parties involved.

Many times when we realize what we’ve done, truly feel sorry and want to apologize.  We’ll pull the person or persons to the side and tell them, “I’m sorry… I was wrong”. This is good but not good enough…

Acts 16:37 (NKJV)

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

Those who heard or witnessed the embarrassment may still think you were right. Those who heard or witnessed the insult may still be influenced by what you did or said…that public embarrassment deserves a public apology.

I remember growing up in church that sometimes in testimonies, people would stand before the church and proclaim, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt anyone here today, I’m sorry”…if you know who you hurt and what you did, this also is not good enough.

If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough.

If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.

If you know what you did and who you did it to, then you need to show enough respect to call out their name.

It’s good to apologize, but if we aren’t careful, we can take the easy way out and not fully respect the person or persons that we have injured.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Don’t take the easy way out with your apology.

BE EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

3

5 REASONS WE SOMETIMES DON’T WANT TO FORGIVE OTHERS…

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Have you ever been so angry with someone that you didn’t want an apology from them?

“I don’t wanna hear it!” “I’m not ready for that right now!” “You don’t mean it!”

We must always be ready to forgive as God is always ready to forgive us.

Hear are 5 reasons why we sometimes don’t forgive…

FORGIVING THEM TAKES AWAY OUR EXCUSE TO BE ANGRY

Sometimes when we’re honest with ourselves, we want to remain angry about what they have done. True forgiveness takes away our excuse to be angry at them.

Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV)

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [a]clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

REMAINING ANGRY CAN MAKE US FEEL POWERFUL

When we’ve been hurt, it can make us feel weak, vulnerable and foolish. However, our anger can give us a perverse feeling of power and strength over the person or persons who hurt us. Forgiveness can make us feel weak if we don’t remember that it is an act of mercy that makes us look more like God.

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

FORGIVING THEM FORCES US TO MOVE ON

 If we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves getting a sense of ‘enjoyment’ out of lingering in the past and constantly thinking about and dwelling on what was done to hurt us. Sometimes people just don’t want to move forward.

 Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY ( 8 TIPS)…

HOW TO FORGET A PAST THAT YOU CAN’T FORGET…

FORGIVING THEM ALLOWS THEM TO MOVE ON

Forgiveness is a selfless act that frees the offender from the offense, as it does when God forgives us. God gets nothing out of forgiving us for our sins. He does it to free us and allow us to move forward. Sometimes we can have been hurt so badly by someone, that don’t want them to be free of the offense and don’t want them to move on. We can want them to live in a state of perpetual regret for what they’ve done. Forgiving them frees them from owing us an apology. Remember what Yeshua, Christ Jesus said…

 Matthew 6:15  (NKJV)

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

WHY WE SHOULD STOP SAYING, “FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THEM, IT’S FOR YOU…”

FORGIVING THEM ALLOWS THEM TO BE ‘GOOD’ AGAIN

When someone hurts us bad enough, we can find ourselves wanting them to be characterized as bad no matter what they do. Be careful when you feel someone isn’t sincere in their repentance or apology or not worthy of repentance.

Do any of these 5 reasons apply to you?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

24

IF YOU’RE STILL GLAD YOU DID IT, THEN GOD HASN’T FORGIVEN YOU…YET.

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We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

 We have all done some things of which we are ashamed…at least I hope so.

Why?

Because our shame is what leads to godly sorrow…which leads to true repentance…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

 Remember that repentance isn’t simply just asking God for forgiveness, but a made up, resolute mind to completely turn from the sin that we’ve committed or have been practicing. Repentance according to Strong’s Concordance literally means “a change of mind”. All sin, no matter how spontaneous, begins with a thought.

Repentance is a legal U-Turn in your mind…

God wants us to REPENT and not REPEAT!

So, it’s good when we have regret of what we did. In fact, we should make the most of our regrets to be better people. Find out more about this in my article, “How to Make the Most of Your Regrets”.

But, what about when we don’t have regrets? What about those things that we’re glad we did?

It may have given us pleasure…

We may have felt vindicated…

We may have ‘gotten even’ with someone…

It might have given us glory…

We may have gained wealth and prominence…

Whatever the reason…you know in your heart that it was WRONG, but you’re still GLAD (sometimes even proud) you did it.

I remember when I was a teenager, I used to have older men come to me and brag about how they used to ‘run the women’ when they were younger…but not in a shameful, “Don’t make the same mistakes I made” type of way. No, they were bragging. They were trying to impress me. It was clear they were still proud of if. Well, if they’ve asked God to forgive them…the sin is still there.

God only forgives us when we repent. Yes, we’ve all gone back and done some things that we had not only asked forgiveness for, but also promised God that we would not do again. He knew when we said it.

But, God knows the difference in a changed mind that really worked hard, and sometimes even struggled not to go back…And, when someone is actually proud of what they did.

God knows when we unexpectedly end up in tempting situations…And, when we actually position ourselves to commit the same sin again.

Think for a moment. Is there a sin in which God hasn’t forgiven you?

If you’re still glad that you did it…

If you know in your heart that you would do it again…

If you think back on it fondly…

If you sometimes brag about it…

If you have no shame…

Then it’s a good chance that you haven’t repented, and if not…that sin is still there.

Think of how you feel when someone has hurt you, and even though they say they’re “sorry”…they continue to do it over and over, or they don’t show any remorse.

That’s evidence that we’re made in God’s image, the fact that we can hurt just as He hurts when done wrong.

You see…we’re like our Father in heaven…

We want people to REPENT and not REPEAT too.

Examine yourself today. If there is sin in your life that you don’t regret. Pray for a repentant heart. Make an effort to have a total change of mind about that sin.

If you don’t regret it because it gave you pleasure…think of how that pleasure hurt God.

If you don’t regret it because you felt vindicated for got even…forgive.

If you don’t regret it because it gave you glory…think of the fact that you were sharing that glory with the devil and not God.

If you don’t regret it because you gained wealth or prominence…use your resources and influence to give glory to God.

Be ashamed enough of what you did that it hurts you to think of yourself doing it again…

Make a legal U-Turn in your mind.

REPENT and don’t REPEAT

BE BLESSTIFIED!

5

JUST BECAUSE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T BE BETTER…

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Life can take us down some different and difficult roads. Some roads we choose, and some we don’t. Sometimes CRAZY things is our lives, especially our relationships. We sometimes selfishly, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally do things that hurt others who are in relationship with us…sometimes it’s something we feel we ‘can’t come from’ or ‘can’t get past’.

If this is you, I have good news today. God has given you the power to GET PAST ANYTHING. God has given you the power, that despite what happened, life can be EVEN BETTER.

Now, I don’t want to be insensitive to what you have gone through, I’m just sharing God’s truth. The key is really simple…it’s true forgiveness.

The key to forgiveness is the day we make up our mind, “I don’t WANT that to bother me anymore.”

We sometimes hold on to our pain, resentment, rage, grudge because it can make us feel stronger in regard to a situation that made us feel vulnerable and weak.

Some people don’t forgive because it takes away their excuse to be angry.

This may sound oversimplified, but the key is forgiving someone else is telling yourself, I’m tired of surrendering my peace to this, and I DON’T WANT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THIS ANYMORE.

The power is changing how you think of the situation, renewing your mind as in Romans 12:2…

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When this happens, something miraculous happens in your spirit…suddenly thinking of it doesn’t make you feel the same.

Ephesians 4:31.32 let’s us know it’s our responsibility to ” Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. He also told us to be willing to continue to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).

Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

God expects us to forgive as He forgives us (Ephesians 4:32)…

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

That’s the awesome power of true forgiveness! Once you truly forgive, you have tapped into God’s power to free yourself from the pain of the situation. God is very clear here and throughout scripture that it’s our responsibility. If it’s our responsibility, then He has given us the power to do it.

I love 2 Peter 1:3 which proclaims…

2 Peter 1:3

3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

God has given us everything we need to accomplish what He requires of us. So, no matter what happens in your relationships, if you choose to continue those relationships (as God chooses to do when He forgives us), yes things may not ever be he same. Your relationship may not be innocent anymore (as yours with God isn’t), someone may have betrayed you in a way that some say is unforgivable (as we all done with God), someone may have put you to open shame (as we do God) and yes things won’t be THE SAME but when you make up your mind to forgive, and focus on the joy of the relationship and build new memories to replace the old ones, even though THINGS WON’T EVER BE THE SAME, THEY CAN STILL BE BETTER.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

 

 

8

WHY WE SHOULD STOP SAYING, “FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THEM, IT’S FOR YOU…”

How many times have you heard someone say…“Forgiveness isn’t for them, it’s for you”? How many times have you said it?

It sounds good in sermons. It makes us sound deep and profound in conversations. It looks good on social media…

But, it’s simply not true and not biblical. It reduces forgiveness to a selfish act.

Think about it. What does God get out of forgiving us? What’s in it for Him. He’s still God. He’s still Holy. He still has all power. He even still has the fellowship of the angels whether He forgives us or not. So, why does He forgive us?

Because when God forgives us, He does it for US and not HIMSELF.

Granting forgiveness is a SELFLESS act that God commands us to do for one another as He does for us. It’s another way we conform to His character and His image.

It’s mutually beneficial…

It releases the FORGIVEN from the guilt of the offense and releases the FORGIVER from the burden of holding on to what leads to bitterness and wrath.

It is the most powerful tool available to us to maintain good relationships because that’s how God maintains His relationship with us…by continually forgiving us.

Don’t make forgiveness a SELFISH act by approaching it carnally as many well-meaning people do by saying it’s for YOU and not the offender.

That perverts the Holy intent of the GIFT of forgiveness. It’s an extension of His grace towards those in relationship with Him. That’s why the enemy tries to trick you into ‘throwing what’s holy to the dogs’.

And yes, forgiveness is a priceless gift. God doesn’t have to forgive us. Think of how good it feels to be truly sorry and have someone not only tell you that you are forgiven, but you can tell in their actions that they mean it. Forgiveness blesses both parties equally…please don’t approach it selfishly or teach others to do so.

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Yes, granting forgiveness is for you too, but it’s for them first.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

15

WHY A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY…

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DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WITH YOUR APOLOGY

Has anyone ever embarrassed, hurt or insulted you openly in public? Have you ever done so? Have you ever made public some information about someone later to find out that information was wrong? Have you ever defamed or slandered someone?

For whatever reason, we all openly hurt one another from time to time. Sometimes we do it on purpose, and sometimes it’s unintentional. These ‘public displays of ‘non-affection’ can leave bad impressions and potentially ruin reputations of all parties involved.

Many times when we realize what we’ve done, truly feel sorry and want to apologize.  We’ll pull the person or persons to the side and tell them, “I’m sorry… I was wrong”.

This is good but not good enough…

Acts 16:37 (NKJV)

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

Those who heard or witnessed the embarrassment may still think you were right. Those who heard or witnessed the insult may still be influenced by what you did or said…that public embarrassment deserves a public apology.

I remember growing up in church that sometimes in testimonies, people would stand before the church and proclaim, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt anyone here today, I’m sorry”…if you know who you hurt and what you did, this also is not good enough.

If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough. If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.

If you know what you did and who you did it to, then you need to show enough respect to call out their name.

It’s good to apologize, but if we aren’t careful, we can take the easy way out and not fully respect the person or persons that we have hurt.

 

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Don’t take the easy way out with your apology.
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
23

ADMITTING TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER…

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Okay, you were hurt. BAD!

Not only that, but you were hurt by someone who loves you. Someone who is close to you. Someone who instead of having your back, instead of scratching your back…stabbed you in it…talked about you behind it…didn’t watch it.

But, you know what the word of God says…

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Plus, the relationship you have with them is important to you. It’s bigger than the betrayal. It’s bigger than the denial. It’s bigger than the pain they caused you, so you make up your mind to forgive them. And, the fact is that you know that as much as people say that you can forgive and not be in relationship anymore, the truth is that no matter how bad we hurt God, He is always willing to forgive us and remain in relationship with us.

Yep, you’re not just saying you forgive them to be SC (Spiritually Correct instead of Politically Correct). You’re aren’t just saying it because it’s the right thing to say. You aren’t even saying it to manipulate God into forgiving you for your sins because you know His forgiving you is based on you forgiving others.

You really forgive them….so why do you still feel ‘some type of way’ about them?

And, the truth is that the pain is not as bad as it once was, but it’s till there. You have to admit to yourself that…

YOU’RE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER THAN YOU WERE…

Is it because looking at them, places, people, songs, smells…things periodically, when you’re mind is not even on what they did brings it all back? Or, is it because you find yourself trying to think about it sometimes?

You really forgive them. You want to. You are consciously trying to. Forgiveness is in your heart. You want to move on as if it never happened…why does it still bother you sometimes?

The fact is that the decision to forgive and proclaiming forgiveness is the easiest, first step. The act of true forgiveness is a process that takes time. Just as much as God is working in you to get over it, the enemy is trying to find ways to make you hold on.

One of the most powerful revelations to obtaining forgiveness and remaining in relationship is when you realize, accept and rejoice in the fact that…

Even though your relationship may never be the same, it could still be better than it was before. Click here to read… JUST BECAUSE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T BE BETTER…

THIS IS POWERFUL…

One of the reasons people remain bitter is when they keep comparing their present relationship to what it was before. Make up your mind that “All things have become new! (sound familiar?)” When you set your mind on building a better relationship on what you have…learned lessons and all, it can actually be better.

When you think about it, this is what God does with us when we accept Yeshua, Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. He knows that the relationship He had with us before will never be the same, but all things are new and it will be better because His Spirit now works in us to convict us of our sins…

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

It takes just as much love to truly repent, humble oneself and ask for forgiveness as it does to forgive.

Come on now, you know how hard it is to say “I’m sorry” sometimes!

So, if you are in the process of getting over something. If you are hurt, but not as hurt. If you are thinking about it less and less… Keep praying, fasting if necessary, and keep nurturing the relationship just as God does you when you ask Him for forgiveness.

And, if you are seeking forgiveness, but it seems they aren’t quite over it. If it’s not quite as bad as it used to be, but they still have their moments… be thankful that it’s getting better. Pray for God to continue to heal their heart, and respect the pain you caused them. Don’t become bitter over their bitterness.

Bitter but better is still progress. Celebrate the  progress, you can go from BITTER TO BETTER, TO BETTER THAN EVER.

Or, do you really mean it when you say…

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do ALL things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

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DON’T BE SELFISH WHEN YOU FORGIVE…

Watch out when people say, “forgiveness isn’t for them, it’s for you”. When we offend God and He forgives us, He does it for US and not HIM.

Forgiveness is a SELFLESS act that God commands us to do for one another as He does for us. It’s another way we conform to His character and His image. It releases the FORGIVEN from the guilt of the offense and releases the FORGIVER from the burden of holding on to what leads to bitterness and wrath. It is the most powerful tool available to us to maintain good relationships because that’s how God maintains His relationship with us…by continually forgiving us.

Don’t make forgiveness a SELFISH act by approaching it carnally as many well-meaning people do by saying it’s for YOU and not the offender…that’s making something selfish and perverts the Holy intent of the GIFT of forgiveness. That’s what the enemy tries to do, trick you into ‘throwing what’s holy to the dogs.

And yes, forgiveness is a priceless gift. God doesn’t have to forgive us. Think of how good it feels to be truly sorry and have someone not only tell you that you are forgiven, but you can tell in their actions that they mean it. Forgiveness blesses both parties equally…don’t approach it selfishly.

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you

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IF YOU’RE STILL GLAD YOU DID IT, THEN GOD HASN’T FORGIVEN YOU…YET.

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We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

 We have all done some things of which we are ashamed…at least I hope so.

Why?

Because our shame is what leads to godly sorrow…which leads to true repentance…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

 Remember that repentance isn’t simply just asking God for forgiveness, but a made up, resolute mind to completely turn from the sin that we’ve committed or have been practicing. Repentance according to Strong’s Concordance literally means “a change of mind”. All sin, no matter how spontaneous, begins with a thought.

Repentance is a legal U-Turn in your mind…

God wants us to REPENT and not REPEAT!

So, it’s good when we have regret of what we did. In fact, we should make the most of our regrets to be better people. Find out more about this in my article, “How to Make the Most of Your Regrets”.

But, what about when we don’t have regrets? What about those things that we’re glad we did?

It may have given us pleasure…

We may have felt vindicated…

We may have ‘gotten even’ with someone…

It might have given us glory…

We may have gained wealth and prominence…

Whatever the reason…you know in your heart that it was WRONG, but you’re still GLAD (sometimes even proud) you did it.

I remember when I was a teenager, I used to have older men come to me and brag about how they used to ‘run the women’ when they were younger…but not in a shameful, “Don’t make the same mistakes I made” type of way. No, they were bragging. They were trying to impress me. It was clear they were still proud of if. Well, if they’ve asked God to forgive them…the sin is still there.

God only forgives us when we repent. Yes, we’ve all gone back and done some things that we had not only asked forgiveness for, but also promised God that we would not do again. He knew when we said it.

But, God knows the difference in a changed mind that really worked hard, and sometimes even struggled not to go back…And, when someone is actually proud of what they did.

God knows when we unexpectedly end up in tempting situations…And, when we actually position ourselves to commit the same sin again.

Think for a moment. Is there a sin in which God hasn’t forgiven you?

If you’re still glad that you did it…

If you know in your heart that you would do it again…

If you think back on it fondly…

If you sometimes brag about it…

If you have no shame…

Then it’s a good chance that you haven’t repented, and if not…that sin is still there.

Think of how you feel when someone has hurt you, and even though they say they’re “sorry”…they continue to do it over and over, or they don’t show any remorse.

That’s evidence that we’re made in God’s image, the fact that we can hurt just as He hurts when done wrong.

You see…we’re like our Father in heaven…

We want people to REPENT and not REPEAT too.

Examine yourself today. If there is sin in your life that you don’t regret. Pray for a repentant heart. Make an effort to have a total change of mind about that sin.

If you don’t regret it because it gave you pleasure…think of how that pleasure hurt God.

If you don’t regret it because you felt vindicated for got even…forgive.

If you don’t regret it because it gave you glory…think of the fact that you were sharing that glory with the devil and not God.

If you don’t regret it because you gained wealth or prominence…use your resources and influence to give glory to God.

Be ashamed enough of what you did that it hurts you to think of yourself doing it again…

Make a legal U-Turn in your mind.

REPENT and don’t REPEAT

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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YOU CAN FORGIVE ANYTHING…TODAY! #FORGIVENESS

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Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you

 

MORE THAN CONQUERORS (Romans 8:37)

Isn’t it funny how some of us can claim to be more than conquerors…

Be filled with the Holy Spirit…

Blessed and highly favored…

Testifying every time we can get a chance…

Claim, “I love everybody!”…

…And REFUSE to forgive!

We can serve as a deacon, preach every weekend, sing in the choir, give to the poor…BUT WON’T FORGIVE.

There are preachers who get up and preach to some members whose souls they are responsible…and are withholding forgiveness from some of them.

Too many of us are holding on to…

Anger…

Animosity…

Hatred…

Resentment…

Bitterness…

Wrath…

PAIN…

What ever emotions, moods and attitudes that prevent us from FORGIVING.

Withholding forgiveness is one of the enemy’s most successful distractions.

We can’t love like God expects us to when we don’t forgive.

The enemy doesn’t mind you going to church or even serving in the Kingdom of God if you don’t forgive because it dims the light of God in you.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (Matthew 5:14)…We can’t be light if we are DISTRACTED! Being unforgiving is a distraction…

Think about this…

The SUN provides light & the MOON reflects…

Sometimes Moon blocks light from Sun…This is an eclipse.

Sometimes Man blocks light from Son…This is a spiritual eclipse.

Distractions block eclipse our light from the SON…

Anger is a spiritual eclipse…

Bitterness is a spiritual eclipse…

Being unforgiving is a spiritual eclipse!

Our marriages, families…relationships CAN NOT exist WITHOUT forgiveness, but sometimes it’s so hard because of the pain…Because we are flesh.

Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)

41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

God understands we are flesh, but he also expects more from us. It is not God’s will for us to go day in and day out holding on to STUFF!

Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)

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

FORGIVENESS CAN BE A STRUGGLE FOR MOST CHRISTIANS.

We can put effort into ‘conquering’ everything, but forginvenss….getting a house, car, job, promotion, man, woman, getting a closet full of shoes, purses, ties…our neighborhoods full of crime, immorality, poverty, while many Christians are worried about conquering the ‘good life’.

That’s why some of us give, just so we can get….to some giving is a BLE$$ING bill. That’s why sometimes cousins, sisters, brothers  and relatives keep coming asking for money cause that’s the only way God can get some people to spend money on someone besides themselves. Does anyone owe you money and you haven’t forgiven them?

The enemy knows God ONLY forgives us AS we forgive others…(Matthew 6:12)

That means if there is something that you haven’t forgiven someone for…your sin that you asked forgiveness for is still there.

Don’t let someone die before you let them know THEY ARE FORGIVEN!

Is anyone you refuse to forgive WORTH forfeiting your forgiveness over? Don’t let your feelings towards them come between you and God.

Remember, there’s someone out there that you have hurt too…

You may not know what you did, but most of the time you do!

THE ENEMY KNOWS WHAT’S HARDEST FOR YOU TO FORGIVE…

The enemy knows how to present the right situation to you…

The right person…

That one thing that he knows that’s most difficult for you to forgive…

That’s the thing that he will use.

It could be your wife, your husband, your sister or brother, mother or father, best friend…it could be a pastor, that job who fired you, that team that didn’t pick you….you know what it is.

Stop right now and think about that one thing you are still holding on to.

God WANTS…DESIRES…TO FORGIVE US!

Think about how much we hurt God and He forgives us…

Psalm 103:8-12 (NKJV)

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 

We (his church) are the bride of Christ…we ‘cheat on God’ every time we sin/ That’s why I know we can even forgive infidelity.

Every shameful thing done in the presence of His angels supposed to be there to protect you

He is there when we are tempted

He is there when we think about the fact that this is wrong and we still decide to do it

He is there when we do it.

That same conversation that the enemy had with God about Job, he had about you…Consider my servant ____________ !

Job 1:8a (NKJV)

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job…”

God witnesses us every time we cheat on Him…Every time we put Him to open shame…

He is willing to forgive us…

How could He be so willing to forgive? Because He WANTS to forgive us!

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool…

God is practically begging us to come to Him for forgiveness.

 God wants to forgive you! God gets angry, but He doesn’t stay angry!

Psalm 103:8-9 (KKJV)

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

God can forgive us over and over because He DESIRES to do so! And He doesn’t WANT to stay angry.

God CHOOSES to forgive us!

Forgiveness is OUR CHOICE.

You can’t control how people treat you, but you can control how you react.

When we are honest with ourselves, we don’t forgive because WE DON’T WANT TO.. WE want to stay angry!

If we forgive…we take away our ‘excuse’ to be angry…

You can even hear the person who hurt you has made a change for the good, and it can make you angry…you don’t want them to do better. This can lead you to judge them saying, “They’re change isn’t sincere!” You can get to the point that you don’t even care about their salvation.

We don’t want to forgive due to our pain…

We don’t want to forgive because of our pride…

We don’t want to forgive because of our shame…

No matter how heavy it is, uncomfortable it is…we still hold on to it, because we want to do so! When our arms up…after a while we have to put it down, because they get too heavy

That’s what we have to do with our pain…put it down.

How?

Stop asking God to TAKE AWAY what He told you to PUT DOWN!

If your spouse is cheating, and you love them, do you want to make them stop, or for them to stop on their own?

Notice God Always tells you to put it down…

Colossians 3:8 (NKJV)

But now YOU YOURSELVES are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

FORGIVENESS IS EASIER THAN YOU MAY THINK! AND WHEN IT HAPPENS…IT’S INSTANT!

No matter how slow or gradual any transition may seem…when you think about it, the change…the moment of change…the instant of change…no matter how minute the shift in thought or direction – THE CHANGE IS ALWAYS INSTANT!

MAKE UP YOUR MIND, AND IT WILL CHANGE!

This is simple but powerful…

TELL YOURSELF AND MAKE UP OUR MIND… “I DON’T WANT TO BE MAD ABOUT THAT ANYMORE!”

I’m tired of being angry…

I’m tired of being sad…

I’m tired of being bitter…

I’m tired of being resentful…

I’m tired of avoiding them…

I’m tired of wanting everybody else to be mad at them too…

I REFUSE TO FEEL THIS WAY ANYMORE!!!!!

Romans 12…Be transformed by the renewing of you MIND!

Refuse to let your emotions dictate how you feel and behave.

Controlling your EMOTIONS is the closest you can come to controlling your world.

Hebrews 12…How did Jesus react to Emotion? He “scorned” the shame of the cross for the “joy” thats set before him.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry….it will go away.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry….you can forgive.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry…you can forget.

Let me define forget…you will still think of it, but not the same way! You will forget that frame of mind…such as “What was I thinking when I dated him or her!”

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry…you won’t even need an apology.

Why do you not need an apology? Because God still keeps showing you His love and kindness…even when you haven’t apologized or repented…

He keeps letting your heart beat…

He keeps feeding you and letting you live in the home He provided…

He keeps giving you strength to work…

He keeps on protecting you from harm…

He’s willing to forgive, even when He knows you will do it again.

One of the best exercises you can have in patience is to hold it together when you are being mistreated. Going on without an apology…showing character and patience of God will help you grow.

Once you make up your mind, and REFUSE to be angry…you can actually feel sorry for the one who hurt you. GUESS what? You are doing what God does! You are learning to love and learning to forgive like GOD!

That’s how you can even feel sorry for your enemies.

Jesus died on the cross to give the opportunity of salvation to those He knew would not only ask appreciate it, ask Him for forgiveness, or even believe in Him.

Exercise in forgiveness…Pray for God’s Spirit and Get a picture or go to a place, whatever reminds you of your pain. And practice looking at it and telling yourself..I don’t want to be mad at you…I don’t want to be bitter…sad and tell yourself that you won’t…

That’s what God does to us.

Sometimes people will try you back acting like they DON’T APPRECIATE YOUR FORGIVENESS…Be strong, cause that’s how we treat God sometimes.

Let your light shine…Get back your peace….Forgive as God is willing to forgive you!

YOU CAN GET OVER ANYTHING…TODAY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY…(Public Displays of Non-Affection)

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DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WITH YOUR APOLOGY

Has anyone ever embarrassed, hurt or insulted you openly in public? Have you ever done so? Have you ever made public some information about someone later to find out that information was wrong? Have you ever defamed or slandered someone?

For whatever reason, we all openly hurt one another from time to time. Sometimes we do it on purpose, and sometimes it’s unintentional. These ‘public displays of ‘non-affection’ can leave bad impressions and potentially ruin reputations of all parties involved.

Many times when we realize what we’ve done, truly feel sorry and want to apologize.  We’ll pull the person or persons to the side and tell them, “I’m sorry… I was wrong”. This is good but not good enough…

Acts 16:37 (NKJV)

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

Those who heard or witnessed the embarrassment may still think you were right. Those who heard or witnessed the insult may still be influenced by what you did or said…that public embarrassment deserves a public apology.

I remember growing up in church that sometimes in testimonies, people would stand before the church and proclaim, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt anyone here today, I’m sorry”…if you know who you hurt and what you did, this also is not good enough.

If you know that you slapped someone in the face, simply saying, “I’m sorry IF I hurt you” isn’t enough. If you slandered someone, making a blanket statement to a group that, “If I hurt SOMEONE, I’m sorry” is just not enough.

If you know what you did and who you did it to, then you need to show enough respect to call out their name.

 

It’s good to apologize, but if we aren’t careful, we can take the easy way out and not fully respect the person or persons that we have injured.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Don’t take the easy way out with your apology.
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
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BOOMER-ANGER

REBLOGGING IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

wp-1480608887112.jpgYou’ve seen it happen before. Anger always comes back…usually harder.
Words and actions released in anger always come back, but rarely return in peace. Only love can cool anger’s searing heat. Put anger in check before it turns into wrath, because even though love conquers wrath, sometimes the damage remains. Wrath kills…both figuratively and literally.  Anger is a seed, if it is used wisely, it can ignite passion that allows love to diffuse the anger and plant seeds that lead to good fruit…Such as being angry enough at wrong to do something about it…Such as not returning an insult, can end an argument and lead to a lifelong friendship.

If anger is not put in check, it ignites emotions that allow wrath to plant weeds instead of fruit…Such as returning an insult can lead to a fight, and animosity that lasts for years and spreads to others…anger is a…

View original post 84 more words

0

JUST BECAUSE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T BE BETTER…

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Life can take us down some different and difficult roads. Some roads we choose, and some we don’t. Sometimes CRAZY things is our lives, especially our relationships. We sometimes selfishly, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally do things that hurt others who are in relationship with us…sometimes it’s something we feel we ‘can’t come from’ or ‘can’t get past’.

If this is you, I have good news today. God has given you the power to GET PAST ANYTHING. God has given you the power, that despite what happened, life can be EVEN BETTER. Now, I don’t want to be insensitive to what you have gone through, I’m just sharing God’s truth. The key is really simple…it’s true forgiveness. The key to forgiveness is the day we make up our mind, “I don’t WANT that to bother me anymore.”

We sometimes hold on to our pain, resentment, rage, grudge because it can make us feel stronger in regard to a situation that made us feel vulnerable and weak.

Some people don’t forgive because it takes away their excuse to be angry.

This may sound oversimplified, but the key is forgiving someone else is telling yourself, I’m tired of surrendering my peace to this, and I DON’T WANT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THIS ANYMORE.

The power is changing how you think of the situation, renewing your mind as in Romans 12:2…

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When this happens, something miraculous happens in your spirit…suddenly thinking of it doesn’t make you feel the same.

Ephesians 4:31.32 let’s us know it’s our responsibility to ” Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. He also told us to be willing to continue to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).

Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

God expects us to forgive as He forgives us (Ephesians 4:32)…

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

That’s the awesome power of true forgiveness! Once you truly forgive, you have tapped into God’s power to free yourself from the pain of the situation. God is very clear here and throughout scripture that it’s our responsibility. If it’s our responsibility, then He has given us the power to do it.

I love 2 Peter 1:3 which proclaims…

2 Peter 1:3

3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

God has given us everything we need to accomplish what He requires of us. So, no matter what happens in your relationships, if you choose to continue those relationships (as God chooses to do when He forgives us), yes things may not ever be he same. Your relationship may not be innocent anymore (as yours with God isn’t), someone may have betrayed you in a way that some say is unforgivable (as we all done with God), someone may have put you to open shame (as we do God) and yes things won’t be THE SAME but when you make up your mind to forgive, and focus on the joy of the relationship and build new memories to replace the old ones, even though THINGS WON’T EVER BE THE SAME, THEY CAN STILL BE BETTER.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

 

 

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DON’T BE SELFISH WHEN YOU FORGIVE…

Watch out when people say, “forgiveness isn’t for them, it’s for you”. When we offend God and He forgives us, He does it for US and not HIM.

Forgiveness is a SELFLESS act that God commands us to do for one another as He does for us. It’s another way we conform to His character and His image. It releases the FORGIVEN from the guilt of the offense and releases the FORGIVER from the burden of holding on to what leads to bitterness and wrath. It is the most powerful tool available to us to maintain good relationships because that’s how God maintains His relationship with us…by continually forgiving us.

Don’t make forgiveness a SELFISH act by approaching it carnally as many well-meaning people do by saying it’s for YOU and not the offender…that’s making something selfish and perverts the Holy intent of the GIFT of forgiveness. That’s what the enemy tries to do, trick you into ‘throwing what’s holy to the dogs.

And yes, forgiveness is a priceless gift. God doesn’t have to forgive us. Think of how good it feels to be truly sorry and have someone not only tell you that you are forgiven, but you can tell in their actions that they mean it. Forgiveness blesses both parties equally…don’t approach it selfishly.
Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you

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YOU BETTER FIND A WAY TO LOVE THEM…

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God doesn’t love your enemy any LESS than He loves you.

The enemy is working hard to provoke us to disappoint God. One of his methods is manipulating interactions and relationships to convince us to hate someone else. Or, even if we don’t hate them (at least that’s what we say) we definitely don’t LOVE THEM.

The enemy doesn’t just try to convince us to hate your ‘enemies’, but he tries to convince us to hate people we once loved…

Spouses…

Brothers…

Sisters…

Parents…

Friends…

People who you know and don’t know…

Coworkers…

Pastor…

Officials…

Police officers…

Racists…

Other cultures…

Other nationalities…

Other religions…

Other lifestyles…

No matter who they are, what they do, or what they’ve done…

Even if they’ve hurt you…even if they hurt your loved ones…even if they hate you…

Even if they are living outside of the will of God…

You better FIND A WAY to love them.

Even if they’re your enemy, God made them too. He wants them to come to repentance just like you.

In fact, God doesn’t love your enemy ANY LESS than he loves you.

Sometimes, when we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve even given them a GOOD reason to feel ‘some type of way’ about us.

God commanded that we love everybody, no matter what.

FIND A WAY TO LOVE THEM..

Look into their eyes and see one of God’s children…

Pray for them.

God expects nothing less than WE love them…JUST as He loves US.

John 13:34New King James Version (NKJV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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