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The only way to defeat a spirit is with the opposite spirit. Love defeats hate. Praise defeats negativity. Generosity defeats greed. Try it. Pastor Jimmy EvansI might add the only way to defeat hurt is to forgive.
I know. I'm struggling to forgive right now. I don't want to forgive. I want revenge. I want to hurt the ones who hurt me. I want to lash out. Prove my point. Take a stand for justice. I want to force them to look at their actions from my point of view and admit their mistakes.
I also know that revenge, lashing out, and taking a stand rarely lead to my desired result. Such action usually leads to more hurt. Bigger problems. Deeper wounds.
Luke 6:31 says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." What if it was me? What if I had been the one to do the hurting? Would I want my face shoved in it? No. Would I want to be humiliated? No. Would I want a tongue lashing or a lecture? No.
Would any of that change me? Sadly, no. I'd become more defensive. I'd reject me. I'd judge me a lunatic and disregard anything that ever came from my mouth again. I'd lose my integrity with me. I'd never want to talk to me again.
Jesus tells us when we are hurt to forgive, seven times seventy, forgive. (Matt. 18:22). I know Jesus' way is right. I know I've forgiven deep hurts in the past. I know that such forgiveness leads to deep peace, wholeness, oneness with God. Yet... today... I'm not quite there.
Dear God,
I look in the mirror, and I see my pain. My hurt. My unforgiveness. I know You want me to forgive. I know You are in control of even this. Please help me get there. Thank You for putting Pastor Jimmy's words before me this morning. Thank you for Matthew 18:22. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins, even the sin of unforgiveness. You have wrapped me in Your truth. Help me take that step to say, "I forgive." Help me let it go and move on. Help me focus on you and not on me. Help me remember how much greater your sacrifice was than my problem is. I know that with you by my side, I will forgive. Please help me do it today and not hold a grudge.
In Jesus' precious name I pray,
Amen
8 comments:
Your words are just what I needed this morning! The Lord has been revealing areas where I have been holding onto hurt and letting bitterness seep in and your prayer was absolutely perfect for me today!
Thank you so much for blessing me!
I absolutely love the honesty in this blog. I have also struggled with unforgiveness and after many, many years have just started to understand it. Believe me when I say, I will be praying for you.
Thank you, ladies.
God always amazes me. Whatever I go through, HE has the power to redeem it and use it to make something better.
I'm still hurting today, but I claim the power to forgive... and just as importantly, the power to let go. I know God will see me -- and all of us -- through.
May His peace fill all our hearts.
Matthew 5:44-45
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father..."
I heard this in Mass on Sunday and it seems like you are experiencing an opportunity to practice this. It is the hardest thing to do! Rest in the knowledge that your heavenly Father sees what they have done to you and you can release it all to Him.
May God's grace and peace be with you today.
Misty,
Thank you for that verse. I'm getting there! Read today's post (Friendship! It's a Gift). I appreciate everyone's encouragement and support.
To those I've never met, I look forward to some hugs and high fives when we all get to heaven.
Much love,
Karen
How do you help someone who is a christian that has been hurt by other christians they thought were their friends?
Dear Anonymous,
I can only answer that by sharing what helped me. It's hard to be hurt by a Christian friend, because we expect -- or at least hope -- that they'll love us like Jesus does. Completely and without reservation.
The truth is -- I am thankful for the many friends who reminded me gently of this recently -- is that Christians are NOT perfect. We are NOT Jesus. We're just learning to love more like Him. Sometimes we get short-sighted. Sometimes we just don't think about the other person's point of view. When that happens, it leads to hurt.
My "responsibility" is to look beyond that friend to God's redemptive love. My "responsibility" is to love that imperfect person the way God would. He is patient with me when I don't want to forgive. He is patient with me when I mess up. I need to extend that same patience to my friend who hurts me.
The difference in Christian living is GRACE. Love we don't deserve. Jesus died a death He didn't deserve just for me. And you. As a Christian community, can we extend that same grace to those who hurt us? I hope so. It's that radical, forgiving love that matters most.
I'm not quick to forgive, but I am learning to follow God and forgive because it's right. The "feelings" of forgiveness do come though. I know. I'm walking that this week.
May God bless you and may your friend find the strength to forgive.
In Christ,
Karen
Well written ~ no doubt about it our 'ego' wants to hold on and the Spirit ~ says let go ~ and let's treat others as we would have them treat us ~ day at a time ~ whatever your religious beliefs ~ blessings to you and thanks for posting on my blog ~ ^_^
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