Gotta be more thankful....

ouch...ouch...ouch...time to get more thankful

Source: pinterest.com via Michelle on Pinterest

On the Road to Forgiveness

How many of us have been lied on, cheated on, talked about, mistreated, abandoned, misled, deceived, mocked, scorned, betrayed and just hurt by the actions of another? If I probably asked this in a classroom, every single person’s hands would be raised.  This life, it is brings about lots of hurts and sorrows, but with that fact as well how we handle them will tell if we will be able to go and live an abundant life or be stuck mentally and spiritually in the hurts of the past, present hurts and already erected walls we think will protect us from future hurts. 

Myself, like any other has experienced my share of hurts.  For years even as a little girl I remember being at a point where I actually held on to a grudge against a friend of mine from the 4^th grade to the 9^th grade, that is one example of how the spirit of unforgiveness heavily influenced and impacted my life negatively. To this day I don’t even remember the reason why I was mad at her.  As I got older I started recognizing the spirit operating in my life with past relationships, friendships and everyday interactions with other people.  With every hurt, I erected a wall in my heart to try to protect myself from another injury.  Each time these attacks would come with a boyfriend, then a best friend, my parents, etc. The attacks got more prevalent and would try to take me out because it was using vessels that I cared for a lot.  I sat and looked around and started to feel a closing up again, a distaste, a disdain, and I know I didn’t want to go there again.

This time around, I have recognized it like never before, recent events made me face that spirit again, and this time I am so tired of dealing with it, instead of worrying about I will operate in the Word of Christ. I don’t know about you but I get tired of old sins and old habits popping, up and seeming like its totally different but it is the same mess, same spirit but different vessel.

I choose to act in forgiveness, I choose to love my enemies, I choose to pray for those that despitefully use me.  Why? Because God commanded it in His Word.  Who says that it feels good or that I feel like doing that, all the flesh that is in me is like there is no way you can do good to those that hurt you. 

But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

(Mat 5:44-45 MKJV)

 But to be obedient is better than sacrifice. So I rather be obedient than to sacrifice the future God has for me. I rather be obedient than to be placed back on square one of my spiritual journey. I rather be obedient than to sacrifice yet another soul to the pits of hell, not only to the one that hurt me but then to myself.  A soul is worth more than any and everything than one could ever imagine, so I rather be obedient so God can get the total and full glory.

And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice! To listen is better than the fat of rams!

(1Sa 15:22 MKJV)

My feelings may not change overnight, but then they could. It’s a process that I must start walking in, and honestly since I know how to fight this war more effectively than I have in the past, because I know the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, I know to use the Word, and rely on the Holy Spirit to help me through.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

(2Co 10:3-5 KJV)

And the thing is that all these hurts that I have experienced in no way can exceed the level of hurt and betrayal that Jesus faced as He hung on the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of you and me.  He was perfect and was still persecuted. He was lied on, but He still went and died and layed in the tomb for us.  He was spit on but He still went on and got suspended up in the air on the cross to make us clean.  He was betrayed, but he still chose to barrage the pits of hell to grab our souls from the clutches of Satan.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

(Mat 5:11-12 KJV)

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

(2Co 4:8-10 KJV)

So forgiveness is what I choose to do.  I shall remember to rely on the Word to get me through every situation because God knows and has given me the strength and power to win every battle.