Forgive Others

 

Colossians 3:12-14 "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Loving and forgiving one another is one of the hardest tasks that God asks us Christians to do, and yet it is a very central part of our faith. As it says in Colossians 3:12-14, God calls us to love one another and to forgive one another. However, when one is experiencing pain, hurt, and brokenness, forgiving someone who has caused that hurt and pain doesn't seem fair. Pain, hurt, anger, and brokenness can chain one to the ground. It can bring discontent and unrest to one's soul and heart. There is a tendency to focus on oneself, elevating the unforgivable act that gives one no peace, no joy, and no contentment. Satan is good at manipulating and convincing people not to forgive, not let go of the bitterness and anger, and not let go of one's pride.

Pride is in bed with unforgiveness because it calls for one to admit that they have messed up and have wronged a person or that one has failed in forgiving a person. Bitterness and hatred can begin to grow and take hold of one's heart and soul, which in effect can hinder one from being a spokesperson for Christ and being an example of Christ. One must call on God to empower them to forgive. A person cannot truly forgive on their own strength, but only by God's strength can one forgive. Why? Because we are human, weak, and wretched. Place all of your pain, hurt, anger and brokenness into God's hands. Call on God to help you love and forgive those who have hurt you, and He will fill you with an amazing peace. Not only that, it will show others how Christ resides in you.

Remember what Christ said when he was dying on the cross in Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Even after everything the people put him through,(they mocked him, they spitted on him, they beat and flogged him, and they nailed him to the cross), he was still asking the Father to forgive them. Forgive, just as He has forgiven you. Let Him heal your shattered heart, wipe away your tears, and bring rest to your heart, soul, and mind.

Heavenly Father,

You are the Peacemaker, Trustworthy, Faithful, and True. You are loving, patient, and forgiving. Even though we struggle with obstacles of our sinful nature, such as forgiveness, that hinder us from serving you and being an example like You, You never stop loving us, and You are always there for us. Help us Lord, to place all of our pain, hurt, and brokenness into your hands. Give us strength and heal our hearts. 

In Jesus precious name,

Amen.

Prayer that you all have a blessed week!

Carol Moore

Rest in Him

Is fear the core of your life? Is fear hampering your life? Is fear and anxiety eating away at you and driving you to think and do things that you normally would never do?

The root of fear is unbelief. Unbelief in what? Unbelief that there is a God. A God that is sovereign and in control. A God that loves you despite all your failings. A God who wants you to turn to Him during your times of fear. To rest in Him.  To rely in Him instead of yourself.  In Matthew 8:25-26, a fierce storm has struck a lake that the disciples and Jesus are sailing across. Jesus is asleep. The disciples are frightened. Fearful that they will drown. The disciples’ plea with Jesus to save them from the storm. Jesus awakes and tells them “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith?” Jesus immediately rebukes the wind and the waves, and all is calm. All is at peace.

If you allow it, fear will crush your heart, soul and mind. It will rule and consume your life and you will never experience an inner peace, nor a quietness, unless you believe and rest in the Lord.

The enemy is good at driving fear through the media, government, people, a virus. Don’t let fear conquer you. Don’t let fear consume you. Don’t let fear have the victory. Put your fear into the Lord’s hands and let Him fill you with peace. Let Him calm the storm that is raging through you. Trust in Jesus. Trust that all that He did on the cross was for you, for everyone. Get to know Him and you will experience and inner peace that will flood your heart and soul.

Rest in Him.

O Mighty God,

We lift the world up into your hands. A world that is suffering from a pandemic. A pandemic that is crushing and smothering lives with fear, that is causing our loved ones and friends to die. Many people our suffering from this pandemic and we ask that you quell the fear that is taken hold of people’s lives, to bring comfort, to bring relief and to instill an supernatural inner peace to us all. We pray that you will provide for peoples needs, heal those who are struck down with this virus and help give strength, energy and peace to those who are combating it and trying to save people’s lives. Help us to endure this passing storm and help us to never lose hope in You.

Amen.

Love and Blessings,
Carol