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

Time for a Spiritual Check-up

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Psalm119:10-11

Psalm 119 is a Psalm that glorifies God and His Word. It is passionately written by one who truly loves the Lord. The Psalmist states in verses 10-11, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

How often do we get into a spiritual rut where our hearts no longer seek God? We let the world slowly ease in and infiltrate into our lives, and the world’s ways slowly become our heart's desire, replacing God’s ways. God is no longer the central focus of our lives, nor are His commandments hidden in our hearts. A thick wall of plaque and grime has encased around our hearts in which His Word cannot penetrate through.

Does His Word penetrate through your heart? Do you seek the Lord with all of your heart? Have you wandered away from His commandments? Do your words and actions bring glory to God? Do you harbor ill will, bitterness, hatred, or unforgiveness towards others? Are you kind, loving, and empathetic towards others?  Does your heart beat for God or yourself? Are you growing in the Word? Are you praying regularly? This list of questions could go on and on. None to say there are times in our lives we need to stop and examine our hearts and ask these questions. We need to self-discipline ourselves and feed our spirits, so that we do not clog up our hearts with sin, apathy, complacency, and the world.  

Our clogged hearts can be shown in our words and actions. If we allow the sinful worldly plaque to build up around our hearts, and not maintain a healthy heart line to God, our hearts will not be one with Him. Your heart will become a hardened wall of plaque that is deaf and blind to His Word. Therefore, your words and actions may not be holy or godly. We need to do periodic spiritual check-ups, so we do not fall to the wayside, and so the wall of plaque does not form around our hearts.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your Word. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that guides us, comforts us, and encourages us. Help us to keep Your Word hidden within our hearts and to obey it. Help us to keep our hearts free from the plaque of the world so that we may heed Your call and serve You and bring glory to You. And Lord please give us the grace to seek you continually with our whole hearts.

Amen.

Love and Blessings,

Carol

Struggling to Have a Heart like Jesus

stock photo by Lightstock

Struggling to Have a Heart like Jesus

A Christian thought to ponder ...

Have you ever had God speak to you through certain passages within the Bible, through a study, a devotion, a sermon, or even through a song? Usually, the message is about something you need to correct within yourself. Well, more than anything in this world, I want to have a heart like Jesus. Today, I followed a rabbit trail and discovered something amazing and enlightening. For the first time, the light clicked on, and the Lord revealed an amazing truth to me.

I have always had this emboldened image in my mind as to what a person with a heart like Jesus should be like - a bubbly, outgoing, sociable person who had an angelic glow. A person who was always giving and serving. In my eyes, I have failed in achieving to be like such a person. I thought, I will never have a heart like Jesus, for I am so imperfect. I am at a loss as to what my gifts are, and I am not sure where to serve as I am shy, I lack the gift of speaking, I lack knowledge of the Word, and I have health issues. I am dirt poor which makes it hard for me to give or do anything to help out. How can I do His will and have a heart like His when I failed in all these areas? I thought to myself, Lord God, I am not perfect, and it is way too hard of a struggle for me to become like this person.

However, the Lord uses the struggles we go through in life to shape and mold us into being just like Him. I let the enemy’s tactics that plague this world throw fear, shame, doubt, ignorance, and envy at me to bring me down and interfere with what the number one goal of every Christian should be – to have a heart like Jesus and to be Christlike in all ways. Why? Because I have been so hung up on the struggle to become like this perfect person that I forgot that there is no perfect person. Jesus was the only perfect person that ever walked on this earth. None of us will ever be perfect. If we were perfect, none of us would have to seek God for help, guidance, comfort, and wisdom. It is important for us to remember Philippians 4:13 (KJV), “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The Lord will provide us with the strength to get us through the struggles in our lives. As we depend on Him and seek Him daily through His Word and prayer, the more we will begin to be more like Him and to have a heart like His. If we lack the will and diligence and are bound and determined to have our feet in two worlds (this world and the world in which our Lord resides), we will never discover what it means to have a heart like Jesus and the enemy of this world will hold us back and will delight in seeing us fall and crumble.

The enemy knows I will never measure up. We all fall short of the glory of God. But to strive to be like Jesus and have a heart like Jesus can be shown in many ways daily and throughout our lives; For instance, it can be a smile, a hug, a touch, a prayer, an anonymous donation, providing a meal, or a helping hand. These little acts of kindness can touch someone's heart and show someone that they are thought of and loved. Sometimes we are limited in what we can do or say because of a disability, but that does not matter to Jesus. It does not mean we do not have a heart like Jesus or that it will prevent us from having one. We need only abide his commandment as it states in John 13: 34-35 (KJV), “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.”

It is important to remember that the enemy does not want us to love one another, be like Christ, or do God’s will. The enemy wants us to be torn, confused, and inflict emotional pain upon one another. The enemy’s goal is to keep us from loving like Christ. We need to guard our hearts against the enemy, seek the Lord daily and ask him to put a hedge of protection around all of our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

We will continue to walk through this world, facing struggles as we strive to be more like Christ, but if we cast our worries upon Him, obey, and do His will, He will take care of our hearts.

Father God,

Please give us a heart that overflows with love for each other. A heart that is like Yours and one that long’s for Your will and not the enemy’s will. Help us to protect our hearts from the enemy’s attacks that would prevent us from having a loving heart like Yours. Enshroud us with Your love; help us to make You the focus of everything in that we do daily. Guide us, direct us and help us in our time of need.

Amen.

Love to you all and God Bless!

Carol