"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Psalm 32:1 ESV
Over the past few weeks I have found myself reflecting on the power of God's grace to cover every thing that I have ever done wrong in my life, past, present, and future. If you want to see a truly happy person you need look no further than one that has just been forgiven of something that they did. They wear their joy in their faces and you can tell that regret no longer has a hold on them. It is a beautiful thing.
Although, the reconciliation that I am talking about is when you forgive someone that has wronged you. When you hold onto a hurt it plants a seed in your heart called bitterness. And trust me when I tell you, it can hold any good person captive and ruin their lives. Bitterness grows from not forgiving others when they do you wrong or hurt you. You can't become who God intends you to be when you hang on to these things. If you do, life will be like trying to drag race with your parking brake set.
God shows us what it is like to live at perfect peace. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are in complete and constant harmony with each other and it gives us a glimpse of what a life in which we reconcile our problems with others can be. We often hurt other people, even when we don't realize it, but when we withhold forgiveness from others, we keep relationships broken that could thrive again and it stunts our growth. Paul says in Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We are forgiven freely thus we must freely forgive. It is something that is so easily said but so hard to do,
The first part of living a life of reconciliation is to fully embrace the power of forgiveness and to be so sure that there is no seeds of bitterness in your heart against anyone or anything. When we don't forgive, we throw other people into a sort of debt that they can never get out of on their own. In Mark 11:25 Jesus says, "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Jesus tells us to forgive or we can't be truly forgiven. His desire is that there be absolutely no bitterness within us what so ever. God doesn't want you to allow the sins of the past, yours or anyone else's, to keep you from your purpose. Strong relationships don't happen because people don't hurt each other, they happen because the people in that relationship, whether a marriage or a friendship of 25 years, keep on forgiving each other no matter what. Never allow the junk in your life to junk up your heart.
You might ask, "How am I supposed to forgive them? You have no idea what they did to me!" You begin to forgive by letting go of what they did. You have to forgive the same way that Jesus forgave you, freely and willingly. Jesus laid His life down willingly for us so that we could all experience the freedom that forgiveness offers. Romans 12:19 says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Along with letting it go you have to give it up. You have to ask God to forgive you for refusing to forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiveness doesn't mean that you don't have the right to confront them about what they have done. The key is that you should confront them as one who has been forgiven, not as a bitter judge.
Trust me when I tell you that when you truly forgive someone it will be as a large weight has been removed from around your neck. The anger that you once felt will ultimately turn into compassion. Instead of feeling hate for them you will begin to feel sorry for them but you will cease to be angry with them.
The other part of reconciliation is going to someone that you have wronged. Humble yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you so that you can seek out that person's forgiveness. Ask God to give you the humility that you will need to seek their forgiveness. Focus yourself on what you did to them and their pain. The person you wronged will be more apt to listen you and ultimately forgive you if they know that you have considered their pain as a real offense. If they are unresponsive, simply be patient and pray for God to intercede on your behalf.
God blesses those who stay close to Him and have a hunger to be right with Him and others. Relationships become stronger when we apologize and true forgiveness takes place. Life is too short to carry around grudges and old wounds. Don't allow another day to go by that you don't seek to reconcile those broken relationships because one day you won't be able to any more. Forgive before it's too late.
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Romans 12:17-18 ESV
Over the past few weeks I have found myself reflecting on the power of God's grace to cover every thing that I have ever done wrong in my life, past, present, and future. If you want to see a truly happy person you need look no further than one that has just been forgiven of something that they did. They wear their joy in their faces and you can tell that regret no longer has a hold on them. It is a beautiful thing.
Although, the reconciliation that I am talking about is when you forgive someone that has wronged you. When you hold onto a hurt it plants a seed in your heart called bitterness. And trust me when I tell you, it can hold any good person captive and ruin their lives. Bitterness grows from not forgiving others when they do you wrong or hurt you. You can't become who God intends you to be when you hang on to these things. If you do, life will be like trying to drag race with your parking brake set.
God shows us what it is like to live at perfect peace. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are in complete and constant harmony with each other and it gives us a glimpse of what a life in which we reconcile our problems with others can be. We often hurt other people, even when we don't realize it, but when we withhold forgiveness from others, we keep relationships broken that could thrive again and it stunts our growth. Paul says in Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We are forgiven freely thus we must freely forgive. It is something that is so easily said but so hard to do,
The first part of living a life of reconciliation is to fully embrace the power of forgiveness and to be so sure that there is no seeds of bitterness in your heart against anyone or anything. When we don't forgive, we throw other people into a sort of debt that they can never get out of on their own. In Mark 11:25 Jesus says, "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Jesus tells us to forgive or we can't be truly forgiven. His desire is that there be absolutely no bitterness within us what so ever. God doesn't want you to allow the sins of the past, yours or anyone else's, to keep you from your purpose. Strong relationships don't happen because people don't hurt each other, they happen because the people in that relationship, whether a marriage or a friendship of 25 years, keep on forgiving each other no matter what. Never allow the junk in your life to junk up your heart.
You might ask, "How am I supposed to forgive them? You have no idea what they did to me!" You begin to forgive by letting go of what they did. You have to forgive the same way that Jesus forgave you, freely and willingly. Jesus laid His life down willingly for us so that we could all experience the freedom that forgiveness offers. Romans 12:19 says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Along with letting it go you have to give it up. You have to ask God to forgive you for refusing to forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiveness doesn't mean that you don't have the right to confront them about what they have done. The key is that you should confront them as one who has been forgiven, not as a bitter judge.
Trust me when I tell you that when you truly forgive someone it will be as a large weight has been removed from around your neck. The anger that you once felt will ultimately turn into compassion. Instead of feeling hate for them you will begin to feel sorry for them but you will cease to be angry with them.
The other part of reconciliation is going to someone that you have wronged. Humble yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you so that you can seek out that person's forgiveness. Ask God to give you the humility that you will need to seek their forgiveness. Focus yourself on what you did to them and their pain. The person you wronged will be more apt to listen you and ultimately forgive you if they know that you have considered their pain as a real offense. If they are unresponsive, simply be patient and pray for God to intercede on your behalf.
God blesses those who stay close to Him and have a hunger to be right with Him and others. Relationships become stronger when we apologize and true forgiveness takes place. Life is too short to carry around grudges and old wounds. Don't allow another day to go by that you don't seek to reconcile those broken relationships because one day you won't be able to any more. Forgive before it's too late.
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Romans 12:17-18 ESV
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