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Wednesday, October 27, 2021

I Can Forgive Before I Trust

In Romans 12:19 I read, Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. ‘I'll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I'll take care of it.'" (The Message)


What’s keeping me from forgiving someone who’s hurt me? If I’ve been hurt deeply, I may hesitate to forgive because I’m not ready to trust that person again. I need to understand that forgiveness and trust do not necessarily go hand in hand.


Forgiveness does not mean there needs to be an instant restoration of trust. Forgiveness is instant; trust must be rebuilt over time. Forgiveness is based on grace; trust is built on works. I earn trust; I don’t earn forgiveness.


Many people don’t want to forgive others because they think they’d have to trust them again. But that’s not true. Trust and forgiveness are two different issues! Let me say it again: Forgiving someone does not mean I have to trust that person. They still must earn my trust.


In relationships where people struggle with addictions or abuse, forgiveness is still possible. But it doesn’t always mean things can go back to the way they were.


Forgiveness and the restoration of a relationship are two different things.


Forgiveness is only my part. It doesn’t depend on whether the other person asks for my forgiveness, responds to my forgiveness, or recognizes they need my forgiveness. I forgive for my sake.


Restoration of a relationship takes far more than forgiveness. It takes repentance. It takes restitution and a rebuilding of trust. And it takes time.


Begin the process of forgiveness today. Then take the time needed to rebuild trust.


In summary, don't insist on getting even; that's not for me to do. God will do the judging, and take care of it. What’s keeping me from forgiving someone who’s hurt me? I may hesitate to forgive because I’m not ready to trust that person again. Forgiveness and trust do not necessarily go hand in hand. Forgiveness does not mean there needs to be an instant restoration of trust. Forgiveness is instant; trust must be rebuilt over time. Forgiveness is based on grace; trust is built on works. Trust is earned; Forgiveness is given. Many don’t want to forgive because they think they’d have to trust them again. Trust and forgiveness are two different issues! Forgiving does not mean I have to trust that person. They still must earn my trust. Forgiveness is only my part. It doesn’t depend on whether the other person asks. I forgive for my sake. Restoration of a relationship takes far more than forgiveness. It takes repentance. It takes restitution and a rebuilding of trust. And it takes time. So begin the process of forgiveness. Then take the time needed to rebuild trust.


In this day of lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul's command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts me deeply, instead of giving them what they deserve, Paul says to befriend them. Why? 1). Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. 2). It may make the enemy feel ashamed and their ways. 3). By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts my enemy. Even if my enemy never repents, forgiving them will free me of a heavy load of bitterness. Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If I find it difficult to feel forgiving, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send them a gift. Smile at them. Many times I'll discover that right actions lead to right feelings.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Why Should I Forgive?

In Matthew 18:27 I read, The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go." (NIV)


God’s Word tells me to let go of my hurt and resentment, and forgive others. I’ve got to release my hurt instead of rehearsing it.


Here are three reasons why:


Because God forgives me. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the story of a king who forgives his servant. Verse 27 says, “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go” (NIV). Similar to how the king canceled the debt of this servant, God sent Jesus Christ to pay for my debt of sin. Everything I’ve ever done wrong in my life has already been paid for by Jesus. He took the blame. He paid my jail time. Jesus Christ died for all my sins.


Because resentment is self-torture. It is a self-inflicted wound. Whenever I’m resentful, it always hurts me more than the person I’m bitter against. In fact, while I’m still worrying about something that happened years ago, the other person has forgotten about it! My past is past, and it can’t hurt me anymore, unless I hold on to it.


Because I need forgiveness every day. The Bible teaches very clearly that I can’t receive what I’m unwilling to give. How can I receive the forgiveness God has shown me if I’m not willing to forgive others? If I want to be forgiven, I need to be forgiving.


Forgiveness is a lifestyle. It’s not just something I do one time. I need it every day of my life. I’ve got to ask for forgiveness, accept forgiveness from God and from others, and offer forgiveness. It’s a continual process that will bring me joy.


In summary, The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. God’s Word tells me to let go of my hurt and resentment, and forgive others. So learn to release my hurt instead of rehearsing it. There are three reasons why: First, because God forgives me. Similar to how the king canceled the debt of this servant, God sent Jesus Christ to pay for my debt. Jesus Christ died for all my sins. Second, because resentment is self-torture. It is a self-inflicted wound. Whenever I’m resentful, it always hurts me more than the person I’m bitter against. In fact, while I’m still worrying, the other person has forgotten about it! My past can’t hurt me anymore, unless I hold on to it. Lastly, because I need forgiveness every day. I can’t receive what I’m unwilling to give. If I want to be forgiven, I need to be forgiving. Forgiveness is a lifestyle. It’s not just something I do one time. I need it every day. I’ve got to ask for forgiveness, accept forgiveness from God and from others, and offer forgiveness. It’s a continual process.


I should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Monday, October 25, 2021

Revealing Is the Beginning of Healing

In James 5:16 I read, Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (NIV)


Revealing my feelings is the beginning of emotional healing.


The Bible says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16 NIV).


If I want to be emotionally healthy, the first step is confessing my sins to God.


But to get over my sin and get on with my life, to be emotionally healthy, I need to take a second step. I need to tell someone else about my sin.


I’m thinking, “Why does God want me to drag somebody else into this?” Here’s why: God knows that the root of my problem is relational.


I often don’t even realize that my broken relationships with others are the root of my problems. Instead of being honest with others, I disguise who I really am. I pretend I have it all together, when everybody knows I don’t. I act like everything is just fine, when it’s not.


That behavior isolates me from others. It prevents intimacy. And it keeps me from the deepest level of love. I cannot love fully with hidden sin in my heart.


I’m only as sick as my secrets. The fact is, the more I hide, the sicker I get. On the other hand, revealing my feelings is the beginning of healing. When I find someone who I can trust, who listens to me and shares with me, I find that they have problems too.


There’s something about telling another person that releases the pressure valve. When I shine the light on my secret, suddenly it loses its power over me.


If I want healing, I’ve got to stop concealing. What’s the thing in my life I don’t want anybody to know about? That’s the area where God wants to give me the most grace, mercy, and healing.


In summary, confess my sins to others and pray for each other so that I may be healed. Revealing my feelings is the beginning of emotional healing. If I want to be emotionally healthy, the first step is confessing my sins to God. But to get over my sin and get on with my life, to be emotionally healthy, I need to take a second step. I need to tell someone else about my sin. “Why does God want me to drag somebody else into this?” God knows that the root of my problem is relational. I often don’t even realize that my broken relationships with others are the root of my problems. Instead of being honest, I disguise who I really am. I pretend I have it all together, when everybody knows I don’t. I act like everything is just fine, when it’s not. That behavior isolates me from others. It keeps me from the deepest level of love. The more I hide, the sicker I get. Revealing my feelings is the beginning of healing. When I find someone who I can trust, who listens and shares, I find that they have problems too. There’s something about telling another that releases the pressure valve. When I shine the light on my secret, suddenly it loses its power over me. If I want healing, I’ve got to stop concealing. What’s the thing in my life I don’t want anybody to know about? That’s the area where God wants to give me the most grace, mercy, and healing.


Christ has made it possible for me to go directly to God for forgiveness. But confessing my sin to others still has an important place. 1). If I have sinned against an individual, I must ask him or her to forgive me. 2). If my sin has affected the church, I must confess it publicly. 3). If I need loving support as I struggle with sin, I should confess that sin to those who are able to provide that support. 4). If, after confessing a private sin to God, I still don't feel his forgiveness, I may wish to confess that sin to a fellow believer for assurance of God's pardon. In Christ's Kingdom, every believer is a priest to other believers. The Christian's most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible. Some see prayer as a last resort to be tired when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first. Because God's power is infinitely greater than mine, it only makes sense to rely on it, especially because God encourages me to do so. 


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Friday, October 22, 2021

God Blesses What I Bring Him

In Ecclesiastes 11:1 I read, Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded.” (CEV)


Whatever I give to God, he multiplies.


If I give God my talent, he’ll multiply it. If I give God my energy, he’ll multiply it. If I give God your money, he will multiply it. Whatever I give to God, he will multiply and give it back.


Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, ““Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded.” (CEV)


To teach this truth, Jesus did a miracle. Five thousand people followed Jesus out into the middle of the desert. He taught them all day, and at the end of the day, they were hungry. The disciples told Jesus to send everyone away. Instead, Jesus told the disciples they needed to feed the people. I’m sure the disciples wondered, “What is he doing?” He was testing their faith. He wanted to see if they would depend on him to provide what they needed to feed 5,000 people.


Out of that huge crowd, one little boy had brought lunch, and inside were five little loaves of bread and two dried fish. The boy brought his lunch to Jesus and said, “Lord, you can have this.”


Jesus took the bread and loaves. He prayed, broke it, blessed it, and multiplied it. It fed all 5,000 people, who were also the 5,000 witnesses to this miracle. Not only that, but there were 12 baskets full of leftover fish and loaves!


God always gives me more than I need, more than I anticipate, and more than I can imagine. He took what the boy gave him. He broke it, he blessed it, and he used it.


That’s what God will do in my life. He takes what I bring to him, even the broken parts, and uses it for good.


I need to learn to offer Jesus what I have today. He’ll bless me and use me to bless others.


In summary, learn to be generous, and someday I will be rewarded. For whatever I give to God, he will multiply. If I give God my talent, energy, and money, whatever I give to God, he will multiply and give it back. To teach this truth, Jesus did a miracle in front of the Disciples and five thousand people. Jesus told the disciples they needed to feed the people. One little boy had brought lunch, and inside were five little loaves of bread and two dried fish. The boy brought his lunch to Jesus and said, “Lord, you can have this.” Jesus took the bread and loaves. He prayed, broke it, blessed it, and multiplied it. Afterwards there were 12 baskets full of leftover fish and loaves! God always gives me more than I need, more than I anticipate, and more than I can imagine. He took what the boy gave him, broke it, blessed it, and used it. That’s what God will do in my life. He takes what I bring to him, even the broken parts, and uses it for good. I need to learn to offer Jesus what I have today. He’ll bless me and use me to bless others.


In this chapter, Solomon summarizes that life involves both risk and opportunity. Because life has no guarantees, I must be prepared. Solomon does not support a stingy, despairing attitude. Just because life is uncertain does not mean I should do nothing. I need a spirit of trust and adventure, facing life's risks and opportunities with God-directed enthusiasm and faith. 


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.