Forgiveness: An Issue of the Heart

Forgiveness. We hear that word a lot. And as Christians, we are commanded to walk in forgiveness, just like how God has forgiven us (Matthew 6: 14-15) also modeled in the Lord's Prayer (Mat. 6:9-13). We want to be more like Him, and reflect His character. Well, forgiveness is an awesome place to start. God is a forgiving God. He is all about reconciliation. Of course, the world has put their spin on this love action. They say to forgive, but don't forget. Forgiveness is not for the other person, but for you, and so on. These statements and others like them are far from the truth.
The Lord calls us to forgive like Him. When God forgives you and I, He cast that sin into the sea of forgetfulness. Meaning, He remembers them no more. When He forgave, it didn't just benefit the Father, but it benefited us as well. We are a blessing and a gift to the Father's heart, just as much as He is to ours! I believe, that once we truly begin to learn what TRUE forgiveness is from the Lord's perspective, is when we will really be able to walk in true forgiveness. Not just of others who has hurt us in the past or present, but also the future. Meaning, if we looked from the Father's eyes and His heart, we can forgive those that are we are struggling to forgive RIGHT NOW! And it doesn't just end there. With the Lord's help, when we face an individual in the future with the opportunity to hold unforgiveness against them, we could CHOOSE FORGIVENESS instead! And SMILE! AND LOVE! And NOT ponder on that person's hurt towards us...sounds familiar?! That's RIGHT! Just LIKE JESUS!!!!! When they spat in His face, nailed Him to the cross, He had every RIGHT to smack some people around, grow hatred...instead His prayer was, "Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34) Forgiveness was taking PLACE RIGHT THEN! That same Jesus LIVES in you and me today!

NOT JUST FOR OTHERS

Forgiveness is NOT just for those who has hurt us, but let us down, disappointed us, misunderstanding us, forgiving ourselves, and yes, even God. Even God?! Jenny are you CRAZY?! No! I am not crazy! And I can tell you why by sharing a personal experience of mine.

I HAD TO FORGIVE JESUS (Say WHAAAT?!)

One day while my parents were gone and had the house to myself. I stood in the front room, praying my heart out to God! Asking WHY ME?! When is it my TURN?! I felt so overwhelmed with the worries in my life,mixed with feelings of regret, confusion, attacked, and not to mention the fear and doubt that came with it.  That day was a special encounter I will never forget. Jesus appeared across the way from where I was kneeling. When He opened His mouth, He spoke these words to me. He said, "Forgive Me". My thought was, Forgive You? Why? For What? You didn't do anything wrong." He responded, "Forgive Me for not working things out the way you wanted Me to. Forgive me that I'm not running on your time, but Mine. Forgive Me." I didn't know it at the time, but now I do. I was holding a grudge or unforgiveness against God in my heart. Walking around with that unforgiveness with out noticing it. Though, it did cause a hindrance in my prayer life. After He spoke that to me, He spoke many other understandings into my heart about the thoughts and worries that were consuming me at the time. He had to show something TO me ABOUT me. Since then, forgiveness became a little bit easier. Not easy, but not as hard as it used to be. 

ANOTHER LESSON

Another lesson I learned, is that though we have EVERY right to hold unforgiveness towards someone, just like the right to sin (or so we think) you are STILL holding that against God! One time, a friend of mine caught me at a weak moment. Something so SMALL and so LITTLE, I went HAYWIRE! I said, "God I don't care any more! I have EVERY RIGHT TO GET UPSET! I STILL LOVE YOU, and all, but this right here...." In mid sentence the Lord's voice interrupted me as a Divine Intervention Lol. I will never forget! He spoke so gentle, calmly, lovingly, and clearly. "Then STOP! You doing this in your heart, is going against ME! You're sinning against me, and holding unforgiveness towards Me, then. I need you to forgive, Jennifer. " This friend was a sister in Christ, Who lives in her as well. Maybe the incident was the Lord's provision in something I seemed had to miss...as I calmed down, I realized it was a misunderstanding on MY PART! Most unforgiveness comes from a MISUNDERSTANDING! MISCOMMUNICATION!

MORE REVELATION OF FORGIVENESS!

He had also began to share more things to me about the spirit of unforgiveness. Yes, unforgiveness is a spirit. However, I am still learning about Forgiveness, but would love to share with you the very things God has revealed to me in my heart. The following is just a few nuggets I received from the Lord in manner of Forgiveness and Unforgiveness. Please bare with me:

Unforgiveness:

- can cause a hinderance in the other person's life that God is very well trying to do.

-can attract and many more doors for unclean spirits, and demonic attacks.

-can become a form of curse on that person's life, as well as your own.

- can LIMIT the Spirit of God MOVING through your life

- can occur when we have an ought with someone, rather it's a pre-judged thought, something so silly as showing up to something late, didn't do something they said they would, someone cutting you off in traffic. Maybe there's a personality trait about an individual that you personally don't care for and now you CAN'T STAND THEM! 

*This can AND WILL attract the spirit of BITTERNESS, which can also carry and attract the spirit of DIVISION!!!!

Forgiveness:

-It is POSSIBLE to LOVE and FORGIVE OTHERS, because the LORD who IS LOVE lives within us! It is HE Who forgives through us, if we just let go and surrender to His Spirit and His Will. as we let go of our will to hold onto unforgivness.

-We were Called, chosen, and ANOINTED to walk in LOVE, cherish, and FORGIVENESS

 -An act of LOVE HIMSELF...GOD...JESUS

-We can DEFEAT satan in his game by being obedient unto the Lord by walking in the Spirit of Forgiveness AND LOVE! Satan tries to hinder and distract us from walking in this Spirit of LOVE, Forgiveness, because he knows this power over powers his ANY DAY!

-LOVE covers a multitude of sin! It defeats satan. And one the MOST powerful tool and weapon EVER against the enemy and his attacks.

-LOVE is the FIRST gift listed as the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23) Which is THEN followed by JOY and the other FRUIT! 

-Love should be rooted so down within us, for out of that springs forth and is accompanied with JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE (long -suffering), KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL. (GAL 5:22-26) Instead of the reverse affect, with UNFORGIVENESS, which springs forth bitterness, jealousy, hatred, gossip, anger, and so forth.

*FORGIVENESS and UNFORGIVENESS are two separate roots that can keep us in two separate states. The CHOICE IS OURS!



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-Jenny!