Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb

Forgiveness is one of the keys to our joy.

 Forgiveness is the great evidence that we have become new creatures in Christ and that the Spirit of Christ lives within us. 

As Eugene H. Peterson says in The Message: Matthew 6: “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” 

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.” -Corrie ten Boom

  • Personal Reflection
  • Sometimes we think we have already dealt with a person or an issue, yet it comes creeping back into our hearts. That’s because there can be layers of unforgiveness, especially if the offense was severe or happened over a long period of time.
  • Sometimes we may hold unforgiveness, bitterness and even resentment in our hearts towards a person. We may even hold some bitterness toward God for allowing some things to happen in our lives. 

Prayer:  

  •  · Heavenly Father, I ask that You heal now the wounded places in my (our) soul(s). Heal my memory of those offenses so that I can look back on them realistically, knowing that they were hurtful but also knowing that You Lord, have healed the hurt. And use those experiences for the healing of others that I have come in contact with. 

Some other thoughts on forgiveness on my blog  Bloom Where You Are Planted Nowl

Just as we can have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ and with each other…We can communicate our love  and needs to Him and also to other…but in the process we have a tendency to mess up. But again, we can ask God for forgiveness…and as He has made His forgiveness available to us, we then also need to forgive each other.

Alot of times…when there is a lack of joy in our lives and we have forgiven others and ourselves…we might forget to forgive our parents for real or imaginary hurts. Perception is real. 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and clearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the LORD forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  Romans 3:12-14

S.I McMillen in his book None of These Diseases, says,
“The moment I start hating a man I become his slave. He even controls my thoughts, I can’t escape his tyrannical grasp on my minds. When the waiter serves me steak it might as well be stale bread and water. The man I hate will not permit me to enjoy it.” Obviously as Christian men, we don’t or won’t admit that we hate someone. 

A few thoughts on Forgiveness on my blog Bloom Where You Are Planted Now.

C.S Lewis on “Forgiveness”  Quotes from his books.

Favorite Worship songs

Over the course of years some of my favorite Worship Songs have been scripture songs from the book of Psalms. Hopefully you also have your list of “Favorites”. Let’s share and encourage one another! Blessings on your journey!

A few Christian worship songs on Forgiveness:

Forgiveness by Matthew West. Matthew West describes forgiveness perfectly in this song. Favorite Lyrics. It’s the hardest thing to give away. And the last thing on your mind today.

I’m Not Who I Was by Brandon Heath. How do you deal with the pain that comes from the past? Forgiveness is the answer and Brandon Heath talks about this in this song.

Losing by Tenth Avenue North. No matter what someone does, forgiveness is always needed, even when a person doesn’t realize how what they did was wrong.

Favorite Scripture

Ephesians 4: 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 18: 21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

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