Forgivness

I’ve been working on this for the past few months. Honestly it’s probably not done. I’ve been holding on to it, waiting to share it until I felt like The Lord released me to. My prayer is that this will stir something deeper in you and challenge you like it has me.

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness isn’t forgetting, it’s not condoning or understand, it’s not trusting that person or even always letting them back into your life, it’s not a feeling, its not easy and it’s not just a one time thing. It’s something you have to choose over and over again. Forginess is a command. Mark 11:25 tells us that if we want to be forgiven then we must forgive. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”” Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬-‭25‬

Forgiveness allows you to walk in freedom. It breaks generational chains, it changes hearts. Forgiveness frees you from the chains that walking in un-forgiveness holds you in. When you look at someone and you ask God to give you the eyes to see them as He sees them, it changes you. When you look at someone and see that they are as much a child of God as you are, that they are someone’s son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, or sister. When you realize that they need Jesus just as much as you need Jesus. That they need forgiveness, just as much as you need forgiveness and that Jesus died for them and you alike-it changes the way you think and the way you look at them.

A few weeks ago we were given the opportunity to sit face-to-face with the driver that hit Aspen. Part of us wanted to just be mad at him and be full of hate for what he did and the choices that he made that night, But God. We were able to see him in a different light. Speaking forgiveness over someone who took away something so precious will be up there on the list of the hardest things we’ve ever done, but in the midst of that a weight was lifted off of us. It took away Satan’s foot hold and his ability to use un-forgiveness, hate and bitterness in our lives. It freed us from the prison that un-forgiveness can quickly become. We still firmly believe there is a difference in forgiveness and justice/consequences.

This is not about us. This is about the the story God is writing using us. We aren’t strong or brave-outside of our strength in Jesus. I’m sharing this because our hearts desire is for everyone to be able to walk in the freedom that forgiveness offers. We still have to continually choose to forgive. Sometimes it’s a minute by minute choice. It’s not an easy choice at all, but it is a choice that is so worth it. We don’t know what all God is going to do in this, but He is already doing things bigger than we could’ve even dreamed. I can only share our side of the story, but, I hope one day we will be able to see what God has done in the drivers life and be able to be a part of his side of the story. God is moving in him and his family, but that is their story to tell one day.

I challenge you- if you are holding on to a situation and are walking in un-forgiveness, lay it down at the feet of Jesus. Do it as many times as you need too! We are human and don’t have the ability to forgive and forget. We do have the choice to forgive and bless. Forgive and ask God to work in that person or situation. Don’t be shy in your prayers. Far too often I think our prayers lack boldness. We’ve been praying bold prayers in this season and we are already seeing God answer those prayers in ways we would have never even imagined.

Forgive and let The Lord start healing those places in you.