Let Forgiveness Reign in Your Heart
Set Yourself Free!
Wishing a most joyful St Patrick’s Day to all the Irish and Irish at heart. As a missionary to Ireland, Patrick was mightily used by God in the conversion of Ireland to Christianity. His love of, total trust in and devotion to God was a powerful witness to the pagan Druids. This has been a landmark week for the Roman Catholic Church with the election of Pope Francis. I was most taken with a quote in which he said, “Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out to share your testimony, go out and interact…, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the Word in body as well as spirit.” He is a man of humility and austerity who has criticized, “…Those who clericalize the church…These are today’s hypocrites …Those who separate the people of God from salvation.” Before he prayed for others he asked that all pray for him in his new role as leader of the Church. Keep him in prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide him in the Lord’s perfect will. Pray that we can all come together in the Lord and go out and share the Gospel without entanglement in doctrinal differences.
Plant Forgiveness in Your Heart
Wednesday marks the first day of spring! As we are still in Lent I could not help but think that this is the perfect time to clear our heart for the new season. Specifically, now is the time to plant the seeds of forgiveness. Think of your heart as a garden. Spring is the time to till the soil and remove any debris that may have accumulated. Un-forgiveness is like mildew that only serves to decay the soil of your heart. It is almost impossible to grow anything new with moldy soil.
People may have done or said things to you that were unkind or mean spirited. Perhaps it was deliberate. Most often it is unintentional. The real issue is how you receive it in your heart (it is always a heart issue). What do you do when someone really offends or hurts you? Offence will come. What is important is what you do with it. This is a difficult one in the natural. I know I have been hurt many times but I purpose each time to move forward and to clear my heart. Is it easy? Not always. Sometimes it is easier than others.
Try to look at everything from an eternal standpoint. Is being upset worth one nano-second of your peace here or your eternal reward? Look at everything from an eternal standpoint. It only takes a second to shift your view from earthly to eternal and that can forever change your focus and your life.
Do not get me wrong. It is ok to feel upset but then pray for yourself and the other person. Release the situation to the Lord and leave it with Him. Do not pick it back up and ruminate over it. Do not allow the sticky residue of offence and un-forgiveness to harden your heart and steal your joy. Plant the seed of forgiveness in your heart right away. Forgive yourself and others. Have compassion on yourself and others. No one is without fault. No one is perfect. Pray for one another. Pray for those who spitefully use you. Keep your heart clear and clean. That is your responsibility. Do not worry about the other person’s responsibility. That lies solely between them and God.
Start to plant seeds of forgiveness today. Water them with prayer and warm them with the light of the Son. In a short time you will have the most exquisite bouquet of spiritual fruit. Look at the picture of the heart garden. The rocks framing the heart also provide a hedge of protection around the flowers. As you look at this remember to guard your own heart for it determines the course of your life. Imagine each blossom within the heart as an incident that you chose to plant forgiveness in your heart. As each situation varies so will the bloom of each time you choose forgiveness over offense. Choose forgiveness. Your heart will be softened and healed through forgiveness. Your life will be a testimony to God’s work in you for the good of His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Forgiveness Assures Peace
Look at everything from an eternal standpoint. When you stand you are positioned to move forward. If you sit or park in offense or un-forgiveness you impede your ability to move forward in God’s best for you. Many have said that to be upset with someone is allowing them to live rent free in your head. I would like to propose that the cost to you if you harbor offense or un-forgiveness is huge. It will erode the soil of your heart and over time harden you to those around you.
When you operate in forgiveness you release not only the other person but also yourself. You are then free to live without the burden of offence and un-forgiveness. You are then free to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. Choose that freedom and peace today! Choose forgiveness.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Jesus (Mark 11:25)
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our frontline on the battlefield, let us be their frontline in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi, for all affected by recent devastating weather conditions and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe. May we may arise united in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
My Prayer for You
Father I thank You that we can come boldly to Your throne to pray for one another. I lift up everyone reading this today and I thank You that You are the God that heals every injured and broken place in their heart. You alone, Father, know the depths of their sorrow and pain. You alone, Lord, are the balm of Gilead needed to soothe and heal the deepest of offences. I thank You, Father, that You lead them to a firm place of forgiveness. Restore to them Your peace in Jesus’ name. Amen and amen.
Do Not Miss This: The Bible miniseries tonight at 8 p.m. EST on the History channel. It will run through Easter Sunday. As more Bible movies are being developed in Hollywood, pray that these endeavors will reach far beyond what we can think or imagine for God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven in Jesus’ name.