I'm back with the same devotional again. I am just loving this little gem! Forgive and Free written by Jane L. Fryar. Today's question, "Write about a time you found it hard to forgive someone who wronged or hurt you in some way. How did this grudge limit your freedom? Was the final outcome God pleasing or is the Holy Spirit still at work in the situation?"
So I thought about this and the Lord brought to mind the situation we had a few years ago when we had a gentleman come to rebuild our deck. The situation turned into a mini nightmare, with delays, dishonesty and overall shady dealings. I was so angry. I'd mull the things the man said over in my head, think about what I would say or not say when next I spoke with him....usually in the middle of the night when I was supposed to be sleeping. My heart and head were in turmoil, my stomach upset and stress level through the roof. Ultimately we ended up going with someone else to finish the project, but the Lord didn't let me get away for anger in unforgiveness living in my heart.
Yes, this person did wrong. But that didn't leave me off the hook to bless this person. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Ugh! I didn't like this person and I didn't like what they did. Now I was being instructed to pray for them. LOL Yaay.
I started simply, asking God to bring this man to salvation, to bless him with salvation. After a while I could pray a little more..."Lord, bless him." Over the next few months I felt anger give way to compassion. When next I saw this gentleman a couple of years later, he looked so broken. My heart was moved to sadness for him. I could see the lostness. It's been about 3 or 4 years since we did the deck, and I am still led to pray for him. And I know that is God and I know that God will work in the person's life and bring about salvation and deliverance.
Now to the God visit. This day's devotional question came at the perfect time to help a friend of mine who had just talked to me last night about a co-worker who is bringing him a lot of grief at work. My friend's heart is filled with some much anger and unforgiveness towards this person that it is literally making them sick. I don't in any way believe it is a coincidence that the Lord led me to review my own journey with unforgiveness and share it with my friend. God is amazing!
Forgiving someone is not a matter of feelings, it's a matter of obedience and faith. God tells us in Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. It's not optional!
Lord, thank You so much for the forgiveness You offer us. I am such a sinful, fallen, fallible, prideful person there is no way I should ever withhold forgiveness from others. I have been forgiven so much. But Lord You know how difficult it is for us to let go of things when our feelings are involved. Help us get to the place of obedience and faith. Lord, thank You for being so timely in Your dealings with us. Thank You for letting us be an encouragement to others, sharing our struggles and victories so that we can all grow in You. Lord, I pray especially right now for anyone struggling with unforgiveness, that You would give them the strength to obey and to leave in Your hands their situations, the people that have down the wrong and the emotions which so easily take control of our hearts and minds. And I pray that You will work out each situation to Your perfect plan and to Your glory. In Jesus perfect Name. Amen.
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