Forgiveness
With today being the last day of the year, I thought it would be appropriate to end it with a post. I started this year with the theme of victory. I think victory comes through forgiveness. God has done a major work in my heart this year. He took a broken place – one that I didn’t even know I had – and brought about healing, restoration, and forgiveness. I was hurt. I was angry, but it was a passive aggressive type. I didn’t know how angry I really was until God opened my eyes. I was ready to be healed. I asked God to show me the places in my heart that were hindering my walk with Him. There were some obvious places like my Mom’s death, my Dad’s quick marriage, but there was a place buried so deep that I didn’t recognize it. God knew it was there though. And He proceeded to show me inch by inch where I was hindered. I’m sure I am not done with forgiving. I’m sure there are still places that need to be healed. Inch by inch, He is faithful to reveal if I am willing to be open to it.
Now, what do I do with this information? How do I use it for His glory? God has placed in me a need to tell. I first went to the ones I could go to and ask for forgiveness. I went to God and asked His forgiveness. But the ones that hurt me so deeply, they are the ones that I have to forgive. They probably don’t even know how deep I was hurt. They are probably not even aware I have been carrying this around with me for so long. It was hurting me not them. It was hurting my relationship with God, with Jesus and with the Holy Spirit who lives in me. I may not actually talk to them about it. But I offer my forgiveness now. I have laid down my heart: my hurt, my anger, my bitterness, my resentment and have taken up forgiveness because God first forgave me.
It’s time to heal and move on. Jesus forgave those who put Him on the cross – the ones that nailed him, tortured him, spat upon him, and he did it from the cross. His love endures forever no matter what. It’s because of Him and his love that I can go forward with forgiveness. What will God do in 2013? He’s still working on my heart, but it will be for His glory no matter what! Happy New Year!
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
buildingbodies4christ 
Forgiveness is easy to do when the person who offended us or hurt us seeks it, but much harder when they don’t. That is why forgiveness is not something we can do on our own, but we can do it through the power of His Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is something we will always struggle with but something we must be willing to do.Thanks for sharing your insight!
Thanks for your comment Shelly.