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Inspirational Blog

Matthew 6: 14 For if you forgive people their trespasses(their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment), your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Amplified Bible

In the midst of writing my book about the importance of forgiving others, I am face with yet another situation where I have to extend forgiveness. Sometimes I wonder Lord why me? Then I am reassured by 1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. My temptation in this situation is to fight! To literally start swinging…but just when we think we are justified in harboring unforgiveness, God gives us awake up call! God’s mercy endures forever. He is always calling us back to Him by showing us the error of our ways. Whom the love loves He chastises (see Hebrew 12:6).  This week when I was challenged with, anger, animosity and bitterness I tried to find fulfillment in other things, but they did not satisfy. The only relief I received was when I repented and asked God to help me.  I cried out to God just as David did in Psalms 51, I asked God to create in me a clean heart and renew the right spirit in me…Immediately the anger and fear left me. God began to deal with my heart and He reminded me of His mercy and love.  He reminded me of the comforting scripture in Lamentations 3:22 - It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.   He revealed His love and compassion to me and allowed me to see this person as He does. He caused me to recognize once again that we wrestle not against flesh and blood…although I felt like wrestling! (See Ephesians 6:12)

The one thing that God constantly reminds me of, is to consider myself. Taking inventory of my own actions and being accountable for myself.  During this situation, He reminded me of a story in II Samuel 4 and II Samuel 9 about Mephibosheth.  This story has been a source of encouragement during my toughest battles with people. Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son. You can read the entire story to gain the history of Mephibosheth.  The point that God was making to me is sometimes people need our help to get out of the situations that are facing. I was so tired of going through the same old situation and the pain it was causing me. The frustration I was experiencing constantly disturbed my peace of mind. I thought how this person can continually destroy their lives over, and over again. It appeared they did not care about anything but themselves. Every attempt I made to help yielded fruitless results. My self-righteous attitude surfaced once again. I judged the situation through my desires and frustrations, what I wanted not really considering the hurt she was experiencing. I constantly asked the Lord, (or if I did not verbalize my thoughts it was in my heart) how could this be. How could they continually abuse their body, pump poison in their system, and be so rebellious? I did not understand why I was living a “Christian life” serving God the best way I knew how and yet I was diagnosed with a chronic disease, and could not conceive the children my husband and I so desperately wanted. How she lives life relentlessly with no apparent regard for her life or anyone else’s life. I have seen God heal her from a stroke, heart disease, and severe asthma. Literally I have witness her with an asthma pump in one hand and cigarettes in the other hand! I said how this can be Lord I am serving you with everything in me living according to your word and yet I am faced with all the challenges I deal with everyday. Wow…as I write this I am amazed at the state I was in. It’s amazing how we become so caught up in our own selfishness that we forget that Jesus came to save the lost. Jesus answered the Pharisees in the midst of their judging, who once again tried to cast a snare with their religious, pious ways.  The Pharisees inquired why he ate with the publicans and sinners who they considered beneath their social status. Jesus responded in Matthew 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

…THIS POST WILL CONTINUE NEXT MONTH. MEDITATE ON RELEASING FORGIVENESS IN YOUR LIFE ASKING GOD FOR HIS STRENGTH!!!