May 11, 2010, "Reflecting back to May 11, 2009"
Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written By: Teresa Criswell
Today's reminder is from one year ago today...I pray you are blessed as I was.
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop."
~ Mark 11:25 ~ Amplified Version
The thoughts of how her friend spoke to her rehearsed in her mind like a broken record. The more she 'nurtured' the pain, the more her face revealed pain and anger; unknowingly she fed bitterness.
Surrounded with beauty of her children and the love of her husband she would rather not give place to because her mind was so consumed with how she felt she was wronged. Legitimately, she had a 'right' to be angry, however, that right infringed on her joy from the Lord. It infringed on enjoying her beautiful blessings. Her life itself.
I am amazed when we don't hold a grudge against someone that perception has great life and most things seem to be seen with beautiful technicolor? The way you receive things are different. Yet, have you noticed that when we perceive things through pain and betrayal, nothing seems to be right? When you do hold a grudge or unforgiveness against someone, maybe due to betrayal, your perception truly changes. You tend to look at everything through the 'eyes' of betrayal, grudges, and unforgiveness. Leariness comes instead of compassion.
I believe that one of the many reasons why Jesus said, "When you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, drop it, let it go..." because He knows that when we stand with unforgiveness, we are unable to communicate in prayer with His perception, instead it is through our wronged perception that we 'attempt' to pray.
I believe praying is truly 'echoing' back what the Word of God says over a person or situation. Praying should not be 'echoing' back what has already happened, that's called re-hashing things, meditating on what has already happened only makes it worse.
Writing at this moment has allowed the Holy Spirit to convict me with a reminder of what I am called to do, whether I feel like it or not. I am not here for my own purpose, I am here for His. In that purpose there is constant growth, constant learning, constant reminding and constant changing before The God who never changes. Let us praise our God that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He remains the same as everything else is constantly changing. He is the only One we can trust to never change.
Today, I am reminded of what He has required of me. To do justly, to love kindness and mercy, and walk humbly before my God as I forgive others not holding grudges (Micah 6:8).
Finally, we must not confuse forgiving sin with forgiving others. We do not have the ability to forgive sin, however, we do have the ability to forgive the person by the Grace of Almighty God. Sometimes the hurt caused, allows forgiveness to be a tool to pray for that person or people and loving them with God's love, not our own. I must be reminded at times that forgiveness does not mean I have to 'hang out' with that person; but forgiveness is a tool that God bestows upon us so freely, that we must bestow on others.
Forgiveness is not mine. It has been provided for me, but not only for me but to go through me onto someone else.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written By: Teresa Criswell
Today's reminder is from one year ago today...I pray you are blessed as I was.
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop."
~ Mark 11:25 ~ Amplified Version
The thoughts of how her friend spoke to her rehearsed in her mind like a broken record. The more she 'nurtured' the pain, the more her face revealed pain and anger; unknowingly she fed bitterness.
Surrounded with beauty of her children and the love of her husband she would rather not give place to because her mind was so consumed with how she felt she was wronged. Legitimately, she had a 'right' to be angry, however, that right infringed on her joy from the Lord. It infringed on enjoying her beautiful blessings. Her life itself.
I am amazed when we don't hold a grudge against someone that perception has great life and most things seem to be seen with beautiful technicolor? The way you receive things are different. Yet, have you noticed that when we perceive things through pain and betrayal, nothing seems to be right? When you do hold a grudge or unforgiveness against someone, maybe due to betrayal, your perception truly changes. You tend to look at everything through the 'eyes' of betrayal, grudges, and unforgiveness. Leariness comes instead of compassion.
I believe that one of the many reasons why Jesus said, "When you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, drop it, let it go..." because He knows that when we stand with unforgiveness, we are unable to communicate in prayer with His perception, instead it is through our wronged perception that we 'attempt' to pray.
I believe praying is truly 'echoing' back what the Word of God says over a person or situation. Praying should not be 'echoing' back what has already happened, that's called re-hashing things, meditating on what has already happened only makes it worse.
Writing at this moment has allowed the Holy Spirit to convict me with a reminder of what I am called to do, whether I feel like it or not. I am not here for my own purpose, I am here for His. In that purpose there is constant growth, constant learning, constant reminding and constant changing before The God who never changes. Let us praise our God that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He remains the same as everything else is constantly changing. He is the only One we can trust to never change.
Today, I am reminded of what He has required of me. To do justly, to love kindness and mercy, and walk humbly before my God as I forgive others not holding grudges (Micah 6:8).
Finally, we must not confuse forgiving sin with forgiving others. We do not have the ability to forgive sin, however, we do have the ability to forgive the person by the Grace of Almighty God. Sometimes the hurt caused, allows forgiveness to be a tool to pray for that person or people and loving them with God's love, not our own. I must be reminded at times that forgiveness does not mean I have to 'hang out' with that person; but forgiveness is a tool that God bestows upon us so freely, that we must bestow on others.
Forgiveness is not mine. It has been provided for me, but not only for me but to go through me onto someone else.
You have some excellent insights in this post! I love this line, "I believe praying is truly 'echoing' back what the Word of God says over a person or situation."
ReplyDeleteGod has been working on me about holding grudges and praying for those who hurt me. Not an easy lesson to learn but important!
Tremendous insight! This post has blessed me and taught me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Teresa...great truths here...
ReplyDeleteSo true Teresa...I love how you mentioned that you can forgive and not "hang out" with those who betray us etc. So many people won't forgive because they believe it means complete reconciliation. I love how you pointed this out! True forgiveness by the grace of God allows us to move forward in our faith and allow God to be judge.
ReplyDeleteBlessings sister!
Cherie