A Forgiving Heart

  In this life, there will be people who will come across your path who will hurt you.  Unfortunately, getting hurt is simply inevitable, and moving past those hurts can be challenging. Although it can be challenging to forgive those who have hurt you, you can move forward in forgiveness. The greatest example of forgiveness happened over 2,000 years ago, as Jesus hung on a old-rugged cross.  After being repeatedly beaten, mocked, and bruised for something He hadn't done, He asked God to forgive those who committed these acts against Him. It goes without saying, that none of us have gone through anything remotely as cruel as what was done to Jesus; so why is it so challenging to forgive? Jesus tells us why He asked God to forgive them- "They know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Could it be that some of those who have hurt you, simply didn't know what they were doing? Romans 7:15 says, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing." What I have found to be true in my own life, is that I allow those hurtful thoughts to run free in my mind. As a result, it revives those negative feelings of hurt all over again. What are you doing with the thoughts of negativity, as they try to consume your mind?  Are you entertaining them or are you casting them down with the word of God? These are all questions we should ask ourselves on a daily basis. It is very necessary to evaluate your thought process, and it may just scare you when you find out what you are thinking about! I had to ask myself, why I was reliving an ordeal that happened six years ago. The truth of the matter is, that we all have said or done something that we wish we hadn't. The remaining truth is, that we can't change those things we have done in our past. Once we become born-again believers, we are new creatures and all things are passed away, behold made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). God desires for us to have a forgiving heart.  He doesn't want us walking in unforgiveness, bitterness or strife. All that unforgiveness does is hold you in bondage,and that is contrary to God's will for your life. The bible says, Jesus came so that we would have life and life more abundantly.  There is no abundant life in unforgiveness, because it can eventually start to affect your health and make you sick. Pray for a forgiving heart and do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Remember, that blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7). We all need a little mercy in our lives-Don't you think. It's FALL time (Forgive and let live)!