At church recently, our pastor asked people who were struggling with forgiving someone to come down to the altar to receive prayer for releasing it.
I was shocked when nearly half of our congregation went down!
Mind you, the issue itself didn't shock me (more about that later), but the number of people struggling with it did.
However, after reflecting on this situation, I don't believe that our congregation is unique.
So I ask you: Do you have a "them" that you need to forgive?
Sin has tainted this world. Many people are hurting because of it. Some of the things stolen from us may include:
- Our
childhoods
- Innocence
- Ability to love
- Ability to trust
- Our identity
- Our self-worth
- Material goods
I understand this issue. Many years ago, I had issues with forgiving my father. He abandoned my mother when I was just a baby. So I never knew him. For years I harbored anger towards him.
I was in torment, wondering how my life would have been different if only I had known a father's love growing up.
I did not realize that unforgiveness was eating away at me – literally! Like many, my excess weight was a result of emotional eating. The excess weight was also a form of emotional
insulation. In my mind, the excess fat was protecting me from further hurt.
The skill of forgiveness is even more urgent for Christians today. Scripture describes our current world accurately:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (2 Timothy 3:1-4)"
So offenses are going to come. The question is – will we be able to forgive them?
As Jesus’ disciples, our love is our calling card to unbelievers. In John 13:34-35, Jesus
says:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In the following article, I will share how to forgive any "thems" in your life. You’ll explore an uncommon teaching of Jesus and most important of all, learn from His
example.
Not only is learning to forgive critical for your Spiritual health, but for your physical health. Science has discovered a shocking link between cancer and unforgiveness.
According to Dr. Michael Barry, over 61 percent of cancer patients have forgiveness issues.
So this issue is killing people – literally. Here is what you can do to remove the cancer of unforgiveness from your life.
Click learn how to learn "How to Forgive THEM (Bible
Study)
Kimberly Taylor