It's the Thing to Do...

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

God truly loves you and me. He proved it when he sent his only Son, Jesus, to this world to take away all our sins to the cross. He offered His own body as the lamb, the sacrifice, to save us from eternal damnation. His sacrifice was an act of forgiveness for our sins. Although we are all at different places in our spiritual journey, the Holy Spirit reveals to us our sins. Sins we are being exposed to today, we might not have been ready to deal with last year, the year before, or twenty years ago. The holy spirit reveals our sins to us especially when we truly repent and confess to the Lord, and when we get to a place of willingness for the Lord to show us our sins. It truly is a freeing process because as we repent and confess our sins, God brings healing to our hearts and relationships with others. The truth truly does set you free (John 8:32). 

Knowing this, that we are all sinners and we are all not perfect, that we are all sinners at the foot of the cross, it is so crucial we wear a “breastplate of forgiveness” everyday. Part of the armor of God is a breastplate of righteousness. This righteousness is one that is full of mercy and full of forgiveness. To have a heart like Christ, we must be willing to forgive our enemies and forgive our friends. This act of forgiveness frees you and me from harboring resentments and developing a bitter root expressed in Hebrews 12:15 which causes trouble and defiles many......If it is too painful to forgive, we must ask the Lord to help us be willing to forgive. Forgiveness is the essence of who God is. The next time someone drives you bonkers, and you are ready to cross them off your friend list.....do the Jesus thing, and forgive. Spending loads of time with them is a different story...trust is earned...but if you start with forgiveness, you stay true to who you are.

Things to Think About:

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love MERCY and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

MAY I PRAY? Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. Thank you for covering me with you blood. In the name of Jesus, give us a forgiving heart, full of mercy, full of forgiveness. Let us automatically go into forgiveness mode....because this is what pleases you. Thank you for your strength and power! In Jesus name, Amen!