Day 10: Ocean- Exploring the Depths of Forgiveness

Forgiveness!
Don't ya wish it was just that easy? Its hard forgiving someone who stabbed you in the back, broke your heart, offended you, or even ran over your favorite pet. But have you ever thought of the things you have done? You want forgiveness right? There are so many things that I know I have done that I regret.. I want forgiveness.

"Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

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."

Mathew 6:9-15 (NIV)

Majority of us have heard this, but have we really thought about it? "Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors?" Hmmmm... I would hate to be forgiven of all my sins and things I've done wrong they way I've forgiven some people. If that was the case, no one would talk to me. God wouldn't even care about me if he forgave me like that. Sometimes I forgive someone because I know its the right thing to do, but then I don't speak to them ever again. Is that really forgiving someone?

There are reasons we must forgive.

1. God commands it!
2. For our own sake. If we don't really forgive someone, the bitterness lingers and it just brings ourself down.

I am dealing with this right now. As much as I know I'm supposed to forgive someone for hurting me, and as many times I have forgiven this person, the pain still hurts. Sometimes I think about what that person has said and it brings me down again and again. I'm human. I can't help feeling hurt. But one thing that I'm getting better at, is asking for God's help.

Pastor Kerry wrote something that makes a lot of sense and pretty much sums it all up. "God says you need to forgive for your own sake, because bitterness blocks the blessings He wants to pour into your life. If you open up to God by forgiving and praying for those who hurt you, then blessings can start flowing again. Healing starts to occur in your soul. Jesus was our greatest example of breathing forgiveness." (One Month to Live, Pg. 77)

So now with all of that being said, we must give up our sins to Him and ask for forgiveness. If we don't,we will carry around this huge weight of regret that only He can take from us. Until we really experience God's love, grace, and forgiveness, we will never fully be able to forgive others.