Christianity Oasis Forum

[Shan]

The reason for being...that the Lamb who was slain would recieve the reward for His suffering.

--Paris Reidhead--

[Shan]

Forgiveness is pardoning an offense, letting go of resentment...

I wonder if it would help me to forgive if God would show me all the offenses I committed against Him and other's? Would it make it easier to grant pardon if I could see my own need? This pride in me has taken hold, I'm a sinner for letting it, I need His grace. His protection against satan and his demons for if they could have their way I will be full of hate. This is the battle I face, the hardest battle yet, the weapons are brutal, the attacks so cunning, but I get up, I stand firm, God will go before me, it is He who will win this battle, He who will heal the wounds and block the attacks, provide a way out or around when I don't see one...

Forgiveness is what You offered to me the day you died on that cross. I don't deserve it, I recieve it. They don't deserve it either and this pride is killing me, I want to offer it, God I do but I'm not you and I just don't know how. I can pray for them, their salvation, I can ask you to bless them but when I ask you to help me forgive them, well maybe I'm asking the wrong thing, maybe I should ask you to help me let go of the resentment, you know I don't say this easy...but...to look at them the way you do? Cause I know you died for them too and the only difference between us is i've been pardoned. I'm so mad at them God, is this how you feel when we do something against you? I know vengeance is Your's and that gives me the ability to not seek revenge although you know i've thought it, forgive me. You will judge us all and so I know it's not my place to judge them and i have come close that's for certain. you are much more merciful then I, thank you God Almighty. But only for a time, I know. God, I hope with that time you've given that you will give me a new heart, and eyes, crucify the selfish pride in me, I truly must lay it down, I know.

Forgiveness, love, compassion, understanding, gentleness, peace, joy, longsuffering, mercy, self-control, goodness, patience, kindness...Yes Father I hear you.

[Shan]

The Holy Spirit showed me this today, thank you Teacher...

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

-----"But even if he does not!"-------

That is Faith.

Out of thousands of people, three stood up and refused to bow down, only three! The rest were more afraid of the fire than God.

I realize through this beautiful example of faith that God is able but He may or may not be willing. We must ask ourselves, do we serve God because of what He can do or because of what He is? Because if ya serve God because of what He can do and someday He doesn't...heal you from that sickness or you don't get that man or woman you wanted, you lose your job, spouse, child, what then?

Sometimes we're going to have to go through the fire because it's the right thing to do.

I have been struggling with forgiving a couple of people in my life but I understand through this example in the bible that God doesn't want me to walk around or navigate away from this issue, he wants me to walk through it because of who he is. The temptation to pay them back evil for evil has been great but after what the Holy Spirit has showed me here, I have a new understanding about being obedient to God because it's the right thing to do no matter what the outcome is, so love and forgiveness it is. It may not be popular or even seem sane to most but I'm taking a stand for my God and going to do what's right and I will put my hope and trust in him. I realize this may be an ongoing process and with the guiding of the Holy Spirit it is my desire to honor God by offering grace and mercy as it has been offered to me by and through the blood of Jesus.