Knowing The Truth - Unexpected Forgiveness

I wanted to get rid of all that stood in the way of healing. I awoke in the middle of the night and I was ready.  Forgiveness.

Who, where, what, how?  The beginning.

 So I went all the way back to my first memories and followed many memories till the present-day. I prayed that I would forgive myself and others through all the guilt and pain situations. Each face that came to mind I either asked God to help me forgive them or asked that somehow God would allow them to forgive me. Heal me. Heal them.

A major part of this midnight, inward journey was the forgiving of me. I had to stop beating myself up over my mistakes and wrongdoing. Surrender. I couldn’t change what had happened in my life but I could choose to forgive and hand it all over to Someone who has done something about all of it. He paid the price for all of the sin, so I can live forgiven and free.

This unexpected forgiveness passage continued past the night and into the next several months. People and situations would come to mind and I would have to choose to forgive and surrender. Some remembrances brought urgent compellings to contact someone to ask for or give forgiveness. One instance was a phone call to a person whose name had just changed, the day before they moved beyond my contact information.

Appropriateness sometimes dictated whether I was able to contact someone. What had transpired in the past or our current lives may or may not have made contact between us fitting. Sometimes it was a communication written, surrendered, and destroyed. Sometimes it was a communication sent. The bottom line was to prayerfully consider what God would have me do. Each instance over time has brought great freedom, healing, and new growth.

Over time, forgiveness has amazingly cancelled the power of pain in my past. Instead of the pain dragging me to the depths of guilt, shame, and hurt I no longer feel the crushing weight. Occasions that come to mind may still hurt but they no longer hold their devastating hopelessness over me.

There is always hope for whatever is surrendered to God. Forgiveness is a choice of surrendering the outcome and discipline of a situation or person to the God who knows every detail and will exact perfect judgment, discipline, and punishment. I am responsible to deal with my part before God and let it go. I can do this through His help and strength.

Unexpected forgiveness had begun a journey that I hadn’t even known was needed. It has been another step of hope, healing, and burdens tumbling off. Releasing the pain through forgiveness has been essential. It has been hard but very good!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that You have forgiven us because Christ paid the price. Reveal any unforgiveness in our hearts. Help us to let it go into Your hands. Help us to be kind, tenderhearted, and to forgive through the strength of Christ in us, the Holy Spirit. Help us not to let unforgiveness control us and steal our freedom. Heal us through forgiveness. Help us to give and receive the gift of forgiveness, knowing that our willingness to forgive affects our relationship with You and others. Your Word teaches us about forgiveness. Help us to hold on to these Truths, set us free! Thank you again that You loved us so much that You have forgiven us through Christ. I pray that our choices of forgiveness will bring honor and glory to You!

In Jesus Name,

Amen!

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV)

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NASB)

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,”  (Psalm 103:2-4 ESV)

“…but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15 ESV)

 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV)