TUESDAY AUGUST 13, 2013
“Forgiving each
other, just as…God forgave
you.”
Eph 4:32 NIV
FORGIVENESS (2)
The Bible says, "Be kind…forgiving each other…as…God
forgave you.” Kristin Armstrong says: "After you forgive…you get to walk
out the process…it’s a collaborative effort of God’s power and your hard work.
Letting go isn’t always as simple as opening your tightly-clenched fist,
although deliverance sometimes is immediate. For example, some people quit
smoking cold-turkey, while others chew nicotine gum for years! Old habits die
hard, and letting go of resentment means: (a) Recommitting to your decision as
many times as old thoughts of unforgiveness pop into your head. (b) Making
peace with the space formerly occupied by bitterness, regret and thoughts of
revenge until the Holy Spirit takes up full-time occupancy in the new digs! (c)
Releasing old, toxic relationships and people whose only purpose is keeping
your old wounds fresh. When people change around unchanging people, it makes
them aware of their own need for change, and it scares them. (d) Just as your
salvation is immediate yet you have to walk out your sanctification, the
release of your forgiveness is immediate but you have to walk out your healing.
(e) Living a life free from the burden of resentment and the toxicity of
unforgiveness is a choice followed by a series of choices. Each one becomes
easier…as we move farther from our old ways and into the light…Paul said, ‘It
is for freedom that Christ has set us free’ (Gal 5:1 NIV) and every time we let
something or someone go free, we receive freedom for ourselves in overflowing
proportion. It’s a time-tested, guaranteed spiritual principle backed by the
promise of Scripture.”
Taken from the Word for You Today devotional
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