It's so hard not to harbor bitterness. It's so hard not to hang on to unforgiveness. It's so hard to offer the same kind of grace that we've received from God. But it is the only cure, the cure all. How do you let go and let God?
I think the formula is found in Job 42:10: "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his three friends."
Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for Job to forgive his friends. They added injury to insult as Job suffered tragedy after tragedy. He lost his family. He lost his wealth. He lost his health. And then his friends took away his dignity by attacking his integrity. That's all he had left.
I've found that when someone wrongs me I have a tough choice to make. Either I try to get even in some form or fashion. Or I have to begin praying for that person. I honestly believe that prayer is the only antidote to anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. You can't just forgive. You've got to pray for that person. Why? Because it will change your heart. You'll find that a supernatural love for that person disarms your anger. Forgiveness will set your free. And prayer is the key.
If Job can pray for his fair-weather friends who turned on him in tragedy, then we can certainly love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
I think the formula is found in Job 42:10: "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his three friends."
Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for Job to forgive his friends. They added injury to insult as Job suffered tragedy after tragedy. He lost his family. He lost his wealth. He lost his health. And then his friends took away his dignity by attacking his integrity. That's all he had left.
I've found that when someone wrongs me I have a tough choice to make. Either I try to get even in some form or fashion. Or I have to begin praying for that person. I honestly believe that prayer is the only antidote to anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. You can't just forgive. You've got to pray for that person. Why? Because it will change your heart. You'll find that a supernatural love for that person disarms your anger. Forgiveness will set your free. And prayer is the key.
If Job can pray for his fair-weather friends who turned on him in tragedy, then we can certainly love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
7 Comments:
Yep, I need that! Thank you for blog post!
Mark: great thoughts! I believe I once read Gail McDonald saying, "Whenever we fail to forgive someone we become his slave." How true! I choose to forgive-one of them being the reason Gail gave. I also have a short time to live (we all do) and I'll be doggone if I will allow someone else rule how I live my life (other than God). I choose forgiveness.
Wow... even though I know this... I must practice it... So true
I feel it... Over the past few years I was totally annihilated by some pretty close people in my life... the pain still tries to get me distracted... YES!!! Praying is the best Antidote I have come up with to let the voices of the past, rest in peace... Not the easiest thing to do at times... Thank you Mark, for being brave enough to bring real issues to the table in the context of Spiritual Edification. Your perspective rings with a glorious harmony in my soul... Grace & Peace Gary Garris ~ GMI
a year ago my husband chose to leave me and the ministry for another woman. to say it's been the most difficult year of my life would be an understatement.
i finally got to the point of being able to pray for my husband. i started praying for his heart to return to the Lord. that God would convict him and bring him to his knees however possible.
and then the Lord reminded me of the verse that says "God's kindness leads us to repentance." ouch.
it's not been easy but in the past month i've started to pray that my husband would be so overwhelmed by the mercy, grace, and kindness of God, and that through that, he'd come to a place of repentance.
some days i still can't pray that. but i'm trying to more and more.
that job passage gives me hope that more healing will come to my heart as i strive to keep my heart free from bitterness.
Mark, My mom was a very wise Christian woman. I remember something she told me about this topic (which changed my life). She told me to look at the circumstances of someone's life-where they've been, what has happened to them (whether deserved or not)-which creates a sense of compassion for them (at least it does for me). I find it much easier to forgive when I do that.
What if the person you're trying to forgive is no longer among the living (and probably not with the Lord)? Too late to pray for them ...
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