Encouraging Words on How to Let Go and Forgive | Thurs., June 09, 2022

​Bible Verse for the Day | Colossians 3:13
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Hello everyone…and how are you doing today? It's so good to be back with you again…and to share words of encouragement from God's heart to ours…words that can truly help and sustain us, during these hard and difficult times of life. I just pray that as we begin our visit; that God's words would truly touch each of our hearts and bring about a healing…one that can breathe new life within us…Amen!!
The other day, while getting around for my evening, a lot of thoughts began to cross my mind…thoughts that I hadn't chosen to think on; but rather, thoughts from the past that Satan was attempting to haunt my spirit with. As I began to take my focus away from those thoughts and focus on God; He began to give me a new insight on forgiveness…one that can help us to cope with the haunting thoughts of the past…and even those from this present time…that we may live with a true and lasting peace.
As we begin our visit, there is one thing that I would like to ask us all right now… "When someone hurts us; how do we react to their actions towards us?" In other words, are we quick to hang onto their fault or do we see the fault as a need that they hold deeply within themselves? Could it be that this person finds fault in us, due to their own inner pain? I have learned that the easy way to let go and forgive someone, even when they haven't asked for forgiveness; is when I think on what may have bothered them…to bother me.
Everyone has a reason for spouting off or deliberately hurting someone…and sometimes someone who is hurting, has to hurt someone else, so they don't have to hurt alone…and the reason why I say that; is because that is what I experienced a long time back. I think that the most difficult situation that I experienced, in relation to what we talking about right now, was the need to forgive my grandfather, after he had sexually molested me as a child.
Years back, I had taken a trip to my home state in Michigan to deal with this. As I sat on a stump near my grandfather's grave, I knew that the final thing that needed to be done…so I could move on in life, was to forgive him with a genuine heart…which to be honest with you wasn't very easy.
At the time, the hurt was so real and deep within me; that all I could think of, was why had he chosen to do this to me. Didn't he stop to think on how this might affect me later in life? At the time, I seemed to be so caught up in these thoughts…and the pain that he had brought into my life; that honestly…I didn't know how I'd ever find a way to forgive him.
As I continued to sit there near my grandfather's grave, I began to cry out to God for help. As I sat there quietly in His presence; He began to give me a different view on the abuse that had attempted to overtake my life. From that moment on, I came to see that I would have to lean on God's strength…and emotionally walk beyond the wrong that had been done to me…to see the need of my grandfather's own heart. In other words…what was the need of his own life; that may have caused him to do this to me. Yes…there is still no excuse for what he did; but yet, I have come to see that there must have been some deep embedded problem within his own life; that had cause him to be this kind of a person to me.
After thinking on all of this, I've also been reminded that Christ is truly the example of forgiveness; for He chose to walk beyond every fault and sin that we would commit…to care for the need of our hearts. If we look back to the time of Jesus' death; then we see that He wasn't treated fairly either; for He was innocently beaten and treated in the way of a guilty person; but yet, He was willing to go through every bit of this innocently, to repair the flaws in our vessels with true forgiveness. Just think…if Jesus would have focused more deeply on our faults, rather than the need behind the fault; then do you think that He would have had the heart to do for us…what He did so many thousands of years ago? Since that visit to the graveyard…about 30 years ago, I can say that I have truly forgiven my grandfather, just as Christ has done for me…so many times.
You know…I think that the reason why Satan preys on these thoughts of the past…or even some present ones; is because we haven't experienced true forgiveness. Through all that I have been through in my life…Satan still attempts to bring these moments of the past before me; but now I am able to fight back, by reminding him of his loss at the cross. I want you to know that true forgiveness doesn't always remove a memory that has become a part of us; but at the same time, I have come to see that it does help to erase the hurt, so that it can't be used even more against us. 
Maybe someone has hurt you too…and you're finding it difficult to let go and forgive this person. May I encourage you to follow the example of Christ…for if He was able to forgive every wrong that we have done and would do in our lives; then we too, can do the same. It's not about what has been done wrongly to us; but rather, it's about the need of the one who did the wrong; that will teach us how to forgive. We don't always know what causes people to do what they do to others; but just as we would want someone to understand us; we too, must choose to follow the example of Christ…and walk beyond the fault, to see the need of the heart. Through this, we will not only learn to forgive; but to also let go, which will give us the strength we need, to get back up to our feet and move on once more.
I'll tell you…I have truly enjoyed our time together today! I hope that you will have a very nice day! Take care…and I will be looking forward to another great God inspired visit with you again tomorrow! Until then…God bless!
It's Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
*If you haven't yet accepted Jesus into your heart, I would like to invite you to check out… "Come to Jesus."

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