Friday 12 September 2008

Forgiveness List...

On reading Julie's blog today about Digging Out The Roots, I thought I would write down the areas where I need to forgive others as a means of releasing their hold on me. God knows who I am referring to in my list, as I have already spoken with Him about the people who have left marks on my life in various areas, and will speak to Him again about them, I'm sure.

Forgiveness is SO very important. Jesus forgave on the cross, so we too must forgive. He was, and still is, our ultimate example of how we must live life, with forgiveness being a crucial part of it. So here goes…my list…

I forgive you for not realising that the words you spoke cut me to my core and you hurt me terribly
I forgive you for doing the best you knew how to do at the time, even though it felt like you didn't love me
I forgive you for not understanding what was going on in your head to the point that you had to leave
I forgive you for being held captive to something that still holds you today, so much so that I made you leave
I forgive you for the harsh words you speak towards me and recognise that they come from frustration
I forgive you for not giving yourself as much credit as you should and for not believing in and liking yourself

Please forgive me for not trusting entirely in your love for me, even though you don’t realise this happens
Please forgive me for expecting more than anyone is able to give, even though I know you cannot do this
Please forgive me for taking so long to return to your loving embrace, even though I knew you were always there
Please forgive me for not loving myself enough to forgive others or me, even though you love me so very much
Please forgive me for the unfairness of my behaviour towards you, even though you love me unconditionally
Please forgive me for not setting a better example of how life should be led, even though I know I am able to


It’s a strange list when I read back over it, but one that I need to write, and also one that I need to re-read periodically to remind myself of the importance of forgiveness.

“Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."” Luke 23:34a. I wonder as I read this verse if this could also apply to Jesus stepping in for us and asking God to forgive us for not forgiving others. Maybe or maybe not, but these words that He spoke as He hung there on the cross dying for our sins are very poignant. We don’t always know what we’re doing and thus we mistreat others, and others mistreat us because they don’t always know what they’re doing. But we, a Christians, must forgive! There is no deviation on that instruction from our Father.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” - Matthew 6:14-15

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the provision of being able to forgive others and also to ask for forgiveness for ourselves. We, as humans, are fragile creatures who do not always know what we are doing. But it is through your grace that we have the means to find out what we must do, and that is to seek you for forgiveness and the ability to forgive. In Your Wonderful Name, Amen.


2 comments:

  1. I forgive you for not realising that the words you spoke cut me to my core and you hurt me terribly

    I forgive you for not understanding what was going on in your head to the point that you had to leave

    I forgive you for being held captive to something that still holds you today, so much so that I made you leave

    I forgive you for the harsh words you speak towards me and recognise that they come from frustration

    Those above that I copied and pasted...oh my. They are my words and my heart that I had never verbalized in my heart toward you know who.

    I said just this past July 20th that I forgive him, his mom, and one of my friends. But I never expounded on the descriptions or the reasons. I re-read your words and just stare at them thinking, oh my that's how I fill. THat's what he did to me. He doesn't know he's being held captive either and I don't believe my person knows what is going on in his head/heart either.

    This is so weird. Maybe it's in our same name? haha
    Love,
    Paula

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  2. Paula,
    Thank you so much for your visit to my blog and your sweet words. You have blessed me. I am thankful that Papa God gave me words that spoke to you.

    Hope you'll visit again!
    Julie

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