The Forgiveness Process

This one is a big one for me and for most of us, I am sure. Forgiveness is a very challenging part of our daily walk and it’s something that we frequently try to eliminate or pay little or no attention to. We all have our own explanations of what we consider to be forgiveness, and for the most part, our definitions naturally support what we are feeling, and specifically how we want to deal with our emotions. Whether it's the right way to forgive or the God-way to forgive....we do what feels right (for that moment) and what protects us from future hurts....right? (breathe) Well thankfully, forgiveness is a process... When we pardon someone of a wrongdoing, basically, we are doing three things: 1. First of all, we give up our right to “get even”. If we have been wronged, getting even is the likely reflex reaction. BUT we CAN resist the impulse! 2. Secondly, we revise our misrepresentation of that person who hurt us. When we have been deeply wounded by someone, without knowing it - we automatically re-draw a picture of that person, making him/her not primarily our friend or family, or the person we know...but they now become "the person that hurt us." So, in forgiving, we need to re-construct that image and see the person as a flawed, weak, imperfect human being - not much different from us - who hurt us plainly out of weakness. 3. Thirdly, we re-study our feelings. Prayerfully, our feelings of rage are transformed into a desire for that person's blessing and for that person's change...hopefully :) Of course, this is a gradual process. God can forgive in a single moment, but we are finite, temporal creatures for whom almost everything takes time. Forgiveness Builders:

• What are some ways you quietly "get even" when someone hurts you?
• How can you handle the hurt more constructively?

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Running this Race

I heard a really simple, yet challenging teaching on Sunday about the "Race" we are running. While this is something that we are in some way or form doing, we hardly take the time to assess our journey. A lot of us have a goal in mind, or have a target as to where or what we want to be in life. The distance between where we are today and where we want to be, is what I call the "Race". The basics are obvious: starting point and finishing point, but the space between both is the hardest part. Some of us are currently in our starting point, some of us are somewhere in the middle or away from the starting point but I doubt that any of us are at the finishing point. The starting point is where we make the decisions, its where we set some goals, its where we anticipate the end, its where we are fired up! It is here that we pick a purpose; and then train towards that purpose. Then, we set off! And we somehow shoot off into the future....and we then, begin to face different challenges, obstacles, roadblocks, crossroads etc. How we handle these are very critical. At this point, we might feel the need to compromise or we might feel a little bitter with life or the people in our way or both :). We start losing sight of the goals we set in the starting point. We start bending a little here and a little there. We start losing the grace of God, due to the seed of bitterness that we have allowed to germinate in our hearts. We tend to forget that we are in a training season and the training eventually produces a reward, if we stay focused and unwavered. We start giving ourselves up to things that are not proper to our bodies; and to things that can and will contaminate our physical and emotional state. Before we know it, we are no longer training to win the race....we are now trying to run the race. Training is beneficial to the spirit, mind and soul; because it produces discipline! Training teaches you to deny yourself of what your body wants, and only feed it what it needs. Its like a diet...you naturally want to eat what will destroy your body, but you really should eat what will help you fulfill your long-term goal. It's just like in a race, the last lap is the most important. This is where your training is tested. It is the determinator of your training. How focused can you get? Can you hang on until the end? Will you give up and give in? Will your habits along the way, up until this point, cause you to be disqualified? It's just like our faith. Our faith is always challenged along the way, but what will you do with that challenge? Will you submit to this world? Will you stay focused and stand your ground? Like the Hebrew boys in Daniel 1. They openly decided NOT to partake of the King's meal, as it was not appropriate for their diet. In fact, it was contaminated and they chose to decline. Ladies, whatever goals you have set for yourself, or whatever life-changing decisions that you have made, or whatever steps you have decided to make; remember to stay on track...stay in your lane...as your race is yours and yours alone and MUST be completed. You cannot afford to be disqualified! Self Builders:

• What kind of race am I running?
• What type of training is needed for this race?

Believing that you have received it!

Mark 11:24 (New International Version) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. How often do we pray to God about something, but really do not believe that God can do it? Is it that we think that the request is too far fetched, that God cannot deliver, or do we rather not ask for something that extreme? So many things can go on in our worlds but no matter what you face in life, you can ALWAYS ask your heavenly father for a way out! Whether your challenge is bringing yourself to asking God, or believing that you are a child of God and you are entitled to peace or love or joy or whatever it is that you need; always know that God is waiting on your request, so He can show Himself strong in your life. A request requires you to put your need out there. And who better to ask from, than your Father? Ladies, do not be afraid of going before God. Do not be hesitant to throw all your cards on the table. Do not expect anything less than what you deserve. God is a loving, caring and providing father, and He will give you what you need, for when you need it.