Forgiving to Forget

Me? Forgive her? Of course I forgive her! I just can never forget! Is that you? How familiar does that sound? Don’t we all do it? We say we forgive someone, but, we can never forget what they did to us that hurt us so much. Or is this you: I never get angry o, but once you offend me, that is it. I CUT you off! Or, are you: I forgive, and I forget, but I just won’t speak to you again in my life, for peace sake.....

If you are one of the above, take a seat, grab a coffee ( milk, two sugars:-)) and let’s roll.






The issue of forgiveness is one that will always baffle me. I find it hard to comprehend why God asked us to forgive so as to seek his forgiveness as the Bible tells us. let me share a story with you:

A woman lost her only son and husband in one day. Before her very eyes, a rebel invaded her home, and burnt her husband and only child alive. As her family shrivelled into charcoal in her presence, she pleaded with the man for mercy; but the rebel ignored her as he cruelly destoyed her family. About 10 years after the horrible crime, the rebel was finally caught.

The woman, now old and grey from suffering the terrible loss, was invited to the court to witness the trail. As the trial judge condemned the criminal for his despicable and cold hearted killing of a woman's only child and husband, the woman looked on, frail and tired.
The judge, before deciding whether to deliver a death sentence, asked the woman to make a statement to the convicted killer, knowing that the woman's statement would further fuel the death sentence ruling he was about to deliver. So she did. As she struggled to her feet with tears flowing down her old, wrinkled face, she walked slowly towards the man with out stretched arms, while singing the song..' amazing grace.. how sweet the sound..'.
The rebel wept. He had expected the woman to curse him to death, but instead, she wept with love, and embraced him, saying the words, ' With my heart, I forgive you, just as Jesus forgave me for my sins'.....

Can you be like this woman? She surely had every right to demand for the death penalty. Imagine the pain she must have lived through each day, remembering the gruesome murders of her husband and child, yet, she forgave.

Sometimes, someone does something to you that hurts so bad, you genuinely cannot forgive the person. You want to, but you just cant. I am talking of a situation where someone close to you, someone you trusted, literally trashed the trust and spat on it. How do you begin to even think about forgiving the person? Yet, God says forgive. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. God would never have asked you to forgive, if he didn't think you could. YOU CAN!!

Matthew 18:15-17, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Ihad always thought I had a forgiving heart. Until someone hurt me for real. Then I began to understand why the Bible hammered on the issue of forgiveness. Because it is not an easy task!.
In fact, many times, you believe you have forgiven someone. Until you try and relay the story to someone else.... do you notice how your heart still races, and your emotions run wild? When I was hurt, I went to God in prayer and confessed my sin, and told God that I had forgiven the person. A few months later, someone asked me about that person, I, genuinely believing that I had forgiven and forgotten, I began to tell my story. To my shock and horror, as the story tumbled out of my mouth, my rage could not be hidden. I was still upset! I hadn't truly forgiven as God instructed. I hadn't forgotten either. If you truly forgive from the bottom of your heart, you forget. Just like God does. God says he will not remember your past sins, once you confess and forsake them.

When you forgive others, you feel like a burden is lifted off your shoulder. You gain a certain confidence before God. You can go to him, knowing that your heart is not bearing the burden of some one's offence.

When you say you have forgiven someone, you must try to forget what they did to you. If you hold on to the bad memories of the hurt, it is likely that you begin to stir up feelings of anger and hurt, and thus, erasing the desire to truly let go. But, if you think you cant, take a moment and think about Jesus. He is a classic example of whom to follow, in trying to learn to truly forgive.

Jesus was spat on, insulted, mocked, beaten; because of you and I. He was crucified. Nails driven into his hands and feet. He was in so much pain that he sweat blood. And even in pain and humiliation, Jesus, remembered to asked God to forgive those who were flogging and mocking him.
How much more you and I? what did that person do to you that is new? It certainly isn't as bad as the sins that we have committed in the past. Even if it is, the Lord asks us to forgive. Always.


So important is the issue of forgiveness, that God gave no limit to how many times you ought to forgive:

Matthew 18:21-22, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."


Seventy Times Seven?? HOW?? lol.. It just goes to show how important it is to God that you forgive others. God doesn't expect you to count the amount of times you have forgiven someone, he wants it to come Naturally to you, just as it is to HIM.
Beloved, lets try and forgive. Lets think about Jesus instead and let that person go in our hearts. FORGET IT. Even if they are not sorry. FORGET IT. Try to. I know it can be difficult. I know it can be hard, but think about Jesus, and what he did for you.

Has someone cheated you? Forgive
Has someone hurt you/ destroyed you? Forgive
Has someone hurt someone or something you love? betrayed your trust? shattered your dreams? Forgive

Let Go. Let God. Let the burden slide. Forget the hurt and focus on the future. The reason why the PAST is called PAST is because it refers to things that have PASSED. Don't hold unto it... just allow it... and enjoy the abundance of God's blessings, even as you act in obedience to his word.

So if anyone is reading this, and I have offended you in my writing ( and other blog), I ask for your forgiveness... thank you for forgiving me. ( you drank my coffee anyway, so you have no choice!)

Glory be to God, the most HIGH.......

Bimbylads~~~ A growing worshipper

Reflections-

I watched with interest as I journey to work this morning. The train was packed full and people literally squashed against each other for space. The moment one seat became available; at least 3 people would push and shove to occupy the seat. I stood for a few minutes and soon enough, a seat became available, which I grabbed without thinking. As I sat down, I realised that the woman who had been standing next to me held on to her young child. I contemplated offering my seat to her, but I was too lazy and tired to do so. May God forgive me and help me overcome selfishness. Anyway, thankfully, a seat became available. Expecting the woman to grab the seat and carry her child on her lap, she surprised me by not doing just that. She actually gave her child the seat, while she stood, squashed by passengers in the hot stuffy carriage as she struggled to hold on to their heavy bags as well. Her child on the other hand, was comfortable. What mattered to her, was the comfort of her child.

It reminds me of one story I read. A house was burning with fire. The inhabitants of the house, thought they had escaped, until the father realised that his young son was still upstairs, trapped in the fire. The frantic man fought to go and save his child, but was held back by fire-fighters- the blaze was too much and would certainly kill him. The only option was to guide the boy into jumping from the 3 or so storey house. Skilled Fire-fighters called out to he child and asked him to jump. The frightened boy, heard them, but chose to ignore them. As the blaze became hotter, the father of the child became more desperate, so he pulled away from the hold of the firemen and rushed to the foot of the building. With a loud cry, and outstretched arms, he called out to his son and asked him to jump. The boy wasted no time in hurling himself into the open arms of his father.- the only person he knew would not let him fall.
A man took his 5 year old nephew for a walk. As they walked around, the nephew suddenly held out his arms and said in a small shy voice;’ please, carry me uncle’. Surprised at the request, the uncle did so, and continued walking. After a short while, the nephew spoke. ‘Do you know why I asked you to carry me?’ he asked.

The uncle shook his head and the young nephew smiled, saying,’ I was tired and couldn’t really see up the trees as we walked. I know you are strong and tall, so I asked you to carry me, so I could see the trees, without being too tired to walk’.
If we look at the three stories I shared, there is something common- which is, Love and trust. The first story depicts the love of a parent to a child. The second depicts the trust a child has in the voice of his father, the third, the total security of a child in knowing that his weakness did not matter because someone stronger was there right by his side.

Now, let’s sit back and think about our Father in heaven. The Lord has demonstrated the greatest act of love by sending his only son to die for our sins. Jesus, in his love, gave up his life for us, and loved us sooo much that even as he departed the world, he sent the Holy spirit to continually minister to us. The examples I shared in the story are human beings, prone to error and flaw, but if we who are humans, can love our children and family, and cause our children to trust in us, how much more, will the God of the whole universe love, protect and do what He feels is good for you? His word says:

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

How amazing is that!! God cares so much that every single hair on our head is numbered!!!
I remember being brought up by my mum as a single parent. Despite this, she did everything in her power to make us comfortable. I don’t remember lacking anything I needed. My school fees were paid on time; there was always food on the table. But, I did notice, that my mother did not change her car, neither did she buy any new clothes for a long long time. One day, she offered an explanation to me. She said, ‘ I wanted to make sure you lacked no good thing, so I denied myself of some pleasures for you’. I can never forget the way I felt that day. This was the same mum that I annoyed almost everyday by my constant complaints and selfish demands. But guess what? She doesn’t even love me half as much as God does!!! There’s a verse in Isaiah 49 15-16 which makes my heart beat with wonder: God says:

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

That verse tells us that, mothers actually MAY forget their children, but HE would NEVER forget us, because we are engraved….. Look at your palm for a second. Can you see those lines there; have you ever left those lines at home? I though not!! Lol.. That’s how we are in God’s hands. Like those lines… engraved and embedded in his palms. He takes us everywhere he goes because he cannot cut of his palms- we are a part of God! How wonderful is this God!! You must know today that GOD loves you. God wants to protect you, to heal you, to care for you….. To show you what to do in times of stress. He says further in Isaiah 30:

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21)- That’s the Holy Spirit!!

Beloved, be rest assured that no matter what you are going through, God knows, he hears and he is working it out in your favour. Just do as said below:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God is bigger than the mother that loves you.

God is mightier than the father that reaches out to you.

God is stronger than the uncle that protects you.

God is more than able to meet your needs. God is so great that He swares by himself--- there is NONE GREATER THAN HIM!! halleluyah!!

Just trust in him...

God bless you and have a favoured week!! And when it manifests, be sure to tell me!!

Yours,
Bimbylads,~~~~ a growing worshipper.