A friend shared with me in a recent letter how God has been helping him to forgive those who hurt and betrayed him in the past...
He had been gossiped about, and bad but untrue rumors had been spread. He had wrestled with bitterness for years and even left the church because of it.
Lately, however, he’s begun to experience deliverance from the angry and hateful feelings that had been a part of his life for far too long. He told me that a deep sense of peace has begun to enter his life.
In my reply, I told him that, because we have within each of us a fallen nature with its propensity to sin, it is easier for us to remain angry with those who may have hurt us than to turn the other cheek and forgive. But this is where Christ’s grace comes into play, I told him. How the Lord Jesus, by His example, shows us how to take the higher road.
I said that Christianity swims against the tide. In other words, while the majority of those in society are going one way, the church is going in the opposite direction. The larger group is traveling down the broad road of hatred and a desire for revenge. But those who follow Christ, down the road of forgiveness.
Forgiveness, I believe, goes against the grain. While to remain an angry and unforgiving person who holds onto a grudge, is viewed as acceptable. And this is true even knowing that by retaining these negative things, we can put our health in jeopardy. We may even put ourselves into an early grave.
Many studies throughout the years have shown that being a forgiving person leads not only to inner peace, but to better overall health, as well. All said, those stuck in unforgiveness live in a terrible place.
D. B.
See how Joyce Meyer, and a Man whose sister was murdered, were able to forgive those who hurt them here (scroll down).
Lately, however, he’s begun to experience deliverance from the angry and hateful feelings that had been a part of his life for far too long. He told me that a deep sense of peace has begun to enter his life.
In my reply, I told him that, because we have within each of us a fallen nature with its propensity to sin, it is easier for us to remain angry with those who may have hurt us than to turn the other cheek and forgive. But this is where Christ’s grace comes into play, I told him. How the Lord Jesus, by His example, shows us how to take the higher road.
I said that Christianity swims against the tide. In other words, while the majority of those in society are going one way, the church is going in the opposite direction. The larger group is traveling down the broad road of hatred and a desire for revenge. But those who follow Christ, down the road of forgiveness.
Forgiveness, I believe, goes against the grain. While to remain an angry and unforgiving person who holds onto a grudge, is viewed as acceptable. And this is true even knowing that by retaining these negative things, we can put our health in jeopardy. We may even put ourselves into an early grave.
Many studies throughout the years have shown that being a forgiving person leads not only to inner peace, but to better overall health, as well. All said, those stuck in unforgiveness live in a terrible place.
D. B.
See how Joyce Meyer, and a Man whose sister was murdered, were able to forgive those who hurt them here (scroll down).
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