Look at the title of this blog. Do you realize that you can’t have one without the other? Those two words are not mutually exclusive. Ladies, you cannot have the whole healing Christ offers freely without not only accepting His forgiveness, but offering it to those who have hurt you as well.
I was a very emotional child. I would carry around hurts of “he said, she said” or “she talked about me behind my back” or “he gave me a dirty look” all of the time. I carried those burdens. In fact, I still do. I still find it hard to let go of things when people hurt me. In those times of intense anger or hurt, I remember what my beautiful mother always told me. “Take the stone out of your own eye, Carissa.” This principle she taught me comes directly from Scripture.
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” Matthew 7:5 (ESV).
Our authors discuss this point as well:
“It might help to remember that those who hurt you were also deeply wounded themselves. They were broken hearts, broken when they were young, and they fell captive to the Enemy. They were, in fact, pawns in his hands. This doesn’t absolve them of the choices they made, the things they did. It just helps us to let them go—to realize that they were shattered souls themselves, used by our true Enemy in his war against femininity.” (pg. 103)
Helps put things in perspective, doesn’t it? Our enemies are not the people who hurt us…it’s Satan. He’s the one who causes evil in this world. He’s the snake behind The Fall of Adam and Eve. Yes, the responsibility is still ours; we make wrong choices daily. But, be assured that one day, we will all be held accountable for our actions and words before God. He will judge; He will right all wrongs. We are accountable for ourselves, not for anyone else. So that is why Jesus calls us to “forgive as the Lord [forgives us]” in Colossians 3:13.
When we forgive, a burden on our heart is lifted. So what burdens are you still carrying?
Once we forgive and let go of those hurts, we can receive fully the healing promised by God. David, tortured by his oppressors, praises God in Psalm 23. Meditate on the truth below today. God loves you and will heal your broken heart!
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me,
Your rod and Your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Praise Him,
Carissa
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Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, You are so magnificent! We praise You, Father, for Your endless mercy and forgiveness because we deserve nothing. Help us to forgive those in our past, present, and future. Heal our hearts, Daddy. We love You, and know that You promise complete healing if we ask. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.
Your Assignment:
What’s holding you back from offering forgiveness to those who have hurt you? Please share so we can pray with you!
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If you would like to send a private message to Carissa in regards to this blog, please email her at: Carissa@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com
About Carissa Markantone
thank you, carissa! so important to remember these things and that we must “put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” BECAUSE “…we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere” (Ephesians 6:11,12). <3
Very good blog, Carissa! Once we truly forgive, and let go of the wounds, we ask ourselves why we hung on to them for so long!! The freedom that Christ offers is so much better than the bondage that satan offers!! We just need to TRUST that God has our BEST at heart!!! I LOVE Psalm 23! It is truly an amazing Psalm of trust!!
Good topic… but forgiveness can definitely be hard at times!!! But when we learn to let go and forgive- Let go and “Let God”, things will be a lot easier… and it’s better to forgive people and not hold hate in our hearts…
Lauren, so so so true. That hate will just manifest in our hearts and seep into other areas of our lives if we let it. Praise God for the choice to forgive! <3
“SINNER’S PRAYER”
There are those who advance the position that, by saying, the Sinner’s Prayer your sins will be forgiven and you will be added to the Lord’s church. The question remains, can saying a prayer save anyone? Let us investigate that supposition.
The typical sinner’s prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that you have died for my sins and arose from the grave. I now turn from my sins and invite You into my heart and life. I receive You as my Lord. Amen.”
The birth of the church of Christ was A.D. 33 the Day of Pentecost. How were they saved?
Acts 2:22-41…..36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The events on the Day of Pentecost that lead to salvation.
1. Peter preached the death, burial , and resurrection of Jesus.(Acts 2:22-35)
2. Peter proclaimed Jesus as both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
3. Men believed the message and were convicted of their sins and ask what they should do. (Acts 2:37)
4. Peter told them to repent and be baptized (immersed in water) so their sins could be forgiven and they could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
5. How were they saved? Act2:40-41…”Be saved from this perverse generation” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (Notice they were not saved until they were baptized).
PETER DID NOT TELL THEM TO SAY THE “SINNER’S PRAYER” IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.
What did they have to do to be saved?
They needed to have faith: John 3:16, Mark 16:16
They needed to repent: Acts 2:38, Acts 3;19 (repentance means to make a commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God).
They needed to confess: Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:36-37.
They needed to be baptized: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21.
The apostles never taught the sinner’s prayer as the terms for pardon.
No one is questioning the sincerity of those who recite the SINNER’S PRAYER, the question is, can the SINNER’S PRAYER SAVE ANYONE?
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