Forgivness

People often want things out of their own selfish desires, asking God for this and that, good grades, a good comfortable life, money, the love of people, etc.. But they arent willing to go out to achieve it.. they arent willing to give for it..

People want provision, demand it from God but are not willing to sacrifice for it..

Youd think that its enough that we already owe God so much.. He even lets us chooese whether or not to serve him..
But instead of thanking him, many of us demand further blessings from him..

If you follow the word of God, follow his ways, follow his calling for you, he WILL provide..
Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac?
Where abraham carried Isaac up to sacrifice him as a burnt offering unto the Lord, after he was asked to by God..
God saw his faith and then provided for him a ram that was to be sacrificed instead of his own son.

Matthew 6:14 and 15 says: If you forgive those who sin against you, then your heavenly father will forgive you.. but if you refuse to forgive others, your father will not forgive your sins.

When you cry out to God.. WHY HAVENT YOU HELPED ME DEAL WITH THIS MATTER YET?! out of unforgiveness..

Remember this, it is not because he doesnt want to deal with it, but because he is dealing with you first.. he is telling you," Because i am dealing with you first.. because i love you more than i love the stuff."

Everyone gets hurt, but an offence is only made by you..
If you take it to heart, that is your fault, not the person who said it to you..
It is you who decides to take offence against the other person..

psalsm 86 verse 5:
O lord you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

The verse says ALL can ask for his help..

You can ask God to help you learn to forgive..

The bible doesnt place you in personality groups, saying: Only extroverts can seek forgiveness,

or only non-cynical people can seek forgiveness.

Matthew 18: 21 and 22

Do not forgive 7 times but 70 times 7

490 times..

If you havent learnt how to forgive that person of his/her faults after you count till 490, you wont have made it so far..

So God is basically telling us to keep forgiving and forgiving..

Luke chapter 6: Do not judge others and you wont be judged..

Back then, when Scottland was being invaded by the Brtions, Robert the Bruce was one of the leaders leading the resistance and a large bounty was put on his head by the British people..

He was hunted down and a pack of hounds finally found him..

He tried to escape, running and running, with a pack of Hounds tracking his scent and running after him..

He was desperate, cause he knew death awaited him if he were to be caught..

But then he saw the river, and a boat up ahead.. and he went onto it and rowed away.

The hounds, when they reached that same river could not find him.

This was because the scent of Robert the Bruce had been washed away.

And so Robert managed to escape successfully and managed to continue to fight many more years against the British.

In this same way, unforgiveness can tie us down like Robert was, with the devil hounding him and constantly pressurising him *im not saying the British are like mini devils... pardon me*

But forgiveness, like the river, makes Satan lose his scent of us. He cannot continue to pursue us with guilt or any other negatives. So let us wash in the river of life and the blood of Jesus, forgiving, and blessing and favour will be poured back into our life and we will continue to lead fruitful and meaningful lives, continuing to fight as mighty conquerors for the Lord, with nothing to tie us down.

-J-