Are you someone who has suffered emotionally, and perhaps physically at the hands of others?

Have emotions such as anger, resentment, hate, hostility, bitterness and revenge entered your heart and mind? Have you become filled with an unforgiving spirit?

Unforgiveness can be a hidden culprit. It can make you a prisoner within yourself.

When an unforgiving spirit LIVES inside you, it isn’t bothering those who have wronged you. They’ve gone on their way. But you are still holding onto something that has taken control of your thoughts, actions and words. It eats away at you like a poisonous cancer, and you find yourself bound, with no peace. In reality, you are punishing yourself.

But to forgive in your own power becomes futile, because your heart must first be cleansed of all that the things that unforgiveness creates. Only Jesus can make that happen. He laid down His life and shed His blood to give us the gift of salvation and clean up our hearts. Through Him, there is freedom and victory.

God says “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, KJV) Isn’t rest what we long for when filled with the torture of an unforgiving spirit?

According to 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to . forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (KJV). So why not dare to invite Christ into your heart? Cast your care upon Him. Let Him do the cleansing. Let Him to take that unforgiving spirit out of your heart and give you a new heart with a forgiving spirit.
You could pray a prayer like this – “Lord Jesus, forgive me for bearing a grudge toward the person who has wronged me. Come into my heart, take control of my life. Cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit, and fill me with a forgiving spirit.”

One man who prayed a similar prayer said, “I’ve got peace in my heart, and I’ve got love in my heart for those who have wronged me. One of the greatest possessions I own now is a forgiving heart.” His burden had been surrendered, and freedom was his.

The Bible says “If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15, KJV).

That may seem harsh. But why shouldn’t God expect you to forgive those who have offended you, when He has forgiven you of so much more?

Choosing to forgive, is a choice of your will. When you make that choice your heart is then open and ready for the Lord’s cleansing.

Choosing not to forgive, is also a choice of your will. But the door of your heart is then shut and God will not do His cleansing work.

THINK ABOUT IT. . .
Are you harboring an unforgiving spirit? What’s preventing you from letting it go? Remember, it is harming you far more than the person who has made you angry. Give it to God and ask Him to cleanse your heart and free you to experience His love and freedom.

By Dr. Henry Brandt
used by permission

Read : Matthew 6:14,15, Matthew 11:28, John 14:6, 1John 1:9, Psalm 55:22, Revelation 3

FURTHER READING

The Stumbling Block of Unforgiveness

Victory over Unforgiveness 

Prayer of Forgiveness and Release

The post The Power of Forgiveness appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Psalm 34:13-14 (NIV)

How would you describe the way you talk?

Are your words positive, constructive, comforting, supportive, and uplifting? Or are the words that come out of your mouth most often cutting, negative, and hurtful?

According to Proverbs 15:4 (KJV),

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life:  but perverseness there in is a breech in the spirit.” What does it mean to have a “wholesome tongue?”

A tongue that speaks good of people and situations. A tongue that builds up people (yourself and others). A tongue that is gentle. A tongue that is kind. A tongue that builds others up.

Psalm 34:13-14 (NIV) says, “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.“

The Bible makes it very clear in Matthew 12:36 (NIV) that we need to be careful about the things that we say: “

I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

We all need to give a little more thought to what we say before we say it. “Biblical speech” involves applying God’s Word to our lives daily. It means we allow the principles of scripture to influence our words and how we use them. It means we build people up, we use words of challenge in loving ways, we use words of grace.

Proverbs 21:23 (NIV) gives good advice —

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.” Griping, grumbling, or complaining often doesn’t accomplish anything. And engaging in this kind of talk can also make you feel awful.

Titus 3:2 (NIV) instructs us

“to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

According to God’s Word, our behavior and our words should reflect our devotion to God. We need to pay attention to the way we conduct ourselves! Our words impact our lives, the lives of others, and our relationship with God. Commit yourself to studying God’s Word and applying his principles to your speech.

Read: Proverbs 15:4; Psalm 34:13-14; Matthew 12:36; Proverbs 21:23; Titus 3:2; Proverbs 16:24; Psalm 19:14

Take a Step: Memorize Psalm 19:14 (NIV):

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.“

by Dr. Henry Brandt
Used by permission

Further Reading

•  Extending Grace to Others

•  Desolate or Fruitful?  How are you with others?

•  Salvation Explained

The post Why is What I Say So Important? appeared first on Thoughts About God.