Warriors Arise: November 10, 2023
Matthew 5: 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Do you believe them? When they apologize, do you believe they will make the change. Isn't that one of the major reasons it is so difficult to forgive them? Deepening on how many times and how long they have sinned against you, it can be harder to give forgiveness.
I have used this illustration with my children to teach them to apologize quickly. When their sibling is upset because they did something, they need to quickly repent and apologize before they are brought before me. If it was only that easy.
Most of the time, the sibling can't wait to get them before me in order to see judgment rendered. When this is detected, then there are two judgements/disciplines rendered. When the offended sibling refuses to forgive, we have another issue. They are now in the wrong because they will not receive the apology of the offender.
I remember coming words the corner in our house and hearing one child yell at another, "I'm going to tell Mom!"
The other child came running out, "No, don't go tell Mom! I didn't mean to break your toy. Here, take mine! Don't tell Mom!"
But, the first child would have nothing to do with trying to mend the breach. They were out to make sure the second child was disciplined. That was the only thing that would make them satisfied.
It is a great lesson to learn and ask myself. Are there times when someone wants to make things right with me and I want them to get what they have coming to them. I want to see them suffer for what they put me through. I want to make sure they understand how deeply they hurt me; therefore, I think I have the right to refuse their apology.
I admit, the longer the offense, the harder it is to forgive when they finally realize what they have done. It is difficult to let it pass and believe things will change or get better. They can't really understand the trauma they caused you. So, there is a piece of you that might feel like you are being taken advantage of. They continue to get away with their poor behavior that is causing such tremendous pain in your life, while you have to continue to receive them back and believe for their turnaround.
Father, I ask for You to give me the integrity to receive the apology and allow the offense to be removed from my remembrance. I pray You would come and minister to my pain and devastation. I pray You would restore my mind and remove the trauma caused by the offender. I pray You would help them to make a real change in their life. I pray You would restore them to who You created them to be. I pray they would rise up out of the wayward living and walk with You. I ask for You to give me strength to love them enough to forgive them even if they haven't asked in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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