Feb 18 2022

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

One of the most challenging experiences we have in life is learning to forgive. Letting go of hurt feelings and pain that was inflicted by others is not easy. Sometimes holding onto a grudge may seem like a good idea, and we have no problem justifying it. The payoff, however, isn't worth it.

Unforgiveness robs us of our peace and is in opposition to God's attitude toward us.

So, how can we forgive? The answer is found through prayer and living a life that honors God. When we study scripture, we learn that prayer is a vertical relationship between our Heavenly Father and us. Forgiveness is the horizontal relationship between us and others.

And the benefits of forgiving others are countless.

First, God's peace will fill our hearts and minds. Without harboring bitterness, the Holy Spirit can move freely in our lives.

Next, when we forgive someone, it reminds us of how the Lord forgives us. In fact, as this afternoon's verse says, if we want to receive God's forgiveness, we must learn to forgive others. We can't hate our neighbor and love God at the same time. Hatred and love cannot coexist in our hearts.

It's as simple as this: If we want God to answer our prayers, we have to let go of hateful feelings and unforgiveness and allow Him to handle the difficult situations in our lives.

Dear Lord, today, I ask you to search my heart for any bitterness that lingers there. I know that it hinders my relationship with you. So help me make things right with those who have hurt me—even if that means letting go of feelings I've tried to justify. I want to glorify you with my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

Feb 17 2022

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. :

Anger is a serious issue in society today, and Christians are not exempt from it. We need a great deal of self-control to keep from getting angry and to stop ourselves from carrying anger with us.

The Bible gives us instructions on how to deal with anger in a healthy way. It begins with handling tense or volatile situations immediately so anger doesn't take root in our hearts.

To feel angry sometimes is natural and not necessarily wrong, but sinful anger has the potential to damage and destroy relationships. The second we feel anger welling up inside, we should bring it to the Lord in prayer. We can ask for wisdom about how to handle our feelings.

A wise person will seek godly advice and accept instruction from the Lord even when that means being corrected.

Before you speak, take a moment to ask God to examine your words. And if you react in a way that doesn't glorify Him, seek His guidance and forgiveness.

Lord, please keep me from nursing foolish anger in my heart. Give me your wisdom so I may reflect your character in my life. Let me be a witness of your goodness and grace to others. Please forgive me for the times when I have reacted in anger. Thank you for being patient with me as I become more like you. In Jesus' name, amen.


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