Forgiveness. It Frees The Soul

I found this jewel in my notes and realized that I had never posted it.  It's a great reminder for myself - hopefully it will help you as well! God Bless! 

This week, I have finally done something that I've always said I would do and wanted to do, but never really made the time to do so.  I've made a prayer closet, a sanctuary so to speak.  Don't get me wrong, I've had my encounters with God in various places.  When I was seeking Him for answers on something that I really needed to hear from Him on, or driving down the road, taking that time to pray instead of letting my mind run 100mph.  But I have allowed myself to become so busy that I haven't had time for my Papa.  That can be dangerous.  And we wonder why we never "hear from God"...  I say "we" here because, honestly, who hasn't allowed themselves to let life get in the way?  We all mean well, right..? 

Anyway, I went into my prayer closet with the intention of worshiping my Father, reading His word, and praying for direction.  I did all of these things, but I came to a standstill on how to pray for direction.  I literally could not bring myself to pray that way.  So, I began to repent and ask forgiveness of things that I may have said or done that I couldn't remember, and of course repenting of those things that I knew I had done.  I asked God to bring to light anything in my life that I had kept hidden, thinking that I had dealt with it or just brushed it under the rug.  

He has been showing me people all week that I needed to forgive, and I have done so.  There has been a couple of instances where I would receive random texts or something of that nature from people that I knew I had forgiven.  Quite honestly, the one earlier in the week threw me for a loop.  I was like, "I KNOW I have dealt with this situation.  What's going on?  I am NOT going back there..."  At the time, all I knew to do was go back through the situation and forgive the person, and myself, again.  

As I was cutting grass today, praying, forgiving people that Holy Spirit revealed to me, another "blast from the past" hit me.  Holy Spirit reminded me of some scriptures that I have read this week: 

"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye." (Luke 6:41, 42 NASB)

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27, 28 NASB)

It's like a light bulb went off in my head.  Forgiveness isn't just about forgiving the person(s) that wronged you, you have to pray for them too.  Not just pray for them, but bless them. Pray for prosperity and favor, good health, healthy relationships, and all those good things.  If we can't pray for the people that have done us wrong, and do it with love and compassion, honestly, we need to start over at step one - forgiveness. 

The scripture tells us to "forgive so that we may be forgiven". 

I was talking with a friend of mine at the end of the week and I told her that I don't feel like I've gotten anywhere at all in my quiet times with Papa this week.  I was somewhat frustrated that I didn't have any more direction than what I started with on Sunday.  Sure, I heard from God through His Word, but that wasn't all I was looking for.  She was able to point out to me what's been going on.  I had prayed to be rid of anything that would hinder His presence, and that's just what He was doing. Revealing those things that I needed to get rid of...

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Papa, I praise You for what You are doing in and through me.  Thank You for revealing to me those things that I need to pray through and bring into the light.  Thank You for this newfound hunger for Your word and for speaking to me through it.  Thank You for loving me enough not to give up on me. Twelve years is a long time to be saved and just now reaching the maturity level that I'm getting to, but, hallelujah!, You have brought me this far!  I love You so much Abba, and I can't stop thanking You for Who You are.  God, I pray for those that will read this.  I ask You to give them a fresh hunger, a new passion for Your Word and Your presence.  I bless them with good health, prosperity, wisdom and understanding, love and compassion, healthy relationships and that they may be highly favored in the name of Jesus! As always, love You so much! 

Love, 

Your little girl

Who Do You Think You Are?

Who do you think you are? 

This question zoomed around in my thoughts, as it often does, this past Thursday after I received "that" fateful text message.  "I was HOPING you might be interested and available to come speak to them (an up and coming youth group) a little." 

"Who do you think you are?" "You're going to accept that invite after what you said, that word you used, last Saturday?!" "You really think He's going to use you after the language you expressed?"  (Here is where I pause in my thoughts to say, I totally do not condone using any words that are corrupt, no matter how angry you may be.  That is just an excuse to say things that aren't pleasing to God.  The word says "Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it." (Ephesians 4:29 AMP)) 

And then there were thoughts of, "Oh my, you can't come up with anything to say to them, you haven't been in the word as much as Chris and Candace have."  "You're going to look like a fool!"  "You're not perfect!"  Honestly? None of us are.  Time and again throughout the Word and history, God uses imperfect people.  

Take the story of Moses, who was raised up in the palace as the grandson of the Pharaoh.  He went out one day and saw one of the Egyptians beating one of his own people (the Hebrews) and when no one was looking, killed the Egyptian and hid his body.  As he went out the next day, he saw two Hebrew men fighting and asked them who started the fight.  They replied by asking him, "Who made you our ruler and judge?  Are you going to kill us as you did the Egyptian?"  He was afraid and fled to another land, where he met his wife.  Eventually, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush and spoke to him, "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."  "But Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"  "So He said, 'I will certainly be with you.'.."  (This story can be found in Exodus). 

Even Moses doubted his ability to be used by God, doubted his Father and questioned him, "Who am I that you would use me?", after all he had done.  He killed a man, hid the body and fled the scene (so as not to be killed himself).  Yet, God still used him to set his people free from bondage. (There are countless other stories in the Bible where God used people that our society would deem as unusable, trash, unworthy and so forth.) 

The only perfect person our Father used was Jesus.  So why do we think we have to be perfect to be used by Him?  What's really holding us back from doing what He told us to do?  Could it be like Moses, fear of what man could do to us, especially after something we have done in our past?

"So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6 AMP).  

The word says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7 AMP).  So when God calls us to do something, He's already equipped us with the power, love and sound mind to accomplish that work.  The word also says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NASB). So He will not leave us hanging.  He will complete that work that He started in us.  

If you have doubt and fear rise up, go back to Isaiah 41:10 "'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:10 NASB).  And do like Psalm 121:1-2 says and "Lift up your eyes to the hills" because this is where our help comes from - the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  

Spend some time in the word today, some alone time with your Father and find out exactly who you are and what you are capable of.  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..." (1 John 4:18a). His love will dispel all fear and will equip you to do what He has called you to do. 

Papa God, 

I repent and ask You to forgive me of my sins, the fear that almost consumed me and made me say no to this assignment You have set before me.  I prayed for You to use me and I meant it.  I thank You for this opportunity Daddy, and I ask You to take control - give me the words to say and help me not to hesitate to speak them.  Thank You for equipping me and steadying me now in Jesus' name.  Thank You that You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.  I choose to walk in that this day.  Thank You for using imperfect people Daddy.  Thank You for speaking through me, teaching me and loving me.  Holy Spirit, I give You permission to use me, to speak through me now and every day. 

Love always, 

Your Little Girl