Let it Go

[stephen]

(Elisabeth Elliot).


“Who of us can say that we would not have loved to see punishment meted out to all those who have hurt us? The Lord Jesus asks to relinquish that wish, take it to the foot of the cross and let it go.

What a release, what a relief, when we give up the bitterness and it can be forgotten! Have you wondered whether your adversary might be suffering in some way? God knows how to deal with the person who has wronged you--when or whether He deals with that person is not your business.

God knows the whole situation, and if you will relinquish the wish to see punishment meted out, you will be relieved of a great burden. Consider Matthew 5:43-47: ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. ... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?’ (NIV)

Every time I read that passage I pray, ‘Lord, aren't You asking too much of us?’ And of course He answers that He will help me: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’ (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).

But I know that there have been times that I have carried anger in my own heart, an unwillingness to let go. May the Lord God give us grace. May He give us the willingness to do what He is speaking to us in our hearts to do”


Lord, thank You for forgiving us. Remind us of this gift each time we hold bitterness or a desire for revenge in our hearts. Help us to extend mercy to others as You have to us, so that we will be examples of Christ’s life-changing power. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Thanks for the post, Stephen. I think it is important to note that Elizabeth Elliott is the wife of Jim Elliott, a 20th century Christian martyr.

SLE

 

[stephen]

Thanks for the post, Stephen. I think it is important to note that Elizabeth Elliott is the wife of Jim Elliott, a 20th century Christian martyr.

SLE

Aware of that brother. But thanks for reminding. Some may not be aware

 

[butterfly]

Thanks so much for this.I totally know how it feels to walk in unforgiveness and bitterness. I came to a point where i couldn't even pray before and that's a really crappy feeling.Now i ask for forgiveness first before i continue to pray and i've learnt to let go.If you don't and hold onto all those stuffies, you'll never move beyond that point and you'll never know what God has planned for you.

That's what i've learnt and it was hard for me to realise it but it was worth it.

Butterfly

 

[stephen]

Thanks so much for this.I totally know how it feels to walk in unforgiveness and bitterness. I came to a point where i couldn't even pray before and that's a really crappy feeling.Now i ask for forgiveness first before i continue to pray and i've learnt to let go.If you don't and hold onto all those stuffies, you'll never move beyond that point and you'll never know what God has planned for you.

That's what i've learnt and it was hard for me to realise it but it was worth it.

Butterfly

Trusting......as the moments fly
Trusting......as the days go by
Trusting Him what'ere befall
Trusting Jesus.......that is all

 

[Jonah2005]

Well Said Stephen!

That was said so wonderfully! And it's so true,too! I think at least sometime in our lives we have felt just like that.
Life is hard & filled with all kinds miss-fortunes & temptations.

And some of those miss-fortunes {&temptations} are the feeling of getting revenge, or as I use to call it; "giving them a taste of their own medicine!"

But how wrong is that?

It's very, very wrong! For one, "giving them a taste of their own medicine!" is nothing more than SIN ITSELF! For it's nothing more than copyng the sin of the enemy you want revenge on.

The Almighty GOD HIMSELF said: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay"
{Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalms 94:1, Romans 12:19-21, Hebrews 10:30}

Therefore we should with all that -mmph- all that strength & might that's with-in our Spiritual selves, put it to work.

'We' must allow The Almighty GOD to do HIS WORK. If HE says Vengeance is HIS, then so be it!

When we feel that need to get revenge, then is when we need to go straight to HIM & ask for HIM to forgive us & to guide us from that wicked thought & temptation that's knocking on our door within us. We need to ask HIM to pour out HIS Holy Spirit to give us strength, to keep strong & wise.

For revenge is another form of temptation.
It's sin knocking on the door within us, hoping & waiting for us to let it in. And when the temptation starts feeling stronger, that's sin knocking harder & loader on the door. {Genesis 4:7}

The only way to be rid of it, is to ignore it & to obey The Almighty GOD.

Now someone might say; "that's easier said than done!"

But is it really? Or is it just an excuse - a cop out - or - an escape goat?

Think about it.

Going straight to HIM in prayer, as I had mentioned above, is not hard to do.

And keeping GOD'S Rules & Regulations close to our hearts, souls & minds, as if they were tattooed there, never to be removed to serve us as a reminder of what GOD approves of & what GOD does not approve of, is a wise thing indeed! {Proverbs 3:3}

For HIS Rules & Regulations are just another way for GOD showing us HIS love & protection for us, HIS children who love HIM & HIS Son Christ Jesus.

 

[stephen]

God Bless you brother Jonah.........you are spot on with your post....


In His Love

 

[jculver]

Honestly since I have become a Christian I have yet to have anyone really really wrong me. I am welcoming it and waiting for it so I can excersie this forgiveness, and excersise my faith. I know that sounds wierd, but before I came to Christ I felt like I was being wronged all the time, and now it has stopped and I have no chance to forgive :0 Sounds silly I know, but I still am waiting in anticipation for some opportunity to test my faith I was pretty bad at it before. Vengance was a huge part of my life before Christ.

 

[sabre7]

jculver

Honestly since I have become a Christian I have yet to have anyone really really wrong me. I am welcoming it and waiting for it so I can excersie this forgiveness, and excersise my faith. I know that sounds wierd, but before I came to Christ I felt like I was being wronged all the time, and now it has stopped and I have no chance to forgive :0 Sounds silly I know, but I still am waiting in anticipation for some opportunity to test my faith I was pretty bad at it before. Vengance was a huge part of my life before Christ.

I feel exactly the same way. God is so perfect.

 

[mounty]

wow this is a subject i have been working hard on

Im getting much better now at forgiving others, although i can hold a grudge still, untill i pray hard and God removes it from me

It improves your life by 100% ,carrying all that hate inside you, is destroying only one person ,you
I use to lie awake at night with anger raging through me because of a wrong doing someone had done to me ,now i let God take it from me and instead of hate im filled with peace
God is good

 

[SpiritLedEd]

I'm blessed to have a good friend from my church who confronted me about my anger issues and how my anger was hurting my small group.

After speaking with him, I realized that something I thought "wasn't so bad" was, in reality, pretty serious.

SLE

 

[Dreamer]

It amazes me how easily some christians learn forgiveness....I'm glad, I rejoice with each of you. Doesn't come naturally to me and have been in a learning process about forgiveness for the last 16 years. Note the word, "natural". That's because God has to be right in the middle of the process and right in the middle of my thoughts and intentions in order for me to totally forgive.

The first person I ever forgave was my paternal grandmother. I was 30 years old before I learned about forgiveness! And she had been long dead. But it's never too late.

I literally did not know what forgiveness was. I know this sounds like a lie, but I had lived my life in such a nest of unforgiveness, bitterness and wrath---that I didn't know that I was imprisoned. Freedom, wonderful freedom comes with forgiveness. Forgiveness is obedience to God. Forgiveness is always God's will. So simple, but it eluded me for a life time!

I admire christians that apparently have very little struggle with it!

Sincerely,
Dreamer