THANKFUL

(continued from 09/28)

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, September 29, 2023

Lord, living in this broken world guarantees we will be hurt by the actions or words of others. Christ followers are not exempt. Perhaps our partner betrayed our intimacy, or a co-worker railroaded our advancement. Maybe a parent’s abuse left emotional scars that remain unresolved. Regardless, we all carry wounds that force us to make a choice.

“Lead me in the right path, O Lord, [or] my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow” (Psalm 5:8).

Lord, will I choose to follow where you lead and embrace your healing virtue of forgiveness? Or … will I choose to embrace my enemy unforgiveness and hang onto my wounds? This enemy is accompanied by family members bitterness and resentment. Can hatred be not far behind? As Christ followers, we never have to live this way.

Lord, after we have experienced your spiritual healing of forgiveness of our sins, the release of anxiety and fear from our spirit is unexpressable. “Those who the Son [Jesus] has set free [from sin] is free indeed” (John 8:36). We cannot explain this freedom. It can only be experienced.

Unforgiveness is a cruel enemy, holding us prisoners to the effects of the offense. Peace is fleeting. The offender lives rent-free inside our head. Focusing on the wrong blinds us to your invitation to freedom through forgiveness. By refusing to forgive, we carry unforgiveness’ harmful baggage which affects and infects other relationships. Our enemy, unforgiveness, is unforgiving.

Lord, if I follow where you lead and live according to your precepts, my enemies pride, arrogance, and unforgiveness will never control me. With you, Jesus, my enemies remain conquered foes.

 Amen.

(Continued)