"The man, who is truly forgiven and knows it, is a man who forgives." - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
It’s amazing how much power the eleven letter phrase wields. "I forgive
you," has the ability to release freedom, happiness and the power to
lunch us forward, forgetting the past. Meanwhile, unforgiveness will
bind and hold us captive to many evils: misery, unhappiness, and a cycle
of anger and unease. Since we have all have felt pain, how then do we
move past it? We can't change the past nor people, but we can decide how
we want our future to be. Understand that forgiveness is really about
the forgiver, not the forgiven. Forgiveness, is about, letting go,
moving past anger or pain, and moving into a healthier place. How do we
truly let go? It's not really about, "How", but "Who"? God's love in us
makes it easier to forgive.Gary Ridgway, the "Green River Killer." confessed to killing women in California. By his confession, he may have murdered as many as 60 women. He especially targeted prostitutes. At his 2003 sentencing, families of victims had the opportunity to address Ridgway directly. Many in anger, lashed out at him for the unimaginable grief he'd caused them. As he listened, unmoved, family members expressed their anger. However, someone did something strange. Robert Rule, the father of teenage Linda Jane Rule, a victim said: "Mr. Ridgway, there are people here that hate you. I’m not one of them. You’ve made it difficult to live up to what I believe, and that is what God says to do, and that’s to forgive. You are forgiven, sir." Like shrapnel from an explosion, these words pierced, and shattered Ridgway's stony heart. He was moved to tears.
No matter what life may throw your way, take comfort: learn to forgiving even the worst offenses against you. It's difficult but possible. Doing this helps you find freedom, and peace from God. Ask God to help you forgive so you'd be forgiven today, and in 2015. You can't allow anything hold you down. Nothing.
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