"Forgiveness"

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25

Have you ever held a grudge against someone for something they said or did to you? I'm sure we all have, and for the time being it seems like that makes you feel better. It doesn't matter to you that you are blocking whatever blessings are supposed to come your way, it just matters that you are angry! So you continue your life with the same anger, hatred and unforgiving spirit. Soon things begin going downhill in your life and you wonder why. You have done everything right, you tell the truth, you speak to people when you walk past them, you pray, you even give money to the homeless man on the corner. So why is everything that was going so good now taking a turn for the worst? You sit and you think, trying to figure out what you could have done that was so wrong. You can't figure it out so you go on about your life trying to fix what seems to be broken. One day while you're out you run into that individual that had crossed you and you roll your eyes and the anger that you'd forgotten about emerges. You feel your blood start to boil and the heat rises from the inside out. Then it hits you, you are still angry. You are harboring ill feelings and not yet forgiven that person for their past indiscretion against you. Could this be it? Could this be why things in your life have taken a turn for the worst when they were going so well?

Who are we not to forgive? Jesus taught that we must forgive as GOD forgives. Even while on the cross he asked that those who had crucified him be forgiven because they knew not what they were doing. However it is also written that one must repent before he can ask for forgiveness. Now those that have caused you pain, sadness and angry may not apologize for their wrong doing against you nor forgiveness but you can not continue to hold on to that anguish. What most fail to realize is that when you are angry and spiteful towards someone you are giving them power over you. They know they can get to you and control some of your thoughts. We walk around angry and whoever we are angry with is living their life as if nothing has happened. They could care less that you are mad, hurt, whatever emotion you are feeling they aren't thinking about you. You are wasting energy, time and good facial muscles frowning and pouting. That other person could care less.

Stop blocking your blessings and forgive. You don't have to accept them back into your life, but forgivness is forgiveness. Find it in your heart to forgive them and ask for forgiveness for yourself for holding such a burden. Watch how life changes for you.

~B~