Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. Many times those who have hurt us are not even aware of the effect they've had, and are certainly not walking around wondering if we have forgiven them. Most people do not set out intentionally to hurt someone else. Yes, there are those who do, but for the most part people are basically good. Clueless, maybe, but not intentionally hurtful. Think about this...if Jesus Christ could forgive those who DID intentionally set out to crucify him and end his life and ministry, asking God to forgive them "for they know not what they do" how can we hold on to anger and unforgiveness toward someone who has hurt us, and say that we are endeavoring to follow Christ's example?
I've been wondering, how do I detect unforgiveness in my life? How do I know if I've truly forgiven someone? What are the telltale signs of unforgiveness? What is the magic formula for making sure I'm not holding on to anger and allowing bitterness to take root in my heart? Where are the mental checkpoints? Well, you may have guessed that there is no "magic" formula. But there is a simple solution. It's not easy at first, but it gets easier with practice. Like driving a car.
Making a safe right turn in a moving vehicle is a gradual process involving a series of deliberate actions. You see the landmark ahead, decide you're going to turn when you get there, and you take your foot off the gas. As you approach the break in the road you turn on your signal, establishing your intention to change direction. When you arrive at the turning point, you apply the brakes to adjust your speed in order to negotiate the turn safely, turn the steering wheel of your vehicle in the direction you wish to go, and complete your turn. It is a process that starts with making a decision.
The same principles can be applied to forgiveness. When tempted to remember the actions involved or perhaps the words spoken that cut to the bone, I can simply make the decision to begin the process of making a mental "right turn" and get off that road. That means I must take my foot off the gas and refuse to travel any further. I must bring to mind a scripture that will be my landmark to a new road, perhaps Ephesians 4:32, which says 'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you'. Dwelling on what caused the pain will not change anything. Talking about it won't change it. Wishing it didn't happen, or that I had behaved differently when it did, won't change it. What's done is done, and it doesn't profit anyone (especially ME!) to relive the painful details. I must make the decision to stop my "mental vehicle" from traveling further down a negative road. I am the driver, and I must decide to turn my thoughts in a positive direction. It's my decision, no one else can steer my thoughts for me, and magic is not involved.
As I steer my thoughts toward those that Father would have me think, dwelling on something good or positive about a person or persons who have caused me hurt, that first thought will be like turning the steering wheel. Maybe I can't summon a positive thought about the people involved, but I can remember what God has forgiven ME for, and choose to put on the mind of Christ as I direct my mental vehicle. When a bad memory pops up on my mental GPS, I can turn the wheel to avoid that pothole. As I begin traveling down the highway I can stay within the lane markings clearly laid out for me in God's Word.
Remember the old Clint Eastwood movie "Every Which Way But Loose"? Clint had an unusual front seat passenger who often traveled with him in his vehicle, an orangutan named Clyde. At one point in the movie a "bad guy" positioned to the right of them as they were stopped on a road was taunting Clint's character. He devised an effective solution to solve that problem which involved utilizing the unique talents of his traveling companion. He took control of the situation by saying "Right turn, Clyde" and a very effective knock out punch was delivered to the bad guy.
You may be thinking "But, it's just me! I don't have a partner in life, there's no one in the passenger seat to deliver that knockout punch! I don't have a 'Clyde'!" Ah, but you do, if you have confessed Jesus Christ as your lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead as the Bible tells us in Roman 10:9&10. If you have done this, Colossians 1:27 declares that you have Christ in you the hope of glory! That means you are never alone. You are a fellow worker with God, who has promised to never leave you and never forsake you. You have the gift of holy spirit and all of it's manifestations available to you, 24/7/365/eternally! You have the tools you need. You just need to use them. It's your decision, it's your vehicle, and you choose the road you travel.
You may have suffered hurt, even tragedy in your life. But there is a healer of broken hearts. He'll mend your shattered dreams. He'll pick up the threads of your broken heart and weave them together again. To your soul he'll bring peace and joy, and your friend, indeed, he'll be. Jesus Christ endured all the pain necessary to bring us healing from any and all pain we have suffered. If you will keep your mind on things above, put on the mind of Christ, keep your heart tender and become like a little child, let go of past hurt, get it off your mind, forget it, move forward and enjoy the life you have left, you will deliver a knockout punch of forgiveness to the "bad guy" that would make Clint (and Clyde) proud!
God's Word, when it's followed, allows us to live a simple, beautiful, enjoyable life. Decide to "make a right turn" today, and begin the process of forgiveness. There's simply no better gift you could give yourself.
God bless you
'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.' ~ Maya Angelou
No comments:
Post a Comment