"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke6:37-38
Do you have a scarcity or an abundance mentality?
People with scarcity-mentality see everything as a finite resource,
- the glass is on its way to being empty,
- they are afraid for the future,
- they fear that there will never be enough,
- have a cynical perspective on life,
- pain and resentment is their god
- and they find it hard to forgive.
Verse 37 describes the symptoms clearly:
- They are judgemental
- Quick to condemn
- Slow to forgive and uncertain of their forgiven-ness.
People with an abundance-mentality see a world brimming with opportunities because they are convinced that God is good,
- their glass is on its way to being filled,
- they are optimistic for the future,
- and trust in today's blessings as hope for tomorrow's provision
- and are able to forgive because they have a deep and abiding sense of being forgiven.
Which are you?
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We've talked about forgiveness, we'd explored the foundations, the walls and the roof of forgiveness - now it's time to move into the house.
It's time to forgive.
But how??
1.Own your own forgiveness. Draw deep on the well of your forgiven-ness - think of Jesus forgiving you while hanging on the cross - Hear Him say "Father forgive..." and "It is finished."
2.Make a decision to let it go!
- Remember that God will sort out the justice side of it.
- Speak it out! (This is Behaviour Modification.) Whether you tell the person that you forgive them, speak it out in prayer or write it in your journal, the point is you need to make a statement of forgiveness.
- Remember forgiveness does not make something all-right, it is just letting go. (Remember God deals with the justice side...)
Ask God to help you remember without pain.
3.If the memory hurts, go back to step 2. (Remembering without pain)
Deal with any lingering resentments.
4.Wish the person well. You don't have to be their buddy, you're simply relinquishing the blood-lust of vengeance.
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Forgiveness is one of the hardest yet most-important things we can do.
The choice is yours:
You can:
- walk around with festering resentment toward people who don't know,
- live with unresolved rage toward people who may even be dead already
- or harbour bitter condemnation toward yourself for past failures.
Alternatively you can GET FREE by letting it go. Read back over the last 6 eDevs, get your head around it and fill your heart with forgiven-ness and just do it!
Now is the time.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
