Devotional Time with God

In Mark 11:25, Jesus said I have to forgive others so I may be forgiven by God for my sins.

Many times, I hold grudges. I despised people for doing what they did.  I didn’t like what they did, so in turn I will not like who they are.  It’s a sin of hate.

But I’m not perfect myself.  I can’t be a hypocrite and expect others to be clean, kind, or nice.  I have to forgive their mistakes.

Every day, I ask God to forgive my sins and mistakes.  I hold on to that promise that God will forgive me of my sins, no matter how small it is, or how many times I commit it.

Jesus is the greatest example when He was on the cross and asked the father in heaven to forgive humanity, for we know not what we’re doing. That is the truth: Jesus died for our sins.

Therefore, I must go out there and forgive others as well, for it is God’s command for me to obey.

Do to others as you wold have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

Jesus said it abundantly clear and simple here.  I need to treat others the same way as I want them to treat me.  It can sometimes be a one-way street, but it is the right way to do it.  It’s the Christian way.

1. Choose the right timing.  Make time to sit down and discuss it.  Avoid all distractions.
2. Have the right attitude.  Apologize privately, with humility, and expect nothing in return.  It’s up to God to change a person’s heart, not me.
3. Be appropriate.  I must consider the situation and person, try to make amends in the way that’s best for him/her.
4. Make restitution whenever possible.  Pay back what I owe.  Return what I borrowed.

Most of all, I must reach out to God.  I need to ask Him to give me the strength to make amends.  If I’m doing my part doing what’s right, He’ll be right there for me.

Dear God, you have shown me that holding on to resentment for the wrongs done to me and refusing to make them right has hurt me emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  I ask you today to help me to be honest about my hurts.  I’ve been ignoring others and keeping all of the negatives in me.  But now I’m ready to come clean. I’m ready to tell the truth about my pain.  I ask you to give me the strength and courage so I can release those who have hurt me.  I want to let go of my resentment towards them.  Only by your power I can do this!  I also pray that you give me the wisdom to know how to make amends.  Please guide me as I find ways to correct and make restitution.  Thank you for giving the chance to being a new life as I refocus my life.  I know I have a long way to go, but I’m holding on to your promises that all my troubles will fade from my memory.  Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

It’s essential for me to forgive others, just as God has forgiven me. It’s not an easy task, but it can be done, with God’s help.  Here are some of the steps I can take:

1. Reveal my hurt.
2. Release the offender.
3. Replace my hurt with God’s peace.

A hurt is no good if I keep it buried in my mind.  I must speak it out to the offender – if not possible, to someone I trust, or write it on a piece of paper.  Bring it out in the open.

Then just simply release the persons who offended me.  I need to tell them I’m hurting because of them, and that I’ve forgiven them.  One suggested way:

You hurt me this way, this way, and this way.  But I want you to know I forgive you because God has forgiven me, because resentment doesn’t work.  I will need forgiveness in the future.  I am releasing you.

And I need to forgive all the time! (Matthew 18:21-22)  When I think about them and they don’t hurt, that’s when I know I’ve released them.

Finally, God’s power is more abundance and effective than mine.  I need to tap into it.  My sheer willpower won’t do it.  Only God can change hearts.  I’ll do my part to forgive and release.  God will work on my heart and those who offended me.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Colossians 3:15

It’s a question that I’ve asked, and heard people asked about.  Being Christian, forgiveness is the hardest concept I have to wrestle with.

I grew up as a skinny nerd, not a strong kid.  I get bullied – a lot.  I grew up dealing with the put-downs, the snow-jobs, the resentment, etc.  One toxic byproduct of this was my propensity to hold a grudge and not being able to forgive.

Now that Jesus is in my life, this attitude is changing.

In Colossians 3:13, it says I have to forgive others just as as God has forgiven me.  It can’t be any simpler than that.

When I think about, having resentment doesn’t do me any good.  Why should I be the one in pain and suffering, sometimes in years, thinking about old wounds?  I have to go on.  Resentment is unreasonable (Job 5:2), unhelpful, and unhealthy (Job 21:23-25). I need to move on.

Furthermore, I need forgiveness for my future mistakes.  I’m not a perfect person. I will make mistakes.  I offer forgiveness because I need to be forgiven, for now and the future.  It’s in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:12).

It is good to be forgiven.  It is better to forgive.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

I have a past.  I have a past that haunts me sometimes.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.  I can let go of my past.  I don’t need my past to remind me how useless, embarrassing, and insecure I was.  I need to move on past my guilt.

First, I can take a personal moral inventory.  I have to write down my good and bad choices and events in my life (in confidence).

Second, I’ll need to take responsibility of my faults.  By being honest, not rationalizing, not blaming others, and not fooling myself.

Third, I have to ask God for forgiveness.  My God is a forgiving God.  He wants to forgive me more than I want to be forgiven.  I won’t bargain.  I won’t bribe.  I do believe that He wants to forgive me of my sins.

Fourth, I need to admit my faults to another person.  This is a tough one for me, for I still have trust issues.  For those I trust, they’re not here to hear me.  I made new friends, but not best friend(s).  This is an area I need God to reveal to me.  I need someone I can trust, understand what I’m going through, and mature enough not to be shocked.

O Lord, thank you for forgiving me.  I’m ready to move on.  Please open the opportunity to share my faults to another person who understands.  I need a person who has your personality, God.  Someone who can help me move on past my guilt.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.

Finally, I’ll accept God’s forgiveness.  His forgiveness is free and instant.  His forgiveness is paramount to my salvation.  It’ll be foolish if I don’t accept.

I am moving on!

I hate some aspects of my past.  It was full of hurt and guilt.  I wish I can just forget them, but they surface once in a while to bug me.  I would wake up from a nightmare of failing my college exams.  I would end up thinking my life went nowhere because of previous failed relationships.  My past can sometimes slow me down.

I must not let guilt from the past destroy my confidence.  I need to look in the future with the confidence that I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes.  The lessons learned is a building block for better knowledge.

I must not let guilt ruin my relationships.  I have to know that my past is forgiven, thanks to God’s grace and mercy.

Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away.

Psalm 32:1

I must not be stuck in the past.  My past is just that… the past.  The Navy Seal has this saying, “The only easy day was yesterday”.   I must keep saying that.  My past gives me perspective, and it must not dictate my future.  I have to move on.

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:2-5

All my life, I want to be in control.  I want to control what can happen to me.  I want to control what people say about me.  I want to control what people can do to me.  I want everyone and everything to behave the way I like.  I want to be the god of my life.

Now that I’m married with a kid, it’s them that I’m in control now.  Not 100%, mind you, but I definitely want all control.

At work, I want to make sure my projects gets down the way I want it: less unknowns, on-schedule, and keeping it simple.

If there’s something that I do every day, like driving, riding a bike, etc., I want to be very good at it so I’m in full control.

When people see me as a weak person (because of my boyish look and figure), I tend to lash out, quick to judge, give the stink-eye, and in some cases, I would curse under my breath.  My face scowls to give an impression I’m tough.  I walk upright and shoulder scrunched up to show strength. I walk with loud thumps using a pair of heavy soled shoes/boots, to tell others that I’m coming.

I’ve denied having problems with anger, being wrong more than usual, looking at dirty pictures, give up too easily, and having a short attention span.  I don’t admit to be the poster child of what’s wrong with being a man – or a human being, for that matter.

I have my fair share of fear, frustration, fatigue, and failures.

However, I am glad that God cares for me.  He takes away my bad habits, painful hurts, and bothersome hang ups.  Not just one time, but all the time!  I just tell Him, “I’m sorry.” and He will give me another chance in life.

I have to admit I’m powerless to change myself.  I’m powerless to take control, when it’s not mine in the first place.

Jesus, you’re full of grace. I sin and constantly sin.  But every time, you always forgive me.  You always let me live everything as if they’re a fresh start.  I love you for it.  You’re the God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and all of the chances!  Thank you, Lord, for saving me.  I give you control of my life.  Amen.

aàspondov (aspondos)

1. without a treaty or covenant of
   1. things not mutually agreed upon e.g. abstinences from hostilities
2. that cannot be persuaded to enter into a covenant, implacable

Mistakes are bound to happen.  I’m not infallible.  People are not perfect.  I’ll say or do things that will offend people.  People will do things that will irritate me.  During my daily commute to/from work is the perfect example.  What raced through my mind is how incompetent people are when they drive.

I have to remember, every time, that I can make those mistakes.  I must be willing to forgive them.  I must not hold a grudge.  The more I forgive, the more I let go of my hurt, anxiety, and stress.  The healing process starts with forgiveness.  I must do this more often.

For people will be… unforgiving…

2 Timothy 3:2-3

I have to first let God help me. Then I have to understand and help others. Finally the last couple of things I need to do are the difficult one: be willing to absorb the pain. I must not let the cycle of hate, spite, and revenge to go on. It ends with me, even if it’s not my fault. Jesus is the best example of this:

Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful.

Romans 5:6

He sacrificed himself when I don’t deserve it. I make the mistakes and He takes the blame. So I must be more like Jesus and absorb the pain, for the sake of reconciliation. I must emphasize reconciliation more than anything else, even over resolution. I must re-establish the relationship with others – it is the utmost important. I must not be self-centered.

Oh let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
And let us be a holy nation
Where pride and predjudice shall cease
Let us speak the truth in love
To the lost and least of these
And let serve the Lord in unity so others will believe L let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace

Oh let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
And let us build on one foundation
Till He comes and the wars of men shall cease
Let us share the Love of Jesus without hypocrisy
Let mercy and forgiveness begin with you and me
Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace

Have we not one Father?
Have we not one faith?
Have we not one calling to become one Holy race??
Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace

And let us pray for restoration
And seek the Lord together on our knees
Let us keep our hearts from evil
And cling to that is good
Let us honor one another and love the brotherhood
Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace

MORRIS CHAPMAN
RECONCILIATION SONG