Forgiveness.

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” 

Corrie ten Boom

Ephesians 4:32

And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. 

What does it mean to truly forgive?

Jesus tells us to forgive 70 x 7. 

We should not keep a record of wrongs. Yes, time heals us of wounds. However, when something happens to us it is always with us- no matter how great or small. It molds us, scars us. Scars our soul. 

Normally, a scar is ugly. However, it can also be a memorial to battles fought- and won. In this case, it would almost be a thing of beauty. It's a testament to all who see it that says "I am a victor" Because no matter if you lost the battle, or won the battle- you are still here. And rising above makes you a victor. 

Here I'm not talking about literal battles, of course. I'm sure you follow that. 

But what exactly does it look like to forgive someone? Someone who did something deliberate, or inadvertently. 

It's a walking out, step by step.  It's re-conditioning your thinking to that of sorrow, rather than rage. Sorrow for the other person, or people. And instead of many words- you have nothing left to say at all. Either to that person, about that person, or to God about that person. It's to be able to equate feelings of joy, peace, and love with memories.

 I believe this is true forgiveness. 

Is it easy? No! Not by any means! 

But is it worth it? Yes! 

Reconditioning your thinking to feelings that are completely opposite is difficult. 

When you, or I- or anyone- walks in un forgiveness towards another person it's indirect violation of the commandment " Thou Shalt Not Kill".

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he".

Proverbs 23:7

I'm sure this also attitude separates us from Papa God. After all, think of all the things He's forgiven us for! Such an incredible number, each and every day. How can we not forgive one (or a few) offenses, when He has forgiven us of all? 

Just a week or so ago I was listening to "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. (Hence the quote at the top).

What an amazing woman. The things she and her family suffer makes what I've gone through look like small potatoes. Forgiving those Nazis and other people who hurt her was her key. It was her key-passport to freedom and action. It gave her the ability to have the ministry, the heart, and the love that she did.  She forgave- AND forgot. To tell someone, or to think in your heart "I can forgive this person, or these people, but I will not forget about what happened" Is like tucking it away out of sight, but having it still there. That's not the way! I should be like you wrote it down on paper, then burned it. And nothing is left but ashes. Revenge is not the way- it shows a fallen nature. As does "one upping". You know the attitude. "Well fine, if you do that. I'm going to do this, and now YOU see how it feels"

Goodness! If Christ did that to us… well- you can finish the thought. 

Martin Luther King said : "Forgiveness is not the occasional act. It is a permanent attitude."

May I, may we all, keep in mind what Christ has done for us. And do unto others as we would have it done to us. 

I am off to work, my friends. I hope you all have a blessed day.

(Ps. It's always nice to see comments… *hint hint!*)