70 times 7?
I had no idea that I was living in unforgiveness until I started studying, meditating and researching into what I call the “triplet to destruction” - unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment. Struggling to figure out how I got myself in so deep to carry this triplets around with me, I discovered some areas of weakness that needed addressing and so I gathered biblical resources dealing with unforgiveness and the revelation I received from these teachings along side my willingness to let go set me on course for life to live an unforgiveness free lifestyle.
As I began my study early this year on forgiveness and still continuing on, I find that though it’s a choice the mature in Christ has to make; it is a commandment by our creator, God (who knows what he is doing if and when he asks us to do anything) and if you love God, you will obey (which is something most struggle with unfortunately). Listening to a bible teacher analyze forgiveness, he made me understand that, if Jesus Christ, with all the wrong I have done to him, forgave me for ALL I had done and sometimes still do, why do I feel so big headed (pride) not to do the same to those who may have hurt me?. He ended the pause by saying something unique “ I can’t afford to do that to Jesus, I can’t afford to turn my back on him by not forgiving the way he forgave me, I just won’t do that”.
Unforgiveness (according to my understanding) I find is so seductive in nature, it’s victims rarely realise how soaked up they are in it. Unforgiveness is one sure trick the enemy uses against us (mostly Christians) to get us to remain under his power. It gives you a false elated feeling, allowing you to justify the reason you live in unforgiveness (self righteousness) and sets your heart on the wrong things, it refuses for you to move ahead or forward, gives you every reason why you deserve to stay in unforgiveness and can carry on life as normal. It engages your tongue negatively causing you to make deceitful utterances rather than spending the time singing in psalms and spiritual songs.
We stand behind a fence, pointing fingers and wangling tongues against those who hurt us forgetting that maybe, just maybe, we too may have hurt them. The word says before you bring your offering, make peace with your brethren. How many offerings have we made that God couldn’t accept because of the state of our unforgiving hearts?
The challenging bit for me is forgiving those you trusted and called close to your heart, those who shared your deepest secrets and dried your streaming salty tears once upon a time. I remember speaking to my earthly father about one of the incidents I faced and as lovingly as possible, he said to me, ‘My dear, if Jesus Christ could be betrayed with a kiss, how much more you’? As simple as that statement was, it dug a deep well of release in my heart and soul. Who am I to think I have a right to not forgive? Why am I bearing the cross when Jesus bore it for me so I may live free? Unforgiveness is a slow steady poison, taking its time to destroy all (relationships, love, family, friends, marriages, church family, siblings, business partners, ideas, creativity) that it finds in its path.
One first step for sure is praying for help from Holy Spirit; a follow up practical step to forgiveness for me was to begin to act on my newness of mind, I began texting and ringing all those who I felt some level of pain when I think of them or hear their name mentioned which indicated that I have not forgiven. This was one practical step I have never experienced before BUT it worked as a stepping stone to coming to that place where I could let go and live free. The practical part of forgiveness I must confess is not for the carnally minded. One truly needs to be spiritual and in tune with the advice of the Holy Spirit and MUST be willing to obey his voice no matter how crazy the instruction is.
Seventy times Seven times is when we should forgive our brethren, it’s a commandment, an instruction, a step to healing, an obedience to God’s will and a key to living a joyful life with everyone and anyone. Following this through has placed me at the happiest I have ever been in a long time.
SO, HAVE YOU FORGIVEN?
