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Friday, August 31, 2018

Set the Prisioner Free


            Have you had your Joy Juice today? When we release our anger and hurts to God, there is much more room for joy.
           
            Lewis Smedes wrote a powerful statement regarding forgiveness. He said, “When we genuinely forgive, we set a prisoner free and then discover that the prisoner we set free was us.”

Forgiveness is a change in us.  It doesn’t necessarily change the person who caused our pain. But it brings healing and wholeness to the place where we have been wounded. It sets our spirit free so we can return to life, open to receive the many blessings God has for us, including joy. (From The Joy Stealers by Rob Renfroe)

            We need to realize that true forgiveness is not about the other person.  We can choose to forgive them and move forward…whether they apologize or ask for forgiveness or never do. Even if the wrong is never “made right”,  forgiveness is within our control.

If we choose NOT to forgive, we can become bitter & resentful. Before long that root of bitterness turns into something really ugly and steals our joy right out of our hearts! Unforgiveness is an evil reminder of our enemy….and the kinds of choices he likes us to make.

            Forgiveness on the other hand is a beautiful, lovely reminder of God’s grace.

             As Ephesians 4:32 teaches…may we “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave us.”

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