A Minor Fall or A Major Lift
Words are so powerful. They can send us soaring into heavenly worship, lull a baby to sleep, or capture the heart with romance. Words can also fling us into the depth of despair leaving a lasting scar on the heart of a woman. Whether we are hurt by words or another form of sin, we have the choice whether to experience a minor fall or a major lift.
We make mistakes, we pray and confess, and amazingly our heavenly Father forgives us. He opens His sweet arms and brings us back into fellowship. No one is a perfect Christian; we will sin because of our sin nature. Even the Apostle Paul stated he continued doing the things he did not want to do, yet he came closer to being a perfect Christian than probably anyone in history.
Give yourself a break and stop felling guilty because you had a few minor falls into sin... we all do. God wants us to be joyful and glad (Psalms 100). It is simple, first confess to you Father, and apologize to the recipient of your angry words. God wants us to be joyful and glad (Psalms 100). To say I am sorry, opens the door to vanquishing guilt and allows God's joy to flow down and lift us high in a major way.
Pondering: Can a Christian live in the flesh? Why do we continue to find it difficult to forgive? The Bible says, if we are born of God, then do not sin. This statement is so clear throughout the New Testament that there can be nothing to contradict it. A believer cannot claim to have God in her and live with resentment, hate, or hurt feeling that we cannot release. This verse (1 John 3:9) is talking about continuing the practice of sin; confession causes us to realize sin as something we no longer desire (1 John 2: 1-2).
If we go to our Father, even if it means confessing every day, we start to recognize our sin pattern through the witness of the Holy Spirit. We learn to humble ourselves to the Spirits nudging about our own offenses. It may take time to understand forgiveness from God's point-of-view. Perhaps a family member has hurt you, or maybe a girlfriend said something unpleasant behind your back. Maybe, a parent left scars from childhood that you cannot forgive. God does not want us to resent anyone or hold on to anger. He wants us to trust Him in all things.
If we hold onto resentment caused by hurtful words we do not love the way we crave loves return. When we sin and fall from grace, through confession God lifts us high into the heavens with forgiveness for ourselves, and others.
Coaching: Then, why do we keep sinning even though we do not mean too? Our old sin nature says, "Do it." However, before entering into sin, stand back and think of the consequences. Take what God says seriously. If Eve had listened to God's warning she would not have plunged humanity into the disastrous consequences we now experience (Genesis 1: 1-13). God lets us choose; the consequences of our choices are predestined. Resentment, hatred, and hurt feelings fade away through confession and allows our Lord control over our burdens, therefore, He lifts us into the heavens with joy and gladness.
Giving into the flesh always leads to suffering and gradual spiritual death. Recognizing sin is a practice that we all need to incorporate into our daily lives. If we do not recognize the overwhelming power of the presence of sin, our spirit will suffer death. Stop sin before it starts by listening to the Holy Spirit's sweet whispering voice teaching God's purpose for your life.
As believer's we are recipients of Gods' love. For us to love unselfishly like our Father we must take-hold of His love and love Him back, in order to become complete. In turn, His love is a major spiritual lift (John 3: 16; 1 John 4: 10-19).
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts our fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:18-19 NASB).
Loving those who love us is a major lift into a joy unspeakable. Love is properly evaluating others who show love toward us. If someone shows hatred we must recognize it as such. A proper diagnosis of others through the eyes of love and the mind of Christ, equips us with knowledge to help ourselves and heal wrong attitudes. It also means recognizing a bad influence.
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 5:4-7 NASB).
Challenge: How much love do we demonstrate to the hurtful ones? It is hard to show a loving attitude when someone we love hurts us in fact, it is almost impossible. This week's challenge is to give love and kindness to someone that has hurt your feelings. Our families are the hardest ones to forgive unconditionally... they can hurt us deeply. By the way, every challenge I give you, I practice myself... sometimes I fail. However, through prayer and the power of the Spirit, I learn something new therefore; I try again when I fall.
It is a choice to forgive through prayer, courage, and the Holy Spirit. It is between you and God rather you experience a minor fall or a major lift.
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