~ 2 Kings 5:10b
Elisha told Naaman to do this to rid Naaman of his leprosy but he refused to at first, he wanted a fast result.......just as you and I ignore certain instructions from the Lord. We too want fast results, why would we possible want to work at something.
Page 130 in Greater by Steven Furtick he ask "What is the Jordan River in your life? What is the one thing about which you would say, "I will do anything God asks me to do -as long as it is not that""? While reading and re-reading the part in Chapter 9 ~ it hit me hard and my heart was pounding inside my chest. God was speaking directly towards me in this section of the book. You see for the longest time I have been ignoring that one request from God, telling myself, everything was fine - Yet it is not. God is asking me to Forgive, he has been telling me over and over to forgive a family member and I have ignored him, the pain is too deep and how could I possibly forgive this person.
I have argued with God over this with the typical "it was not me why should I forgive" or "I didn't do anything wrong, why" then I also told myself I had already forgive but truly I had/have not. Then again on pg. 130 in Greater, "Is it that one person you said you would never forgive"?....Wow there is was shooting out off the page at me,
"Lauren, trust me it is time to Forgive ~ God".
Oh Lord, WHY? I was so close to this person, talked weekly, I looked up to him, he was my best friend, then like a light switch for No reason, no explanation, he completely shut me out of his life....why why should I forgive, it hurts to much.
It was right then I realized I needed to dip in the Jordan River myself, it was time, Time to Trust and listen to the Lord.
Time To Forgive!
The Bible says in Matthew we are to forgive our brothers,
"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he has sinned against me? Up to Seven times?" Jesus answered, " I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21
Or one of My favorites ~ Forgive one Another:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against each one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
God wants us to forgive even when it is the hardest or might hurt, but he will get us threw it. Just because we forgive does not mean that we have to have a relationship with this person again, we are closing that door and moving forward, not holding on to the past.
So I am going to listen to the Lord and start forgiving - because even though it hurts (hurts a lot) I am going to listen to the instructions I am being told, I am going to take that dip in the Jordan, and I know I can and will get threw this because God is on my side.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trust in him, and I am helped.
Psalm 28:7
I love this statement I heard at my Women's Retreat with my Church "Faith strengthens our hearts ~ as we Trust in the Lord." So since my faith is strong , I will trust in the Lord and I will Forgive, so that I may be lead to Greater things God has in store for me ~ My Heart will heal.
I can do anything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
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| Picture Created By Veronica L. Herzing |
