Give up a life of bitterness and resentment. If someone has offended you, don’t let it build up inside of you to anger. Freely forgive them as Jesus forgives us. It may be a very hard thing to do because of what someone has done to us but there needs to be closure. There needs to be restitution for things of the past. Broken lives can be made whole again if your trust is in Jesus. He will give us a heart to make things right. It is the will of God that families are restored to the fullness of His joy. We can’t do everything on our own and need the Lord to convene in our lives. We need to go further than trusting in man but God in giving us forgiving hearts. Giving us the words “sorry”, “I was wrong”, “forgive me”, “I forgive you”, “I am at fault”, and “I love you”. It is humble to hear someone say, “I am sorry for keeping all this anger and resentment in my heart for you all this time. I was so wrong for keeping you out of my life for so long. Please forgive me. God gave me strength to forgive you even though I am at fault too. I pray that you will forgive me. I love you dear brother” These are not just words but heart felt apologies that mend broken hearts. We are convicted by how we’ve treated others and want to make things right. By this our words turn into deeds. We are not just saying kind things but truly mean every word. How amazing is it to when lives come back together after months or years apart. It is a joyous occasion to see a wayward son or daughter come back to their Father in Heaven, as well. Doing kind to the least of the people around us is what Jesus expects. Our belief in Him yields much fruit in our service to Him and others.
I pray that you let Jesus cut down all your walls that you’ve built up over the years. That He will tear down the bridges you have made between you and your family. Your distresses will dig a deep hole in your heart if you don’t let the Lord get rid of it. Let the Lord convict you like He did with Joseph in Egypt. His brothers had done such cruel things to Him and now that they were in need of food and He has a difficult decision to make. To forgive them or treat them bad like they had to him. This is the same decision we must make. Either give up our anger towards others or despise God and continue to feud. God’s path is righteous and leads to life eternal. He desires that we turn from all resentment and hate and let Him do a work within us. Toke hold of the Lord and Let Him change you from within. Through Him, you will develop a heart to not judge others any longer for their sins they committed in the past. It may have been difficult at the time to take in but your life in Christ has made you a better person. What takes place now and how lives are mended in love is more import. He has made you the person you are today. For this, He gives you a heart to forgive. We lay down the things of the past and make restitution for them. Do the necessary things to make things right with men, women and God. Know that Jesus will freely forgive you as you forgive others. Thank You Lord for giving me a heart to forgive and say sorry. I could never break free of all my resentments if it wasn’t for your love. You stuck with me through all the hard times. You have helped mend all the brokenness in my relationships. Thank You. I love You.
Genesis 42:14-24 (KJV)
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
Matthew 6:14,15 (KJV)
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
