The Bible has much to say about lying. We seem to live in a time when lying, even by government officials, is common place. This should not be the case. If only people followed the Ten Commandments, but as you know they are outlawed in most places. It is sad to me that this very important area of life is not held up even by our own national leaders.
I will go over some of the verses in God's word about the issue of lying. First of all, if we had not taken the Ten Commandments out of schools we would have a standard of right and wrong and young people would grow up and know it is wrong to lie.Parents can still teach their children what is right and wrong. Thankfully that has not been outlawed yet. Anti Christian forces have gotten their way and have taken away references to God that have shaped this country and the integrity of its' people. Even the ivy league schools up in the Northeastern US were founded on Biblical principles but now all of them have gotten so far away from their roots. This is what happens when we allow sin to seep in and do not speak up. We need to pray for an awakening of Godly principles to infiltrate those institutions who put God on the back burner.
Proverbs 16:13 says "The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly." Proverbs 6:16-19 says "There are six things the Lord hates,seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
Notice those in court today who have to place their hand on the Bible and swear to tell the truth so help them God. Well we know this does not happen in many cases. In the military service a similar oath is taken. An oath is to be a promise but so many today take promises lightly take for instance how many marriage vows are broken and shattered lives are left in the wake.
Honesty and truthfulness need to make a comeback for the sake of mankind. Proverbs 26:28 says "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin." If one lie is told another lie has to be told to make up for the first lie. There is no such thing as a 'little white lie'. Be honest 100% or you are telling lies. There is no way around it. Americans who are raised using God's standard, the Bible, know the truth will set us free. (See John 8:31-32). Today in our nation we are infiltrated by many who lie routinely and see nothing wrong with it and in the case of those using the Qur'an feel justified in their lying to the infidel, which are you and me if we follow Jesus. Lying is wrong. End of story. If you are a follower of Christ or live in this country and take an oath you are to follow the oath and be truthful. Satan is out there though seeking to defeat the Christian and the truth.
Exodus 20:16 is the Ten Commandment that says "Thou shalt not lie". Lying is wrong. Dishonesty is terribly wrong .But if you grow up and do not have a standard for what is right and wrong then of course anything goes and what does a little lie hurt anyway? Psalm 120:2 says "Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues." For anyone who has ever been hurt by a lie you know how important this verse is. Lying has sent innocent men and women to jail. Lying has hurt reputations. Lying has broken up couples. Lying has caused people to lose their jobs. Lying has ruined friendships. Lying has made marriages end in divorce. The devil is the father of lies. John 8:44 says "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Psalm 31:18 says "Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous." If you have anyone in your life who spreads falsehoods about you just pray about them. God will deal with them. Psalm 109:2 says "for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues." God is the judge in the end and the truth will always come out. Proverbs 12:22 says "The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful."
Today make it a point to be truthful in all you say and do. Truthfulness extends to business dealings, doing taxes, being honest with those you work with and for, and your friends. A lie is just that, a lie.
PRAYER: Father if I have ever lied I ask your forgiveness. If my mouth has ever hurt anyone for that too I ask for forgiveness. Help me to seek to always say what is true. To never stretch the truth or say what I think people want to hear. I want to be honest in my speech and character.We pray for those who want to hurt us with their lies too. May you deal with them in your own way Lord . In Jesus Name. Amen.
(Assignment today is to read Psalm 5.)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
YOUR DAY LORD
Do you ever wake up gloomy? Do you let others problems and attitudes steal your joy?Do you dread going to work? Each day is a gift from God and each day has new things in store for you and those you will cross paths with. Do not let Satan drag you down into his 'woe is me' pity pit. Get up and get going! The Bible says in Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made I shall rejoice and be glad in it!" Say it over and over out loud and believe it .No matter what your outside circumstances are at home, at work or wherever you are, do not allow them get your depressed and forlorn. All of us have much to be grateful for. Do not harbor ill feelings or anger towards some one or it will only tend to take your focus off God and get you all worked up and take your peace away. Start the day right and say "Satan no matter what you try to throw at me this day I choose to be joyful. I choose to love even those people who may not love me. I choose to have a right attifude even when I am feeling sorry for myself. I choose to be thankful and look for the good in things. I purpose in my heart to look forward and not behind and to find ways to build up other people."
Phillipians 2:5 says "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus". It is my guess Jesus was not sitting around worrying about all the details of life. We need to try to be more Christlike and try to emulate him wouldn't you say.
Wake up today and decide to be joyful. Make up your mind no matter what happens you will maintain peace and joy.
PRAYER: Lord God I thank you for giving me this day to enjoy and serve you. Forgive me if I have been a whiner and not been grateful for where you have me in life. Help me to not compare myself to others or wish for something else. Thanks for exactly where I am here and now. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Note: once again turn up your speakers and worship God as you listen to the song I have included.
http://youtu.be/nf6kPsDm7B0
Phillipians 2:5 says "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus". It is my guess Jesus was not sitting around worrying about all the details of life. We need to try to be more Christlike and try to emulate him wouldn't you say.
Wake up today and decide to be joyful. Make up your mind no matter what happens you will maintain peace and joy.
PRAYER: Lord God I thank you for giving me this day to enjoy and serve you. Forgive me if I have been a whiner and not been grateful for where you have me in life. Help me to not compare myself to others or wish for something else. Thanks for exactly where I am here and now. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Note: once again turn up your speakers and worship God as you listen to the song I have included.
http://youtu.be/nf6kPsDm7B0
Monday, September 5, 2011
WORK HARD
Many who work for pay are off today due to the Labor Day holiday.What better time to write a devotion about hard work than this day off for many. Since the beginning of time man has had to work. In the garden of Eden, God originally had wonderful plans for Adam and Eve but you know the story. By being disobedient and messing up, so to speak, they ended up being cursed and changing the good things God had planned. Genesis 3:1-24 relates the story but read verse 17-19 which says "To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” From then on man has had to toil, pull weeds from his garden and do hard manual work.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." I do not feel it was God's design to have everyone getting food stamps if they are healthy and able to provide for their family. Some are lazy and feel like people owe them something. Sadly our government today tries to demonize successful wealthy people who worked hard to achieve by depicting them as spoiled rich people. Proverbs 10:4 says "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." Genesis 2:15 says "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Ecclesiastes 10:18 says "Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house." This verse hit home for me this past Saturday as we were trying to leave for a weekend road trip and had a water main break. My husband can do almost any repair job and is not lazy and was able to repair it. Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! Proverbs 12:24 says "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor."
1 Timothy 5:8 says "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." If you are the head of the family it is your duty to take care of your family. Teach your children the value of hard work, diligence and providing for the future.
A wise person will plan ahead and save money for when he has an emergency or is out of work. Putting aside a little money each month is a smart thing to do. Proverbs 6:6-8 says "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Notice an ant hill sometime. Those tiny creatures never rest. They carry huge loads on their tiny backs to build their ant hills and take food to their family.
For the believer we should have a good work ethic. Just because it is five o'clock does not mean you will not help someone if the phone at your office rings at the last minute. You are working for the Lord anyway not for man. Seek to bring honor to the company you work for by being honest and honorable. Colossians 3:23 should be every believers 'job description' and it says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Set a good example. Go beyond the call of duty as they say in the military. Ecclesiastes 3:22 tells us "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?"
Enjoy your life. Love what you do. I love the motto for the 'Life is Good' company which says "Do what you like, like what you do." Most of us are also familiar with the childrens' book, 'The Little Red Hen' which is a work ethic book of sorts for little ones. No one wanted to help the little red hen work but they all wanted to enjoy the fruits of the hens' labor.
Many complain about their work but if you are employed in todays' world you have much to be thankful for, and better yet, if you are in a job you love that is even greater. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "In all things to give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
PRAYER: Father I am thankful for the ability to work. I pray for those people who are out of work through no fault of their own and are looking for a job. Open up jobs for those who need them. If any reading this have been made to feel they are too old to work because of society and they really want a job help them have the courage to go for it. Help those who do have jobs to work at them with joy and to remember to be a 'missionary ' of sorts right there where God has placed them. Thank you for the blessing of a free society in the United States. For any reading this from nations not free I pray for bondage's to be broken. In Jesus Name. Amen.
through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” From then on man has had to toil, pull weeds from his garden and do hard manual work.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." I do not feel it was God's design to have everyone getting food stamps if they are healthy and able to provide for their family. Some are lazy and feel like people owe them something. Sadly our government today tries to demonize successful wealthy people who worked hard to achieve by depicting them as spoiled rich people. Proverbs 10:4 says "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." Genesis 2:15 says "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Ecclesiastes 10:18 says "Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house." This verse hit home for me this past Saturday as we were trying to leave for a weekend road trip and had a water main break. My husband can do almost any repair job and is not lazy and was able to repair it. Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! Proverbs 12:24 says "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor."
1 Timothy 5:8 says "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." If you are the head of the family it is your duty to take care of your family. Teach your children the value of hard work, diligence and providing for the future.
A wise person will plan ahead and save money for when he has an emergency or is out of work. Putting aside a little money each month is a smart thing to do. Proverbs 6:6-8 says "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Notice an ant hill sometime. Those tiny creatures never rest. They carry huge loads on their tiny backs to build their ant hills and take food to their family.
For the believer we should have a good work ethic. Just because it is five o'clock does not mean you will not help someone if the phone at your office rings at the last minute. You are working for the Lord anyway not for man. Seek to bring honor to the company you work for by being honest and honorable. Colossians 3:23 should be every believers 'job description' and it says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Set a good example. Go beyond the call of duty as they say in the military. Ecclesiastes 3:22 tells us "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?"
Enjoy your life. Love what you do. I love the motto for the 'Life is Good' company which says "Do what you like, like what you do." Most of us are also familiar with the childrens' book, 'The Little Red Hen' which is a work ethic book of sorts for little ones. No one wanted to help the little red hen work but they all wanted to enjoy the fruits of the hens' labor.
Many complain about their work but if you are employed in todays' world you have much to be thankful for, and better yet, if you are in a job you love that is even greater. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "In all things to give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
PRAYER: Father I am thankful for the ability to work. I pray for those people who are out of work through no fault of their own and are looking for a job. Open up jobs for those who need them. If any reading this have been made to feel they are too old to work because of society and they really want a job help them have the courage to go for it. Help those who do have jobs to work at them with joy and to remember to be a 'missionary ' of sorts right there where God has placed them. Thank you for the blessing of a free society in the United States. For any reading this from nations not free I pray for bondage's to be broken. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
NEW CREATION
2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" When you accept Christ and give your heart to the Lord you feel different. You may not stop doing everything bad and we all have sin in our lives. But old things pass away and we are to forget the past and to start to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Life is not going to be perfect. You will still mess up and still have things to work on. Only Jesus is without sin.
God can help set you free from sins that have been weighing on you. You only need trust Him and ask Him to take the controls of your life. Once you have asked Jesus to 'take the wheel' as the country song says, there will still be rough times but you will know who to call on to help get you through the bad times and to be able to rejoice in the good times.
For this writer, when I rededicated my life many years ago to the Lord, I had a hunger for the word of God. All of a sudden I wanted to know more. I was on a journey to learn what God's word had for me.
If you are not sure that you are saved or born again you can be sure today. Say "Jesus come into my heart. I hear you knocking at the door of my heart and I want to let you in. Forgive me for my sins and help me Lord as I seek to learn to be Christlike in the things I say and do. I want to live for you and serve you. Thank you for coming into my life. Amen."
After this if you are not in a good 'on fire' Bible believing church you need to find one so you can grow in the Lord. If you do not stay connected to the 'vine' you will whither. For those of us who have been saved and walking with the Lord already we too need to remember to stay connected to the source of nourishment, the Bible, or we too are in danger of not growing and wilting. Stay growing for Christ by feeding on the word of God. For starters read John Chapter one.
John 15:5 says "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Phillipians 3:13 says "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead".
PRAYER: Father I want to live for you and serve you. Come in to my heart today and take control.In Jesus Name. Amen.
Praise song: An oldie but goodie 'More Than Wonderful' sung by Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris
http://youtu.be/Zvmly122rqc
To help find a Bible teaching church if you have no clue where to start click on link below:
http://www.flockfinder.com/
Saturday, September 3, 2011
TOWER POWER
From the beginning of their construction the tower has been the symbol of power. Think of the New York City skyline for instance,Los Angeles or Chicago. All the big financial places are in huge skyscrapers. They represent power and prestige and if not careful their occupants may become prideful thinking they are better than others. Think of Trump Tower in Manhattan. The Empire State building or the Freedom Tower being built on One World Trade Center in NYC.Towers represent money,prestige and importance.
In the Bible the 'power of the tower' caused real trouble. Remember Babel? Back before that, the whole earth spoke only one language. Can you imagine that? We could understand everyone. The people of Babylon in Genesis Chapter 11 started to exalt themselves above God so He confused their languages so they could no longer communicate to have power to build the tower. I guess this is where they phrase babbling comes from?Genesis 11:8 says "So in that way God scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city." These mere humans thought they were like the great and powerful Oz in the movie "The Wizard of Oz." No mere man needs to mess with trying to play God. Many have tried and failed.
In Psalm 2 verse number one it says "What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange that men should try to outwit God!" It goes on in verse 2 to say "A summit conference of the nations has been called to plot against the Lord and his Messiah, Christ the King. " Seems like the word 'summit' is popular in our own US government today as the solution to everything. Verse 3 of this same chapter continues by saying "Come let us break his chains and free ourselves from slavery to God." Say what? God gives freedom not bondage. Psalm 2:4 goes on to say "But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans."
Remember the those who think they are great will be humbled.(See Matthew 23:12). Proverbs 29:23 says "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." It is God who gives the power to get wealth and has given people the gifts and abilities they do have.(See Deuteronomy 8:18). 1 Samuel 2:7 says "The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts." When we exalt ourselves over the Lord Almighty we are looking for trouble.
PRAYER: Father I thank you for your almighty majesty and power. Thank you for giving me the abilities you have given me. Forgive me if I have acted unsatisfied or not used the talents you have given me. I choose to let you have first place in my life and give you the glory when good things happen to me. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Note: When you have time enjoy this worshipful song I have included. Click on the link to listen. Be blessed!
http://youtu.be/HzNsEBPB-Z8
Friday, September 2, 2011
HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY??
Are you a positive person or a down in the dumps sort of person? Are you positive but your other half is negative? It is easy when things around us look gloomy to get in a pit of sorts and thinking all this worse thoughts. This is where controlling our mind and our thoughts is vitally important. Do you assume the worse or like to give the person or situation the benefit of the doubt? Many people can't seem to stop talking negatively. When it comes to the state of our freedoms today it is easy to start dreading and worrying but we are to trust God has a plan, for He is in charge you know. Same with the economy. Worrying will not change things and saying things like "oh I just know I am going to get laid off" is not going to help. You need to be confessing positive happy things.
Romans 4:17 says " As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were." this means you can "claim" or speak positive things before it happens. For instance, "I thank you Lord that I will not lose my job. I thank you Lord for providing for all my needs. I am not going to be poor and destitute." Sitting around moaning, groaning and verbalizing bad stuff will certainly scare you and take away any hope.
I challenge you to start thinking and speaking good things. Start saying "I thank you Jesus for providing for my needs. I thank you for taking care of me. I thank you that my child will return to serving you." You get the idea.
Philippians 4:8 tells us "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Reject any negative thoughts because you know it is Satan's plan to drag you down and defeat you. You are a child of the king!! In the motion picture ' The Help' one of the maids has a little girl she cares for say out loud daily "I am good, I am important, I am special" to build up her self esteem. Why not add something to that. Say "God loves me!"
PRAYER: Lord I thank you for making me unique. When Satan tries to get me discouraged and thinking wrong thoughts help me discipline my mind and speech to being glory to you and you alone! My hope is in you and I need not fear. In Jesus name. Amen.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
FORGIVE AND MEAN IT
Have you been hurt by someone who seemingly does not care to be in your circle of friends anymore? Maybe it is even a family member who has shut you out which is even more bizarre. Could be you have been mistreated at work or in a club you are in or yes, even in church! No matter how hard you try this person keeps hanging on to their anger. They keep building up offenses. But you must charge on with life and appreciate the friends who really are friends and let what I call 'toxic friends' go. Let go of your right to be angry. Anger will just keep festering. Hurt will build up and walls will be constructed emotionally that can not be torn down. We do not know why some people choose to not let go of things but we know it is humanly impossible to force someone to like us. Only God can change a heart and an attitude. Even though a person may not say "yeah I forgive you" you have to choose to forgive them in your heart. People change and somethings happen with some folks. Misunderstandings occur and no matter how hard you try you are an outcast. Move on my friend to real friends. Learn from this painful experience and try the best you can with God's help to get beyond it and stop obsessing. Pray and let God have it. That is all you can do.
Division is not from God. The enemy comes to steal,kill and destroy it says in John 10:10. For sure, Satan loves to split up all kinds of relationships. That is why we have to recognize the true enemy is not the person but Satan. If you could only get the other person to humble themselves and sit and talk and pray, things may be better. Many are too proud to do this and thus the division continues. But even some so called Christians who know better will still choose to hold grudges. It makes no sense and only brings glory to Satan.
God desires us to have a pure heart and a heart willing to forgive. If you are harboring resentment against someone it is time to ask God help you release that to Him so your prayers are not hindered. 1 John 4:20 says "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." Having issues with someone and not wanting to speak to them or thinking bad things about them is sort of a form of hate wouldn't you say? It is time to come to God with a pure heart and ask God to transform your heart into a heart like His.
God commands us to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." In 1 John 4:20 it says "The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him." There is no way to sincerely love God but hold hatred and bitterness in your heart towards someone.
Remember when Jesus was being crucified and in great agony having been drug through the streets carrying his cross and being spat upon here he was hanging nailed to a huge cross between two criminals. He had done no wrong and had every human right in the world to get back at them. This was not Jesus nature and it is not to be ours. It says in Luke 22:32-34 "Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." If only everyone could be like Jesus then we would put lots of lawyers out of business as there would not be everyone trying to sue to get back at people or get their way.
Psalm 66:18 says "If we harbor sin in our heart the Lord will not hear us". Unforgiveness is sin. You have to give up your right to hate and hurt people and you have to say " I forgive this person" even if they have not asked to be forgiven.
Hebrews 12:15 says "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." You have to give up bitterness to truly forgive. I am sure everyone reading this has been wronged by someone at one time or another. Humanly it is hard to forget about it but keeping it going will not help matters at all. Be like Jesus and not the world and let it go! You just have to ask God to help you to let things go.
I will end with Colossians 3:13 which says "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
PRAYER: Lord it is hard when I have been wronged or hurt to forget about it and move on. My mind wants to dwell on it and my heart is hurt. That is not what you want us to do. Lord help me to give up being angry and bitter and move on and in the future when other bad things happen to me to give them over to you right then and there. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Included a link from a Promise Keeper song I always liked.
http://youtu.be/netT-2XqsCk
Division is not from God. The enemy comes to steal,kill and destroy it says in John 10:10. For sure, Satan loves to split up all kinds of relationships. That is why we have to recognize the true enemy is not the person but Satan. If you could only get the other person to humble themselves and sit and talk and pray, things may be better. Many are too proud to do this and thus the division continues. But even some so called Christians who know better will still choose to hold grudges. It makes no sense and only brings glory to Satan.
God desires us to have a pure heart and a heart willing to forgive. If you are harboring resentment against someone it is time to ask God help you release that to Him so your prayers are not hindered. 1 John 4:20 says "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." Having issues with someone and not wanting to speak to them or thinking bad things about them is sort of a form of hate wouldn't you say? It is time to come to God with a pure heart and ask God to transform your heart into a heart like His.
God commands us to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." In 1 John 4:20 it says "The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him." There is no way to sincerely love God but hold hatred and bitterness in your heart towards someone.
Remember when Jesus was being crucified and in great agony having been drug through the streets carrying his cross and being spat upon here he was hanging nailed to a huge cross between two criminals. He had done no wrong and had every human right in the world to get back at them. This was not Jesus nature and it is not to be ours. It says in Luke 22:32-34 "Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." If only everyone could be like Jesus then we would put lots of lawyers out of business as there would not be everyone trying to sue to get back at people or get their way.
Psalm 66:18 says "If we harbor sin in our heart the Lord will not hear us". Unforgiveness is sin. You have to give up your right to hate and hurt people and you have to say " I forgive this person" even if they have not asked to be forgiven.
Hebrews 12:15 says "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." You have to give up bitterness to truly forgive. I am sure everyone reading this has been wronged by someone at one time or another. Humanly it is hard to forget about it but keeping it going will not help matters at all. Be like Jesus and not the world and let it go! You just have to ask God to help you to let things go.
I will end with Colossians 3:13 which says "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
PRAYER: Lord it is hard when I have been wronged or hurt to forget about it and move on. My mind wants to dwell on it and my heart is hurt. That is not what you want us to do. Lord help me to give up being angry and bitter and move on and in the future when other bad things happen to me to give them over to you right then and there. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Included a link from a Promise Keeper song I always liked.
http://youtu.be/netT-2XqsCk
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