"So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."(Matthew 18:35)
I have probably forgiven someone at some point in my life and probably from the heart. I will also have to admit that it was probably easy to do because I have never had someone hurt me so deeply that forgiveness seemed almost impossible.
How would I know if I've succeeded in doing this? I think the first sign would be that the words came out easily. I didn't have to swallow as I said it, there was not tension in my body. I could look the person in the eye if we were face to face.
A second sign that it had worked would be that whatever had been done to need forgiving in the first place was no longer taking center stage in my mind. I no longer felt any need to recall it, bring it back up later as a weapon to be used in a future fight.
How would I know if I've been forgiven from heart? Much of what was said above holds true. I would also add that if I and the person that forgave me are able to start a new, then it may have. I don't think it can go back to what it was, but might be a from this day forward moment.
I certainly am glad God has a big enough heart to forgive me when I mess up in my relationship with God, others and myself.
Blessings,
Ed
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