A Heart Of Forgiveness Is A Heart Set Free!

We can become confused by pain, suffering and trials and feel God has forgotten us! They will either draw us closer to Him, in a more intimate relationship or they will cause our fellowship with the Lord to be broken, in our anger and bitterness toward Him. Which is, usually, your first response?

If you're angry with God, tell Him ~ be honest! (He already knows) It can't be ignored, it has to be dealt with. Even, our intimacy, in human relationships are broken when we refuse to forgive. Ask God to come and melt your heart and show you your situation from His perspective, to forgive you.  If you are angry with someone else, your fellowship with God will be broken till you can forgive and make it right. Run to make it right, God will honor your effort!

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."

We may not feel they deserve to be forgiven, but we, certainly, have desired God to forgive us, even when we don't deserve His forgiveness. Besides the person we are so angry with, isn't the one being eaten up and tortured inside by the unforgiveness, it's us!  God calls us to forgive, for our benefit ~ it frees us up to walk in peace with God and man.  In doing so, we are leaving it in God's hands to deal with the other person, justly. Let go and let God! God's word says we should pray for our enemies, so, go as far as, to even, pray for God's grace and mercy to be shown to others; remembering He forgave you. Ask God to search your heart and to cleanse and forgive you, call it what it is, SIN, and don't sugar coat it, be truthful with yourself and with God. We, also, need to forgive ourselves. We, often, bring our problems on ourselves, but God is gracious and forgiving! Repent and turn back to Him!

God knows what you're going through ~ pray:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and  grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12

Psalm 51: 17 says,

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, God you will not despise."

What is a contrite heart? It is a repentant heart, a heart that is broken.

1 John 1:8-10 says,

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:11-14 says,

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." (Thank God for His forgiveness)

Now, that all issues are dealt with, we are in the right position to fellowship with a Holy God! Do you realize you have access to come before the throne of Grace? Come into His presence, search for Him in His word and ask Him to give you a passion for Him and His statutes. You are on the right path, my friend! I'm so proud of you for your heart is seeking after God! He will guide you into all truth! Look to Him for all things!

I know it's difficult that God is unseen, but if you seek Him, daily, you won't just find Him, but you will come to know Him and, even, trust Him. You will see Him, acting on your behalf, in ways unimaginable, in ways others don't see! We can feel funny making those first, feeble, attempts, not knowing how to begin. Relax, ask God to show you Himself, He desires for you to know Him, He will make Himself known to you, but don't get impatient. (Your most intimate relationship on this earth, didn't happen over night, it was built over time and on trust.) When you read His Word, ask God to be your Teacher, to show you it's treasures; ask for wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-9 says,
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair ~ every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

Proverbs 3:1 says,
"My son, do not forget My teaching, but keep My commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity."

God has given us His word as a "plumb line". A plumb line is used by masons and carpenters to establish a true vertical. If you're going to "plumb up" a wall, you're going to make sure it's, perfectly, perpendicular, that it's straight. God's Word, His commands, are a plumb line or a standard to measure our lives by. As we read God's word, it shows us where we need to make changes, to align our lives with Him. He is our plumb line!

Psalm 119:9-11 says,
" How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."

God's desire is for us to know Him, intimately, and love Him with all our being (heart, mind, soul and strength)! To put Him first and foremost in our lives! "This is the first and greatest commandment."

Mark 12:30 says,
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength."

John 17:3 says,
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

John 14:6 says,
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except by Me."

John 14:21 says,
"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love Him and show Myself to Him."

How do we know we know God?

1 John 2:3-6 says,
"We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did."

I'm praying for you, my friend! Continue your pursuit! Ask God to draw you, to give you a forgiving heart, to give you a heart that seeks after Him, daily! A heart of forgiveness, is a heart set free!