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Do not give the devil a foothold. — Ephesians 4:27
Forgiveness is both a decision and a process. ~ Lysa
Hi, friends! I pray you’re digging into week two of the Forgiving What You Can’t Forget OBS. Let’s give this all we have because our souls need the freedom forgiveness brings.
Did you catch what Lysa said this week, Forgiveness should be one of the first steps rather than the last… Isn’t that an incredible thought?!
That means addressing my emotions right now — Before they have time to take root and grow into bitterness. Before I can start to weave the offense into a far bigger drama in my head.. ‘Cause I can! And, it’s so not worth it. It’s wrong. I have to learn to let things go as fast as possible. Right away. And leave it with Jesus.
Forgiveness is the very work Jesus accomplished on the Cross. The way He brought forgiveness to us was the shedding of His own blood. ~ Lysa
Have you latched on to this statement yet?
“I forgive you for this and whatever my feelings will not yet allow for, the blood of Jesus will surely cover.”
This statement that Lysa shares with us will be a lifesaver, and I love that there are even punch-out cards for this in the back of our study guides! When we can’t, we simply can. not. forgive. Jesus will cover it. His grace is sufficient for us.
In my humanness, when someone manages to slap my cheek again after slapping it many times before and I’ve already forgiven them, I still feel that same old hurt. The same anger, the same sense of betrayal, the same sense of being stupid for being duped again. It just happened again recently. But, as I’m working through how to deal with the hurt (and with the help of this study), I’m finding it dissipates faster as I remember I’ve already chosen to forgive. Then I can unclench my fists and release it again. And again. And again.
It’s spiritual maturation. It’s a holiness process.
We find out what’s in us when the heat rises, when we get hurt, and when someone injures us. What’s in us comes pouring out and gets the better of us (mind, mouth, master). If we’re filled with unforgiveness and that rot is rolling around inside our heads, it’s bound to come roaring out… but not the clever way we might want it to. It’ll hurt the ones we least want to hurt (including ourselves). Isn’t that convicting? It is for me!
Have you ever found yourself overflowing with hurt and anger, all pent-up with that fireball of pain and then done and/or said something galactically stupid and unkind to someone precious to you? I have! I’ve been stupidly mastered by my own sinful unforgiveness and bitterness grievously too many times. It’s so embarrassing!
That’s the enemy successfully devouring.
I tell myself constantly “Don’t do it!” Let’s not do it!
What can we do when strong emotions come?… We can forgive. ~ Lysa
The words I want to exemplify my life are: Kindness. Empathy. Sweetness. Patience. Softness. Flexibility. Tenderness. Ease. Lightness. Joy. Spirit-controlled. Rejoicing.
Forgiving.
You too?
Week Two Statement:
The best time to forgive is before we’re ever offended. The next best time is now.
This week in your study:
- Then, watch the video for session two of Forgiving What You Can’t Forget on our study home and take notes in your study guide on pages 38-45 and stick around to go through the questions afterward!
- Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 46-63.
- Join the conversations about this week’s teaching and get to know our community in our private Facebook group.
Scriptures this Week
Ephesians 4:26-27
Ephesians 4:29
Ephesians 4:30-32
1 Peter 5:6-9
James 4:7-8a
James 4:10-11a
Prayer for the Week
Jesus, we love You! Help us, Holy Spirit, to forgive immediately! Before any offense can sink into our bones and set in to rot and make us bitter and roil in hatred, help us to shake it off and be free from resentment and the vile monster of unforgiveness. Help us when we can’t let our emotions go. Help us to be loving, soft, and kind, and remember how You have forgiven us from everything we’ve ever done or will do. We are so grateful for the grace You have given us. We worship You. We adore You. We love You. Amen.
