“If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.”
~Mother Theresa
During the last year, the focal point of this blog has been perseverance. I have enjoyed writing and learning about what God has to say about perseverance. The past year has taught me that no matter what I was going through there was always someone who was dealing with a bigger crisis, but we prevailed through prayer and community. When our faith is challenged it is easy to find ourselves in the pit. As we persevere through our hardships and claw our way out, God honors our obedience with peace and replaces our sadness with joy. Amen.
As we begin the New Year, I have prayerfully decided to change topics. This world can be a dark and evil place. These are uncertain times, and bad things happen every single day, with no explanation or understanding. Now more than ever, living this life requires daily forgiveness. That is where my focus will be for 2013: unsolicited, unapologetic, Jesus-like forgiveness.
Forgiveness is probably one of the most difficult Christian principles to practice. People are capable of doing horrible things to each other, and rather than forgive we carry our un-forgiveness around with us, which weighs us down. Bitterness and anger take hold and harden our hearts and we find ourselves living in bondage.
I have personally lived a life in the shackles of an unforgiving heart. However, during my twenty-five year pursuit of forgiveness God met me right where I was. He gave me the willingness to want to forgive and then set me free by giving me the courage and the strength to change. He can do the same for you. To begin walking the journey that God has laid out before you, simply make a decision to move. It may not be possible to forgive on our own, but with God’s help, all things are possible.
I’d like to invite you on a journey: a fresh new journey toward forgiveness. A journey of love, and healing, of unity and completeness. A journey to become a whole unique person, full of life, love, and wonder. As we walk this journey together, with God in the center, I pray we will find forgiveness to be the key to a healthy and happy heart.
Feel free to leave a comment; I would love to hear your insights on forgiveness. We can learn from each other. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2013.
Peace be with you.
~Julia
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Julia, Thanks for always being a vocie of reason! Thanks for sharing God. Love you!
Lack of forgiveness is like acid that burns the very soul of the one who can’t. There’s such a light-heartedness that comes over the one who finally lets go. Excellent post, thank you!
Julia, What a great topic! Thank you for your posts. You are truly an inspiration. With one particular person in mind, I’m getting closer to forgiveness but I struggle with the last leg of the journey. I feel that complete forgiveness might leave me exposed and vulnerable. For now, I need that residual layer of unforgiveness as protection like an M&M’s hard candy shell.
Great writings, Julia! Spirit-bred insights throughout your wonderful blog! I was recently inspired by a friend to start one myself and that’s how I discovered yours here! Miss your smiling face and heart for Christ!…well I’m following you now so will hear much more of it! God bless you sister in Christ!
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