A Divine Appointment

I just posted a blog two days ago about struggling with forgiveness in my life the last few weeks. How divine that today's message at church was about...of all things...Forgiveness. How divine is He who makes no mistake when placing you right where you need to be, right at the very moment you need it. Here's what I learned. I'm hoping that by writing it down and sharing it with others it will help me hold myself accountable.

Why do we hoard Forgiveness?

• Because we don't believe the gospel - meaning we don't truly believe the sacrifice that God made with his only son who died on the cross for our own forgiveness.
• We don't trust God
• We want power and control
• We are afraid to take the next first step.

Forgiveness is not:

• Forgetting
• Denying
• Waiting for an apology
• Ceasing to feel pain
• A one time event

Forgiveness is:

• A costly sacrifice

How to Forgive:

• Wish them well
• Pray for them
• Help them
• Do not retaliate even if they deserve it.

Forgiveness does not mean that you trust that person again.

Forgiveness doesn not mean accepting that person back into your life.

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

forever. Amen.

Mathew 18:21 and 22

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

To watch more on this Message Series called "Hoarders" from Prairie Lakes Church online, please click below:

http://prairielakeschurch.org/media-center/default.aspx