If you struggle with forgiveness, don’t be discouraged. Forgiveness is hard because someone has hurt you. It’s okay to feel that hurt, but it’s not okay to hate the other person.
Jesus knows forgiveness is hard, which is why He included it in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15). He knows we need Him in order to forgive. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, He’s forgiven your great debt of sin, and He is with you, giving you His power to forgive others when they sin against you. But what does that process look like?
Step 1: Let It Out. Pray about what hurt you. No emotion is too strong for God. Go to Him with everything, even deep anger and sadness. The book of Psalms in the Bible is filled with prayers like this.
Step 2: Let It Go. After the psalmists shared their hurts with God, they remembered who God was. God is just, so He will punish every wrong (Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 2:23). If you know Jesus, He’s already punished your sins by taking the punishment on Himself when He died on the cross (1 Peter 3:18). When you remember Jesus paid your great debt of sin, you can begin to let go of other people’s sins, trusting God to handle them.
Step 3: Look to God. To forgive means to stop holding the wrong someone did against them. It doesn’t necessarily mean trusting the other person, especially in a dangerous situation. Instead, the goal is to stop wanting bad things for them and to start wanting good things for them. This will be a process, and you can trust God to complete the work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).
Step 4: Put on Love. As Jesus chips away at bitterness in your heart, He
fills that space with His love for the person who hurt you (Matthew 5:44-45; Colossians 3:8, 12-14). Talk to God about this, and start praying for the person who hurt you. If possible, look for specific ways to bless them. Pray for wisdom and talk with trusted people to find the best ways to love the person who hurt you.
How Does This Apply to You?
Have you ever struggled with forgiveness? What made it hard for you?
What confuses you about forgiveness?
What did you learn about forgiveness from today's reading?
If you're struggling with forgiveness, who can you talk with about it?
I Want to Forgive, But I Can't!
August 21, 2019 • A. W. Smith
Nametags
August 31, 2019 • Taylor Eising
As I brushed my teeth, I examined the reflection of my nametag in the bathroom mirror. By now, the words were so familiar I could even read them backward: “CHILD OF GOD.” I smiled as my other names echoed through my head: “Image-bearer.” “Chosen People.” “Ambassador.” “Temple of the Holy Spirit.” They each flashed onto my nametag briefly as I spat out my toothpaste before gathering my backpack and walking outside. -Today will be different,- I told myself. -Today, I will be kind. Today, I won’t sin. Today, I will remember that I am a Child of God.- I kept this promise really well…at first. I made it all the way to the school bus! Then Rick called my shoes “ratty” and went on and on about how my parents couldn’t buy me new Jordans because they were poor. I cringed as new nametags appeared elsewhere on my jacket, identifying me as “Ratty” and “Poor.” Burning with anger, I spat back, “At least my family cares about me! Your parents just buy you stuff to make you shut up!” A nametag with “Unloved” appeared on his sleeve as his fist collided with my nose. By the time the fight ended, we each had a few bruises, a week’s worth of detention to serve, and several more unflattering nametags. After school, I slumped onto my bed, exhausted. -Why, Lord? Why can’t I control myself? Why am I such an awful sinner? I sighed as “Sinner” arrived on my chest. I just need to be better. I just need to try harder. I just need…- Silence filled my head. “You need Me,” Jesus’ voice answered. One by one, the nametags I had accumulated throughout the day disappeared. With each one that left, a weight lifted off of my heart. Finally, nothing was left but my one, true nametag: “CHILD OF GOD.” Reread Today's verses. Who does Jesus say you are? What does it mean to have your identity in Him? When you sin, do you get frustrated with yourself and resolve to try harder? Or do you bring your sin to God, confess it, ask for His forgiveness, and remember who you are in Him? But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name. John 1:12 (CSB)
Sharing Jesus Without Fear
August 30, 2019 • Aurora Scriver
Sharing the good news of Jesus can be awkward and difficult, but God calls us to share Jesus in a loving and clear way. But how do we strike that balance of gentleness and honesty? Remember God’s love. Remember, God doesn’t want anyone to perish because they chose sin (2 Peter 3:9-10). God is just, and He is also loving. Reflect that same understanding with the people you meet. God is in control. The way people react to Christians can be scary sometimes. (For that matter, Christians can be scary to other people!) But you don’t need to live in fear; you have the power that raised Jesus from the dead inside of you through the Holy Spirit. God is with you, He’s in control, He’s good, He’s faithful, and one day He will raise you from the dead. Nothing can separate you from Him, even the worst of interactions with other people. Approach people in love and gentleness, keeping these promises from God in your mind. Move gradually. Truth can be hard to absorb. So be patient with people. Share truth, but don’t give people a glut of information. Give people silence and time to consider and think. Just do it! God will equip you with His Words (Exodus 4:12; Matthew 28:20). Go out in the love and strength of Jesus, and He will provide courage and opportunities. Talk to Him about it today. What questions have people asked you about Christianity? How did you respond? How would you describe the good news of Jesus? Try to get it down to one or two sentences so that you have an easy reference point if someone asks you what you mean. If someone says something mean to you about Christianity, what is something you could say or do in response instead of exploding with anger? Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
Me
August 29, 2019 • Bonnie Haverman
Isabel, at age eleven, is an amazing dancer. She has already performed with a major ballet company in several productions. Isaiah, age thirteen, just started attending college. Derek, at age fifteen, was considered one of the best BMX racers in Texas. Do you know someone like that? Someone gifted in academics, sports, acting—you name it. That was not me. I was just an average student. I was and am a slightly-better-than-average salesperson. I’m good at a lot of things, superstar at none. It used to bother me until someone pointed me to Psalm 139. When I read it, I was in awe. God—the only wise God, the Creator of the universe, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords—made you and me! Not only did He make you and me, but He loved us enough to come down to offer us freedom from sin and death so that we could be with Him forever. Whether God has given you an amazingly obvious talent or if your talents don’t seem as striking as those of your peers, live a life of thankfulness, knowing that God created you in His image with unique gifts and abilities for use in His kingdom. Try reading Psalm 139 every day for a whole year—you will be changed. It will give you a reason to praise God for His amazing creation: you! Do you envy other's abilities? What do you do well? How can you honor God with those abilities? Have you spent time thanking God for making you? And there are different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. 1 Corinthians 12:6 (CSB)