Forgiveness

​“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate.  It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”                               CORRIE TEN BOOM
 
Have you been contemplating payback? It’s tempting to want to payback someone who has hurt you or used you, but Gods word says  
“Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” But, wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. Proverbs 20:2
Studies have shown an association between negative emotions such as anger and revenge with a variety of destructive physical symptoms, including headaches, backaches, allergic disorders, ulcers, nausea, high blood pressure and heart attacks. We can be angry, but God also tells us to not sin in anger.
There are so many scriptures in the bible that encourages us not to take revenge but to trust God that He will repay our enemies. I have also learned that it doesn’t always look like we want it to look like.  His ways are higher than our ways, sometimes God restores and brings reconciliation, other times He just wants us to let go of that relationship or person that has harmed us. Only by His grace and love can we do this.
We also have to remember that God forgave us of our sins. We have also harmed others as well, maybe with our words, our actions and our selfishness.
In (Mathew 6:120) it says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
What are some of the things God has forgiven you for?
When we start remembering all the things we did and how much God has forgiven us we can then forgive others and release them to God and trust him with the outcome.
To payback is human, but forgiveness places us above them.
Isabel Perez McCoy