Relinquish!

Yesterday on Facebook, I read a poster which said, “I never knew how strong I was until I had to forgive someone who wasn’t sorry and accept an apology I never received.” It made me stop and think for a minute because like so many things in this world—it had a piece of truth to it.

The whole truth is, Jesus commands us to forgive whether the person is sorry or not, it is impossible to accept something that is never given—and we are not strong enough to do it without Him. Therefore a more accurate quote would be, “I have to forgive, even when there is no apology.”

Now, some of you may not agree with me about us not being strong enough to forgive on our own, but I will still stand by what I’m saying. And that’s because just about every woman I talk to who is unhappy or sad—has a root of unforgiveness in their lives. Saved and unsaved! And if it was so easy and we are so strong, why is it a command? Why is it talked about so much in the Bible?

To have unforgiveness in your heart is like having untreated and undiagnosed cancer. It spreads and metastases itself to other body parts, causing them to malfunction and stop doing their job. Yes, that’s exactly how unforgiveness works spiritually.

Jesus says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt 6:14-15) Now, that is some heavy stuff. Oh, but He doesn’t stop there, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt 5:443-44)

How can we pray for someone and still keep a record of wrong against them in our hearts? We can’t! It’s impossible. I know this to be a fact, because I have been there.

An unforgiving heart is a very sick heart, just like a natural one. When your heart is diseased or has clogged arteries…it doesn’t do the job it was created to do. Your body is weak, you don’t get the oxygen in your blood that you need and so many other things that affects your everyday quality of life. Some hearts are in such bad shape, a transplant is necessary. The same goes for us spiritually.

A malfunctioning heart which is filled with unforgiveness, affects our everyday quality of life in the Kingdom and on this earth. For one, we start each day behind the 8-ball. It takes a lot of work and effort to drag around the baggage that holds, all the wrongs we can’t let go. And to top it all off…it's a joy thief!

Listen up girls, life is hard! In fact it can be almost hellish at times. But, and this is a big BUT; Jesus has made a way for us. His death on the Cross paid the debt we think people owe us for the wrongs they have inflicted on us. It is covered by the Blood!

I don’t care what you have been through, it is covered and it’s time to relinquish the pain and hurt.

Relinquish, n…voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up. Synonyms: renounce give up/away, hand over, let go of.

This means, forgiving the person who raped you (father, stepfather, brothers, uncle, teacher, acquaintance or strangers). Forgive the one who murdered your child, mother, father, sister, brother, husband or friend. Forgive the years of abuse from your spouse or parents. Forgive those who lied on you, stole from you, used and abused you in ways most people can’t imagine. You must forgive the mother who pimped you out for her drugs. Or the father who did the same so his parole officer wouldn’t send him back to jail. You must forgive and let go of the memory of when you walked in on your husband and best friend having sex in your bed.

Just think about it, after all the Messiah experienced at the Cross, He still asked God to forgive. Who are we to deny Him? Who are we to hold a record of wrongs and drag them with us everywhere we go? Who are we (who say we love Him), to disobey Him? To totally disregard His command to forgive and to pray for those who have done us wrong. Where do we get off?

There is always a price to be paid for sin and disobedience. And starting off and ending each day with the baggage of unforgiveness, cost us a lot. It cost us joy, but mainly a good and solid relationship with God. And it impacts every relationship we have. It is a tainted filter and nasty little devil for sure.

Maybe the one you need to forgive is dead and gone. It really doesn’t matter to them, one way or another, but you are still alive and on this earth and though they are free from the mess, your unforgiveness still holds you prisoner. Does living in a self-made jail make sense to you? Well, it shouldn’t. But unforgiveness does hold us captive in many ways.

I challenge you to spend time meditating on Matthew 6:14-15. Read it in as many different translations as Biblegateway.com has if you need too and really think about what Jesus is saying here. I think this is one of the most overlooked or ignored scriptures, Jesus said himself. 

God is in the heart business. He is the One who can turn a heart of stone into one of flesh. He is also the One who is close to the brokenhearted and will take the sick, weak and diseased heart of unforgiveness and make it like new. But, (and there’s that but again), we have to be willing to relinquish our hearts to Him. And like any good surgeon, He will not operate without permission.

Sisters, if you stay in the scriptures…it will change your life! Amen!

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie