It is January 1st and we are all eager to get a fresh start on the New Year. It is a day like any other but somehow we see it as an opportunity to make some necessary changes, and a time to carry out some much needed resolutions. A majority of us will make some resolutions which we won't keep. Some of us will actually succeed and carry them out. However, if you really want to move forward but are feeling stuck, here are some biblical principles that will help you truly move into all God has for you in this next year:
Forgive
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."
Mark 11:25
As a minister and counselor, I can't tell you the many calls I get from people who have not been able to move forward into all that God has for them because they overlook this very simple principle. Forgiveness is not optional; especially not as a Christian. It is also not automatic. It is something we have to decide for ourselves. God can't do it for us. As you can see from the scripture above, if you don't forgive, neither will God forgive you. You may pray and pray until your knees are raw but your prayers will not be heard until you forgive others. You may also have others pray for you but their prayers will also fall to the way side until you have relented in your anger and hurt towards others.
In case you think you might have forgiven all the people you can possible think of; here are two overlooked areas: God and yourself. Yes those count too! You wouldn't believe how many people have grudges against God. I once saw a homeless man who begged for prayer. As I began to pray he interrupted me and said, "I can't forgive God because my wife died in a car accident!" He then got angry and walked away. He was unable to receive his freedom because he got stuck in an event. That happens to all of us when we can't forgive those who have hurt us. It keeps us stuck in the past, often reliving the awful memory over and over again.
Let me point something out to you before we move on: God is not in the business of killing people or making their lives miserable. We often get the mission statement of Jesus and the devil confused.
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"The devil is bad and God is good. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
One of the most important points I want to make on forgiveness is: forgiving oneself. There is a marked difference between conviction, which is the work of the Holy Spirit and condemnation which is the work of the devil. Conviction is God letting you know that you hurt him and you need to reconcile yourself to him by changing your actions. Condemnation is the devil making you think that there isn't anything you can do to get things right with God. To make matters worse, many Christians have the devil in the unemployment line because they do his job for him. They punish themselves for the things they have done and receive the devil's accusations being wielded towards them. They spiritually flog themselves in the mind. They also go about feeling unworthy and ashamed. God's word says:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Forget
Forgive
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."
Mark 11:25
As a minister and counselor, I can't tell you the many calls I get from people who have not been able to move forward into all that God has for them because they overlook this very simple principle. Forgiveness is not optional; especially not as a Christian. It is also not automatic. It is something we have to decide for ourselves. God can't do it for us. As you can see from the scripture above, if you don't forgive, neither will God forgive you. You may pray and pray until your knees are raw but your prayers will not be heard until you forgive others. You may also have others pray for you but their prayers will also fall to the way side until you have relented in your anger and hurt towards others.
In case you think you might have forgiven all the people you can possible think of; here are two overlooked areas: God and yourself. Yes those count too! You wouldn't believe how many people have grudges against God. I once saw a homeless man who begged for prayer. As I began to pray he interrupted me and said, "I can't forgive God because my wife died in a car accident!" He then got angry and walked away. He was unable to receive his freedom because he got stuck in an event. That happens to all of us when we can't forgive those who have hurt us. It keeps us stuck in the past, often reliving the awful memory over and over again.
Let me point something out to you before we move on: God is not in the business of killing people or making their lives miserable. We often get the mission statement of Jesus and the devil confused.
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"The devil is bad and God is good. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
One of the most important points I want to make on forgiveness is: forgiving oneself. There is a marked difference between conviction, which is the work of the Holy Spirit and condemnation which is the work of the devil. Conviction is God letting you know that you hurt him and you need to reconcile yourself to him by changing your actions. Condemnation is the devil making you think that there isn't anything you can do to get things right with God. To make matters worse, many Christians have the devil in the unemployment line because they do his job for him. They punish themselves for the things they have done and receive the devil's accusations being wielded towards them. They spiritually flog themselves in the mind. They also go about feeling unworthy and ashamed. God's word says:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Forget
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14
I know this may sound like a funny comparison but you can't drive a car looking strictly in the rear view mirror. You will crash. If you don't learn to put certain events behind you, you will never get anywhere. Forgetting is really a work of grace. We can literally ask God to sprinkle our conscience minds clean from all memories or pain.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22
Just like forgiveness, it is a choice to stop rehashing over the past. Keeping grudges or reminding others of the things they did to hurt you will only keep you in your past. God wants us to push past those things so we can live on in freedom and victory. It is difficult to forget but we really have to decide not to meditate on things that are causing us pain. In reality it only hurts us twice. The other person who offended us is not affected by our bad feelings. It can actually cause us to get sick if we hold onto things. Forgiving and forgetting is really for us not the other person. It is not that we are letting them get away with anything, we are choosing to allow God to intervene and exact justice on our behalf. It relinquishes the responsibility back to God, where it belongs.
"For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” Hebrews 10:30
Press On
Listen, don't allow what people have done to you, to control your life. You can remain stuck for years unable to grow or get close to God if you keep grudges, resentment and records of wrongdoing. It isn't worth it. You will literally grant the devil permission to torment you if you don't let go of things. God wants us to press on towards the call or high calling. This doesn't necessarily mean ministry. This means your highest potential as God's children. How awful would it be if you allowed yourself to be ripped off twice? There are rewards for those who diligently seek after God.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
It is time for you to take off the rear view mirror and look ahead to what God has in store for you. No one can effectively do their job without focus. Wherever we have our eyes will largely determine our outcome. If we have our eyes looking behind, we will continue to stumble on. It only takes a split second of checking on the status of the runner next to you to take away the time or edge you have in your race. We must all give account for our own lives and we won't be able to use anyone as an excuse for not doing what God told us to do.
Press on this year by forgiving those who have hurt us, and forgetting the past events that have kept you stuck.These are only a few keys to reaching your goals this next year and obtaining the prize of finishing your own race!
Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com
I know this may sound like a funny comparison but you can't drive a car looking strictly in the rear view mirror. You will crash. If you don't learn to put certain events behind you, you will never get anywhere. Forgetting is really a work of grace. We can literally ask God to sprinkle our conscience minds clean from all memories or pain.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22
Just like forgiveness, it is a choice to stop rehashing over the past. Keeping grudges or reminding others of the things they did to hurt you will only keep you in your past. God wants us to push past those things so we can live on in freedom and victory. It is difficult to forget but we really have to decide not to meditate on things that are causing us pain. In reality it only hurts us twice. The other person who offended us is not affected by our bad feelings. It can actually cause us to get sick if we hold onto things. Forgiving and forgetting is really for us not the other person. It is not that we are letting them get away with anything, we are choosing to allow God to intervene and exact justice on our behalf. It relinquishes the responsibility back to God, where it belongs.
"For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” Hebrews 10:30
Press On
Listen, don't allow what people have done to you, to control your life. You can remain stuck for years unable to grow or get close to God if you keep grudges, resentment and records of wrongdoing. It isn't worth it. You will literally grant the devil permission to torment you if you don't let go of things. God wants us to press on towards the call or high calling. This doesn't necessarily mean ministry. This means your highest potential as God's children. How awful would it be if you allowed yourself to be ripped off twice? There are rewards for those who diligently seek after God.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
It is time for you to take off the rear view mirror and look ahead to what God has in store for you. No one can effectively do their job without focus. Wherever we have our eyes will largely determine our outcome. If we have our eyes looking behind, we will continue to stumble on. It only takes a split second of checking on the status of the runner next to you to take away the time or edge you have in your race. We must all give account for our own lives and we won't be able to use anyone as an excuse for not doing what God told us to do.
Press on this year by forgiving those who have hurt us, and forgetting the past events that have kept you stuck.These are only a few keys to reaching your goals this next year and obtaining the prize of finishing your own race!
Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com
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