GIVE GOD YOUR HURTS

Hi! Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recently, I received a article, Daily Hope, written by Rick Warren who is also the author of several Purpose Driven devotionals, from the group member, after we talked about the difficulty to practise forgiveness in our previous bible study class.

Below is the author's wonderful article.



Thursday, April 15, 2010
Give God your hurts
by Rick Warren

If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. Matthew 6:14-15 (TEV)
"If somebody hurt you, let go of it, release them. That's one of the values of prayer. It helps you unload."
In your life, you will be hurt by others; sometimes intentionally; sometimes unintentionally. How you handle that hurt determines your happiness.

When you bottle up hurt in your life and hold onto it - that is called resentment. If somebody hurt you years ago and you're still holding onto it, it will poison your life. For your own health and happiness, you must learn to forgive.

The Bible says forgive and be forgiven. In fact, Jesus says "if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done." (Matthew 6:15, TEV) They're inter-related.
It reminds me of the story - when someone told John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, "I just can't forgive that person! They hurt me too badly." Wesley's response was, "Then I hope you never sin."

For your own sake, let go of the past. If somebody hurt you, let go of it, release them. That's one of the values of prayer. It helps you unload. Forgiveness is the only way to get rid of the past. Forgive them and let it go. Get on with life. Forgiveness erases the videotape of that hurt memory that keeps playing over and over in your mind.

In my own marriage, the times I've felt closest to Kay, the times of most intimacy and oneness, have been times after a major blow-up. We've worked the thing through; we've both confessed to each other and asked forgiveness; and then we pray together. The oneness that comes out of that kind of experience just can't be explained.

When we let go of our hurts and forgive others we are reflecting the grace of our heavenly Father, who forgave us and continues to forgive us. It means we've given God our love; we've given God our lives; and, in doing that, we worship God.





In this connection, I must confess that if you let resentment rule your life. It will poison your life. I recalled when I let go of those involved in my still born child after I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. He revealed to me vividly why Our Heavenly Father never uses force to punish those who crucified His begotten son on the cross. Imagine being the Mighty and Sovereign is very much easier to justify His action to destroy them. His choice of forgiving them gains my respect. Otherwise, He is no better than any man, who will choose the latter which is very natural. I do not need to elaborate any further because there are tons of evidences to support this course of action.

I still recall when every time this incident emerges, I felt very emotional and raise my voice to relate that incident. I even went to the extent of bringing those involved to court despite the case was delayed for more than 10 years. It really bottle up hurt in my life for that length of period.

Since after I let go and forgive those people, I manage to get on with my life, the way the author describe. I also can vouch that forgiveness will erase the videotape of that hurt memory that keeps playing over and over in my mind. I am able to do it, through His grace I received from Him. I can say that it is because I choose to believe in Him. My intention to share it with you again because I want to glorify Him and others whom I have been benefiting from all these while. I also know that they do not expect any return from me, the same way I did for others.

Thanks for your time and effort to read this article. Please do share with others who you care for.

Wishing you a happy life.


James Oh