Hold No Offense

Challenge: Forgive
 
Whenever God needs me to get a point, He will repeat it in my hearing multiple times from multiple sources and usually by this time, He’s tried telling me Himself, but I’ve not listened (yes, sometimes I’m hard headed).  By the second or third time, I usually get the memo and move forward in what He’s telling me.  Now, I need you to know that it’s not always like that with God and I. Most of the time, I do what He tells me the first time but when I am scared, nervous, or feel justified I can be a little stubborn. 
 
A few weeks ago, God dealt with me on a part I played in a very big misunderstanding. I was so upset that someone could treat me with such carelessness, but I did not want to acknowledge that I was also careless with how I was treating them.  I decided to pray for this person the way I prayed for so many others who offended me.  But this time was different because I had yet to acknowledge my part in the mess, so even though I was praying to forgive them, it was like my prayers were falling to the ground and dying.  In the entire month I was praying for them, it was like I still had this stronghold and it would not break. 

A week ago I was on Facebook and a T.D. Jakes video popped up on my timeline.  In the video, Bishop Jakes was talking about offense and he used the scripture Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. ~ Ephesians 4:26-27.  I listened and liked the post but never thought it was for me.  A week later I was watching another message by another preacher and he used the exact same scripture talking about offense and I knew God was speaking but I didn’t move because I was stubborn and felt that their offense to me was worse than mine to them - it was a standoff (or so I thought).
 
The next day I was walking in my house and it was like a light bulb went off in my head.   I knew some of the very things I was asking God to fix and change for me were being held up because I was still holding an offense to this person.  It was like God was giving me yet another chance to get it right, so I emailed the person and sincerely apologized for my part in our misunderstanding.  The beauty of it is that once I apologized I was free from the burden of anger towards that person and I knew immediately that the prayers I prayed before were going to be answered now because my heart was clear of offense.  They did not have to ever read or respond to the email, but because I was sincere in my apology, the anger I felt was gone.  But even more significant was that my relationship with God was mended in that moment.  While I was angry and holding onto this anger, I felt a strain in my relationship with God and I did not like it.  I was trying to find out what was going on and all the while, it was because I had this anger in my heart towards someone I was supposed to forgive. Once I let that go, I was free in my relationship with my Heavenly Father again and for me that’s the most important relationship I will ever have so nothing can stand in the way of that.
 
The moral of the story is we must not hold onto offense and we must forgive.  I know that forgiving someone can be the hardest thing one can do, but I also know the benefits.  Up until this issue, I thought I was doing well with not holding onto offenses and forgiving, but I realized quickly that I still had room to grow and mature.  If you are holding onto something, make a choice to sincerely forgive today and if you’ve hurt someone make a choice today to sincerely apologize because holding onto that stuff will only cause you harm in the long run.  Let it go and hold no offense.
 
Blessings,
Liela