It has been heavy on my heart for some time now we need to focus more on giving and receiving FORGIVENESS. In fact, it woke me up with an urgency to pray for someone that had some past hurts that were hard to ignore or forgive. We all need to encourage each other to FORGIVE. They say "Forgive and forget" ... well I can forgive, but I have a hard time forgetting! :) HOWEVER, I think the important part here is our reactions and motivations. For example... say someone hurts me deeply ... perhaps it takes a while to talk comfortably with them again after forgiveness is given and received. But say, during that time, a situation arises where they need help or advice or something along those lines. We need to give that help or advice or whatever our brother/sister/whoever needs if we have truly forgiven. This holds true even if we haven't yet forgiven and often will help us forgive more quickly. NEVER let another child of God -OUR FAMILY MEMBER, being in the Body of Christ, go without. Even those that don't believe are still children of God! :)
I often have joked that even if I'm angry at someone and they needed my help for something, I'd help them and then perhaps still not talk to them a while lol ... BUT, they would not be denied the assistance they required at the time due to any resentments from past hurts ... all that needs to be put aside when we're needed.
How many times should we forgive??? Seventy times seven ... or in other words ... ALWAYS :)
PRAY! TRUST! FORGIVE!
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