I struggle to be forgiving, when I am hurt, more when a loved one of mine is hurt. But here is the ultimate dilemma: If I hold anger and bitterness in my heart, what is the outcome for myself and those I love?
For myself, I limit God's access to my heart because the part holding bitterness and anger is opposed to all God is. I tell everyone in my family, church family, social circle and friends that I am willing to make my heart cold against them if they don't suit me. I teach hate. I grow hate. I defend hate. I embrace hate. I value hate more than love.
Oh, I can give you a 100 reasons and counting for hating, justifying my hate, nurturing my hate, encouraging hate in your life on my behalf. (How often does someone say, "I'm furious for with that person, I hate them, so would you please be extraordinarily kind to them so my hate is less likely to cause them harm, please.") In fact, as long as I feed that rage I will keep finding and inventing new reasons, even lie to justify my hate.
I have lived where hate destroyed family, marriage, home, parent-child relationships, church relationships, work relationships, neighborhood peace--all in the name of "I only what what is best for my family." IT IS NOT TRUE! This is the truth: it is selfish, ungodly, destructive and utterly without a single redeeming quality.
O Spirit of God, search my heart and remove any vestige of hate, self-righteousness or sense of superiority. Protect me against teaching, in any way, those I love to hate by my example, by encouraging their anger or by embracing their anger against another. Remove hateful words from my mouth, hateful thoughts from my mind and even the smallest participation in hatefulness toward any other person ever. AMEN
“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you." John 13:34
For myself, I limit God's access to my heart because the part holding bitterness and anger is opposed to all God is. I tell everyone in my family, church family, social circle and friends that I am willing to make my heart cold against them if they don't suit me. I teach hate. I grow hate. I defend hate. I embrace hate. I value hate more than love.
Oh, I can give you a 100 reasons and counting for hating, justifying my hate, nurturing my hate, encouraging hate in your life on my behalf. (How often does someone say, "I'm furious for with that person, I hate them, so would you please be extraordinarily kind to them so my hate is less likely to cause them harm, please.") In fact, as long as I feed that rage I will keep finding and inventing new reasons, even lie to justify my hate.
I have lived where hate destroyed family, marriage, home, parent-child relationships, church relationships, work relationships, neighborhood peace--all in the name of "I only what what is best for my family." IT IS NOT TRUE! This is the truth: it is selfish, ungodly, destructive and utterly without a single redeeming quality.
O Spirit of God, search my heart and remove any vestige of hate, self-righteousness or sense of superiority. Protect me against teaching, in any way, those I love to hate by my example, by encouraging their anger or by embracing their anger against another. Remove hateful words from my mouth, hateful thoughts from my mind and even the smallest participation in hatefulness toward any other person ever. AMEN
“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you." John 13:34
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