Page 21 - The Standard Volume 2

The Freedom in Forgiving Others
At some point in your life, you may have been offended, wounded by someone, or experienced pain that you have not been able to get over. These things do come but they are not meant to remain in your heart. Like hydrochloric acid to tin, it slowly eats away at the very fabric of your being—reducing you to damaged goods and tampered preciousness. Things will always be said and done by someone, while promises will be broken by others. This is inescapable! People WILL hurt you even if they don't realize they're doing it. Never run to them and ask them to heal the wound or scar they caused rather, dig deep within and find out how they so easily penetrated a part of you that you thought was strong enough to withstand attacks or offenses. Go to God in prayer and be very quiet after you tell Him that you're hurting. You will hear Him whisper the most "sweetest somethings" you've ever heard. In His voice alone there is a healing balm which binds the wounds, seals the crevices, and repairs the damage that occurred. When this is complete, remain in meditation upon Him in prayer. For how long? Until you know that when you rise from prayer healed by the Lord, you won't have a desire to go to the entity or person who damaged you and demand an apology or explanation. The true explanation isn't in why they did it to you rather, why it could happen to you so easily.
Romans 12:19-21
“19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Forgiving people can be quite difficult when you love and care for the one who's done the most harm to you. Why does it hurt? Because somewhere deep within there is a flaw which makes
Archbishop Wayne R. Felton
you believe that just because you love them, are close to them, or share your life with them that they will not hurt you. This doesn't mean that you walk around with your guard up toward them in anticipation of being assaulted, rather your arms are wide open in expectation of being received. You see, the way of Jesus is to allow them to experience the love of God through you until they can receive it directly from the Lord. For how long should you keep loving them? The answer to that question is simple; keep loving and forgiving until God runs out of grace to give you to be forgiving and loving. Why? Because YOU TOO needed to be loved even when you were unlovable.
THE WAY OF JESUS IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF GOD THROUGH
YOU
Love them by countering their ways with the way of the Lord, trusting only in Him to help you and having faith that He's working through you to touch the heart and life of the one who did you harm. For to do them harm because they did you harm negates any reason to be upset with them—because you're acting just like them. Give, and the Lord will supply you with love, grace, compassion, peace, and life to love impossible people! After all, it is His life for you are bought with a price. But remember this: God doesn't exact vengeance immediately as humans do. But when He does, you'll know it was Him and that the person HE exercises vengeance upon truly gave up on Him. Just remember, don't you give up on those you are supposed to love.
Read Luke 6:27-38 in its context and your eyes will open and see that when you give LOVE, it comes back to you...good
January 2020 | THE STANDARD 21