I Cannot Forgive!

[chosenbyone]

Almost without fail, "cannot" means "will not." But once in awhile, it may be true, when it involves a hurt that has escalated into bitterness and has actually become enmeshed with the spirit. Prayer and fasting can break this, but only if we have a strong desire on our part. This is where many of us fail: we do not have the desire to let the other person off the hook.

As we go to God in prayer and fasting, we learn that we must wait upon Him. At this point, there will be very little emotion. But as we continue to wait on God, and He sees that we have purposed that, with His help, we are determined to forgive that person, we will slowly begin to feel some desire. Like Elijah, after the seventh time, when he saw the tiny cloud, like a mans' hand. Sometimes things do not come so easy, and we live in a microwave world where we want everything fast and effortless.

Forgiving is usually a process. We are in a state of "forgiving." It comes gradually. This is a key, because if we insist on having it instantly, we will probably give up before we attain it. Learn to wait! As we wait on God, we will begin to feel a release, and we know that something is working within us. That will be the spirit, or gift, of forgiveness, without which we will never be able to fully forgive the other person.

Will we never learn that we are nothing in and of ourselves and that we can do nothing in and or ourselves? He told us so clearly that we are mere branches. He is the Vine, and from the vine flows all of life.

Let's purpose in our hearts to please God. Let us make that our life's goal. And when we do, we will have a strong desire burning within us to do those things that are pleasing to Him and that includes the difficult things like denying oursevles...carrying our cross...and forgiving others. It will become a joy!