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.
It's still "will not."
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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.
Forgiveness often requires divine intervention.
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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.
I disagree. God never entered into a process of forgiving us and He commanded us to forgive as He forgave.
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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.
No, we will not learn that in this present life because the wicked worldly philosophy of psychology has corrupted the Church and deceived it into believing in so-called "self-esteem" which is really the sin of pride.
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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!
The Bible says that to "fear God and keep His commandments" is "the whole of man" - the end-all and be-all of human existence.
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"Rules without relationship lead to rebellion." Dr. James Dobson
"You don't need a license to preach, or teach, or win souls." RonB
"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength." Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)
Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing. ~ John Andrew Holmes
Try telling Jesus that He's wrong for commanding that abused child to forgive as God forgave him.
You have to admit that it's easier said than done.
It's one thing to say 'I forgive you'. It's another to actually do it.
For me personally, it took me six months to forgive my mother after she asked for it....for offenses that took place over 15 years before. It was difficult.
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
You have to admit that it's easier said than done.
It's one thing to say 'I forgive you'. It's another to actually do it.
For me personally, it took me six months to forgive my mother after she asked for it....for offenses that took place over 15 years before. It was difficult.
Jesus doesn't command us to merely say "I forgive you." He expects us to actually forgive. That it is not easy is irrelevant.
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