Testing... Testing One, Two

Did you ever notice that as soon as you hear what the Word says about a subject, you will have the opportunity to practice it?  You hear about Forgiveness and you can expect that the next interaction you have with a human being you will have the chance to get in unforgiveness.  Your friend will be rude, strangers will seemingly go out of their way to offend you, your loved ones will find a way to stomp on your heart strings... I'm talking about the everyday stuff we get hung up on and allow the enemy to reel us in with.


There will be every chance to get offended.  But the choice is all up to  you. What are you going to do?

• Will you allow old habits to rule your emotions and end up a wreck, wanting to beat yourself up for missing it again?
• Will you throw yourself a pity party, call a few friends and try to invite them to join you?  Sometimes our friends will join in -- hopefully we'll call the true friend that will tell us what we need to hear.
• Will you recognize the enemy's MO and decide that you will NOT let him steal the seed that's just been planted and instead water it with faith and let it grow into Spiritual Fruit?

The easy thing to do is to do what we've always done.  Get mad, get your feelings hurt, pout, stomp around and slam a few doors... it's not just our kids who act that way!  OR you can go with what you just learned and decide you will forgive.  Forgiveness and dealing with the person you just forgave isn't easy.  Especially when your feelings still ache with the hurt they just went through.


So how do we do it?  We walk in love.  We say out loud we've forgiven that person and ask God to manifest his love for them through us, we MAKE ourselves walk with them as if nothing has happened.  I'm not saying your feelings aren't important, or that you don't count.  I'm saying when you walk like nothing's happened what you're really doing is giving it to God.  He'll take care of it; He'll turn the hearts of men; He'll heal our emotions, our minds, and our hearts.


Read 1 Corinthian's 13 beginning with verse 4 with your name in it like this:

I am patient

I am kind 

I do not envy 

I do not boast 

I am not proud  

I do not dishonor others 

I am not self-seeking 

I am not easily angered 

I keep NO RECORD OF WRONGS  

The Amplified Bible is a great version to read.  Choose to walk in the freedom of forgiveness and PASS THE TEST the next time the devil tries you.