In a world consisting of over 6 billion people, the only person you can absolutely know and be sure that you will be with to the very end is yourself. You are the one who can make the decisions that can influence your own life. You are the one responsible for the direction of your life. You are the one who can change the course of your life. YOU! Now, isn’t it amazing how easily some people can forgive everyone else of any kind of trespass and yet they can’t seem to forgive themselves? It may have been one bad decision that they made, and it holds them captive in the space of time. Why is that so?
The bible says in 1 John 1:9 (ALT), “If we are confessing our sins, He is faithful [or, trustworthy] and righteous that He shall forgive us our sins and cleanse [or, purge] us from all unrighteousness.” In Numbers 23:19 (ASV) it says, “God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?” If God said it, it is true! God said he will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Many Christians go for months or even years asking for forgiveness for one sin they committed a long time ago. They are unbelievers. If you believe in God you will believe His word. Living in self condemnation is not being holy, nor is it being humble. It is unbelief that makes people live in sin consciousness.
Dr Ed Cole said that failing to forgive ourselves is making ourselves greater than God. It means that we have standards that are higher than God and so we know the kind of sin that is not forgivable by any means under the sun. So we voluntarily punish ourselves and create our own little hell on earth where we burn in guilt. Romans 8:1 says, “Consequently, [there is] now no condemnation to the [ones] in Christ Jesus, [who] do not walk about [fig., conduct themselves] according to flesh, _but_ according to [the] Spirit [or, to spirit, and possibly elsewhere in 8:2-15].” We, being the new creation in Christ do not live according to the flesh nor according to the law of life and death but we live by the Spirit who grants us life and peace. To know the truth in the word of God and to live it is maturity in Christ. To live by the senses (the flesh) is to be a baby. Babies respond to every emotion they feel and they take every emotion to be true.
Thank God we have the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God as our part of our amour – Ephesians 6:17. The Greek word translated “word” in that scripture is “rhēma” which is the spoken word. “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword;” - Isaiah 49:2. When there is a situation and I have confessed but I still “feel” terrible about what I did, I know there is warfare going on. The bible says the devil is the accuser of the brethren. So I take up my sword of the Spirit and I start to speak the word. I start to confess (Greek homologeo: to say the same thing with God) the word of God and say, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, nothing can separate me from the love of God!”
If you are one of those people living in self condemnation and sin consciousness, make a decision today to release yourself by forgiving yourself. Say this prayer, “Father in the name of Jesus, I thank you that I am forgiven. I repent of making my standards higher than yours. I believe that your word is true. Thank you for forgiving me and loving me unconditionally. I release myself from the guilt that has been holding me. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!” It says in Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore, let us be approaching with confidence [or, a joyful sense of freedom] to the throne of grace, so that we shall receive mercy and find grace for well-timed help.” We are meant to boldly collect forgiveness from the throne of grace. We are one with Christ; we are the body of Christ!
Today I recommend that you read the book of Romans Chapter 8 and get to see your position in Christ. This is one of the most powerful chapters I have ever read in the bible and I know it’s a lot of people’s favorite as well. If you still haven’t collected your PDF with forgiveness scriptures, it is still available on http://tinei.shamu.googlepages.com/aod now. God bless you and enjoy your week. – Tinei Shamu
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
When Will You Let Go?
One of the greatest hindrances to progress in life is the very thing that a lot of people hold on to with both hands and legs for a life time. People swear and vow with their lives and are truly committed to stick to their vows, not knowing they are vowing to deep misery and pain by their own hand. It is probably the simplest, yet for a lot of people the hardest step to take to their breakthroughs in life. It is a one word action called forgiveness. A spirit of personal vengeance haunts people night and day. They spend sleepless nights and unproductive days scheming while their offenders are completely at peace and productive. They mentally go through the things that were done to them that made them so mad. They don’t understand the law of attraction, nor do they appreciate the law of vibrations. They dig their own pit without rest, and surely, they will see to it that they get buried in it.
Events that happen to us are not completely within our power to manipulate or change once they have happened. If something has happened, it has happened! The only thing you are in control of is the way you will respond to that event. That response will determine the outcome. Consider this, if someone says to me, “Tinei, you are a complete idiot!” I have the option to think that’s the truth and say to myself, “Oh, I’m such an idiot, everyone thinks so.” The outcome is that I will lower my self esteem and probably feel very low or depressed. On the other hand, I can choose to say to myself, “That guy doesn’t know who I am. I know who I am. Christ dwells in me, who is the embodiment of all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The outcome will be very different from the first example. This is usually stated in the equation E+R=O. This is Event + Response = Outcome.
"And whenever you* stand praying, be forgiving, if you* are holding anything against anyone, so that also your* Father, the [One] in the heavens, shall forgive you* of your* transgressions.”But if you* do not forgive, neither will your* Father, the [One] in the heavens, forgive your* transgressions." - Mark11:25, 26. It is true that sometimes we get offended in relationships whether in the work place, in marriage, in family and any other way that we relate to other people. Holding that grudge in unforgiveness will never make anything better. Unforgiveness has been associated with disease including arthritis, migraine headaches, ulcers, depression and many others. It is not worth the energy. When people release such bitterness and anger, they often experience amazing recovery even from the physical ailment duly developed.
Unforgiveness blocks your prayers from being answered. It brings you dis-ease. It retards your progress in other areas of your life. It stops you from moving on (as in the case of failed dating relationships or marriages). It leads you into depression. It leads you into making bad decisions. It stops you from operating in love and staying in the kingdom of God (i.e. right thinking, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost). It opens doors for demonic activity in your life. It just is not good for you! So why are you holding on to that wrong? Have you decided to sacrifice everything else just for that person or those people? Has God not done a lot more things for you already? Count your blessings today and see how much you are too blessed to be stressed by such little things.
If there are people you need to release, here is a prayer that you can pray today and get it done with. Remember that it does not mean that what they did was good. It does not mean you no longer feel hurt by it. It simply means you are choosing to forgive them and stop holding that thing against them. You sincerely wish them all the best in what ever they do in their lives. You know they do not have the power to determine your future because it is in your hands. Pray this prayer: Dear God, I thank you that you always forgive me when I repent. Today I bring ………… into your capable hands. I choose to release him/her/them. I forgive them of what they did to me. Now I open my heart to you and I receive the Holy Spirit. I thank you for healing the pain from all this. Thank you for your healing in the name of Jesus. Amen”
If you sincerely prayed that prayer I know you are already feeling different. Isn’t it such a great feeling to be free from that burden of bitterness and unforgiveness? It is. Now, I have a PDF document waiting for you if you just click http://tinei.shamu.googlepages.com/aod and get it for free. It contains verses from the bible that instruct us to forgive. Open it and see God’s heart on the issue of forgiving. God bless you and have a great week.
Affirmation: I know who I am. The outcome in my life depends on my response to events. I forgive those that offend me instantly. I hold nothing against any man for I wrestle not against flesh and blood.
For your FREE PDF just click the link www.tinei.shamu.googlepages.com/aod and save to your computer. Have a great week. - Tinei Shamu
Events that happen to us are not completely within our power to manipulate or change once they have happened. If something has happened, it has happened! The only thing you are in control of is the way you will respond to that event. That response will determine the outcome. Consider this, if someone says to me, “Tinei, you are a complete idiot!” I have the option to think that’s the truth and say to myself, “Oh, I’m such an idiot, everyone thinks so.” The outcome is that I will lower my self esteem and probably feel very low or depressed. On the other hand, I can choose to say to myself, “That guy doesn’t know who I am. I know who I am. Christ dwells in me, who is the embodiment of all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The outcome will be very different from the first example. This is usually stated in the equation E+R=O. This is Event + Response = Outcome.
"And whenever you* stand praying, be forgiving, if you* are holding anything against anyone, so that also your* Father, the [One] in the heavens, shall forgive you* of your* transgressions.”But if you* do not forgive, neither will your* Father, the [One] in the heavens, forgive your* transgressions." - Mark11:25, 26. It is true that sometimes we get offended in relationships whether in the work place, in marriage, in family and any other way that we relate to other people. Holding that grudge in unforgiveness will never make anything better. Unforgiveness has been associated with disease including arthritis, migraine headaches, ulcers, depression and many others. It is not worth the energy. When people release such bitterness and anger, they often experience amazing recovery even from the physical ailment duly developed.
Unforgiveness blocks your prayers from being answered. It brings you dis-ease. It retards your progress in other areas of your life. It stops you from moving on (as in the case of failed dating relationships or marriages). It leads you into depression. It leads you into making bad decisions. It stops you from operating in love and staying in the kingdom of God (i.e. right thinking, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost). It opens doors for demonic activity in your life. It just is not good for you! So why are you holding on to that wrong? Have you decided to sacrifice everything else just for that person or those people? Has God not done a lot more things for you already? Count your blessings today and see how much you are too blessed to be stressed by such little things.
If there are people you need to release, here is a prayer that you can pray today and get it done with. Remember that it does not mean that what they did was good. It does not mean you no longer feel hurt by it. It simply means you are choosing to forgive them and stop holding that thing against them. You sincerely wish them all the best in what ever they do in their lives. You know they do not have the power to determine your future because it is in your hands. Pray this prayer: Dear God, I thank you that you always forgive me when I repent. Today I bring ………… into your capable hands. I choose to release him/her/them. I forgive them of what they did to me. Now I open my heart to you and I receive the Holy Spirit. I thank you for healing the pain from all this. Thank you for your healing in the name of Jesus. Amen”
If you sincerely prayed that prayer I know you are already feeling different. Isn’t it such a great feeling to be free from that burden of bitterness and unforgiveness? It is. Now, I have a PDF document waiting for you if you just click http://tinei.shamu.googlepages.com/aod and get it for free. It contains verses from the bible that instruct us to forgive. Open it and see God’s heart on the issue of forgiving. God bless you and have a great week.
Affirmation: I know who I am. The outcome in my life depends on my response to events. I forgive those that offend me instantly. I hold nothing against any man for I wrestle not against flesh and blood.
For your FREE PDF just click the link www.tinei.shamu.googlepages.com/aod and save to your computer. Have a great week. - Tinei Shamu
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