Article Display
Email  |  My Account  |  Donate
Forgiveness is essential for good human relationships. You cannot give a hug with your arms folded.

Forgiveness of others also assures us of God's forgiveness of our own faults and failures. In Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV) Jesus said, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

The weight of unforgiveness greatly drags a person down. It is a tremendous load to carry in the race that we Christians are called to run.

When faced with the decision to forgive and forget, never make the excuse, "But no one knows what that person did to me!" That may be true, but the question is: do you know what unforgiveness will do to you?

What Really Matters is What Happens in Us Not to Us
Unforgiveness leads to great bitterness, which is a deadly misuse of the creative flow from above. Great amounts of mental energy and brainpower are used up in pondering over a negative situation and plotting how to "get even." This kind of thinking is totally unproductive.

People who make a habit of burning bridges will discover it is they who have been left isolated and alone. They will deal with neutrals and enemies the rest of their lives.

That's why we should build bridges, not burn them. Vengeance is a poor traveling companion. Every Christian is called to a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18). Getting even always causes imbalance and unhappiness in a life.

As I have worked with churches throughout America, in every stagnating situation I have found areas of unforgiveness. And conversely, I have found that, generally speaking, churches that are growing don't talk about past problems.

Never underestimate the power of forgiveness to loose and free you to accomplish your goals and fulfill your calling. It is the one power you have over a person who slanders or criticizes you. The farther you walk in forgiveness, the greater the distance you put between yourself and the negative situation.

Forgiveness gives you a spring in your spiritual walk and a second wind in the race of life.

Source: An Enemy Called Average by John Mason.
Excerpt permission granted by Insight Publishing

Author Biography

John Mason
Web site: Insight International
 
John Mason is a highly regarded international speaker, minister, professional author coach and best-selling author. He is the founder and president of Insight International and Insight Publishing Group.
Read more...

About Us

The online ministry of cfaith has been helping people discover faith, friends and freedom in the Word since 2000. Cfaith provides a unique and comprehensive collection of faith-building resources for the worldwide faith community.

At cfaith, you can strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of the Word of God by digging into the vast collection of teaching articles, streaming audio and video messages, and daily devotionals. No other website offers such a unique and extensive collection of spiritual-growth resources aimed at helping you grow in your knowledge of the Word.

Read More...

 

 

Support Us

Why support cfaith?


(All contributions are 100% tax deductible)


SUPPORT CFAITH WITH ONE CLICK!

For every Internet search you make using
goodsearch, cfaith will receive one penny!

GS Logo 250x38

Contact Us

Business Hours:


Monday—Friday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m. CST
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Phone:

(763) 488-7800 or (800) 748-8107

Mailing Address: 

CFAITH.com
9201 75th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

 

Login Form

Please ignore the “Secret Key” field; it is not needed to log in to cfaith.

Login Change Article

Spring360x442
You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.