In book three of the Senses Novels, TA’AM, our heroine has a lot of anger that she uses to justify her violent actions. She is focusing this rage on the true enemies of God, but it is still a boiling emotion in her. That isn’t healthy for anyone.
I just read a compelling headline about a Senator that was a contender for one of the Presidential primaries. This person is dying, and he knows it. Instead of making peace with those that he believes slighted or harmed him, he is carrying this rage to the grave with him. I don’t think that it is the ultimate case of ‘sour grapes,’ I believe that it is merely that some people never learned the simple lesson that Jesus taught about forgiving, I won’t put it here, but read Lk 15:11-32.
What most people don’t understand is that forgiveness begins with ourselves. If we don’t ask God for forgiveness of the things we’ve done and then believe that He has granted it, then we do not forgive ourselves. That seems strange to me. Who are we to say to God, “Yes, you can forgive me, but I can’t forgive me”?
Getting back to the Senator. The thing that bothers me the most about his attitude, his unforgiveness, is that he calls himself a Christian. Really, he self-describes as a Christian that prays. This makes the situation even sadder. Can you imagine standing before our Lord and having to explain that you gave your heart to Him but decided to harbor hate and anger in it all the way to the grave?
I am going to ask that you pray for this man. It is an easy prayer and will only take a moment. It goes, “Lord, please open his eyes to the anger he is carrying and what it means to you. Amen.”
I hope that each of you reading this will take a moment to reflect on any anger or pain that you haven’t forgiven. Ask yourself if this is the way you want God to see you.
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