Thought for February 1: Luke 17:4 – Forgiveness February
Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
The decision to forgive is an exceptionally hard thing to do. When we are hurt by a betrayal, often we are overwhelmed by anger, resentment, hurt, even deep-seated bitterness. This hurt will eat you up. Bitterness and resentment will only hurt one person, and it is not the person who asks for forgiveness, it is us.
Thought for February 2: Ephesians 4:32 – Forgiveness February
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
I have heard it said, “But if I forgive, I am giving in and I lose.” You and I have suffered at the hands of others. It is a part of living with other people. Our expectations are not met with perfect execution. We trust for everyone to behave and have some similitude to civility. We are reluctant to forgive because of a seeming reduction of self. “I am less of a person if I don’t win this one.” Forgiveness is not about winning or losing. The act of forgiveness is about a decision to get better. It is about me willfully making an effort to stop the hurt. It is about me returning to a spiritual focus.
Thought for February 3: Colossians 3:13 – Forgiveness February
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the LORD forgave you.
I have heard it said, “I don’t have to forgive because of time and distance.” A decision to forgive is not dependent upon when or where I was hurt. A simple statement was made to me, “I don’t want to work with him, he is too rigid.” I have never thought of myself as rigid, unyielding, without mercy, without grace, without understanding, punctilious, without forgiveness. I probably will not be working or even seeing this person again. I will never hear, “I am sorry about my statement.” But this perceived insult attaches to the soul so tightly it never seems to go away. I must forgive. I must bear with others. Self-image is not dependent upon others, it is mine. I choose to forgive. I am released.
Thought for February 4: Proverbs 3:3 – Forgiveness February
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
I have heard it said, “I need to forgive before reconciliation.” Forgiveness is not about the other person or even your relationship with that person. Forgiveness is for you. It is about given it up. It is about releasing the resentment. It is about becoming emotionally well. Forgiveness is not about reconciliation. Reconciliation is about taking the time to rebuild trust. It is a goal to be pursued. It is a day-by-day thing. Forgiveness is something I do. Reconciliation is a God thing. In the end, reconciliation is a spiritual process which requires more than an intellectual agreement. It has to happen in the heart and the mind over time.
Thought for February 5: Matthew 18:21-23 – Forgiveness February
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
I have heard it said, “Forgiveness will allow me to be hurt again.” Hurt and pain are a part of living. My daughter when she was young would ask when she hurt herself, “Kiss it and make it well Daddy.” Forgiveness never eliminates the possibility of being hurt again. In any relationship there must be boundaries. You can forgive and simultaneously set limits and expectations of acceptability. You can voice your needs, your desires, your wants, even your preferences; forgiveness does not change the possibility of hurt, but it can be a opportunity for being heard. It is not “forgive and forget” as if nothing wrong will never happen again, but rather, “forgive and go forward.”
Thought for February 6: Luke 6:36 – Forgiveness February
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful
I have heard it said, “Forgiveness is acceptance of my hurt.” Forgiveness is not saying it is OK and you should do it again. It is not being a martyr. It is not “Please, sir can I have some more.” Inflicted pain, whether emotional or physical, is not the new normal. Forgiveness is an acknowledgement it was wrong. Toleration only brings great scars. Forgiveness is condemnation of the hurt not the acceptance of it. It was Bryant McGill who said, “They caused the wound, but you are causing the pain. You keep it going, you nurture it. Forgive and let go, or it will eat you alive. Without foregiveness, you are the one inflicting pain on yourself.”
Thought for February 7: Matthew 5:7 – Forgiveness February
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
I have heard it said, “He doesn’t deserve forgiveness.” “The offender earned his condemnation.” These statements are putting someone’s behavior as being above and beyond some threshold line of unacceptability. The behavior, the betrayal of trust does not deserve to be forgiven. None of us deserve forgiveness. We are all labeled with a sticker across our foreheads saying, “PINOGAM”. Person In Need Of Grace And Mercy. No one is perfect. All have fallen short of God’s ideal. We are all PINOGAMs. Even those who transgress and hurt are PINOGAMs. You do not deserve mercy, I do not deserve mercy, No one deserves mercy. If we deserved mercy it would not be a gift of God.
Thought for February 8: 1 John 1:9 – Forgiveness February
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I have heard it said, “Before I forgive you, you need to say you are sorry. You have to ask for it.” “I am waiting for an apology before I decide to forgive.” This does not sound like forgiveness, but more of taking an advantage. The bible seems to require it. It states in no uncertain terms a requirement of confession. You and I are not God. God has no option not to forgive after our confession. With that absolutism we can be contrite with a guarantee. Humans don’t always act that way. We want to hold back our forgiveness. We want to hold it high in the air, to dangle it just out of arms reach. It is retribution not forgiveness. Remember well, “Forgiveness is for you not for the one who hurt you.” If you are waiting for someone to apologize before you heal, it may never come. Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never received.
Thought for February 9: Isaiah 1:18 – Forgiveness February
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
The hardest person to forgive lives within my skin. I need grace and mercy. I have seen and felt the hurt bestowed on me by others and I have reluctantly forgiven and moved on. But when I look inwardly, I stop short. I dry up inside day by day knowing I must give up and become more. I am not perfect. I can make grievous errors. I must stop hiding in the shadows of my guilt. I must let the light of forgiveness shine on my own heart. I must not be trapped in the darkness of shattered memories. Forgiving myself is the only way to start again. Forgive and move on.
Thought for February 10: Ephesians 1:7 – Forgiveness February
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Forgiveness is a tough thing to do. Forgiving yourself is agony. Forgiving yourself is giving up all those survival methods of living with guilt. We rationalize, we say “It wasn’t that bad.” These defense methods are how to hide from the pain we have inflicted on others. We shrink away into our own little alcove of comfort only to take the cause of our guilt with us. Bad decisions become the defining environment of your life. There is no peace until you discover how to forgive yourself. I was L.B. Smedes who said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that person was you.”
Thought for February 11: Matthew 6:14-15 – Forgiveness February
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
There seems to be no wiggle room on forgiveness of others. I am required to forgive. I must stop the incrimination, condemnation, thoughts of retribution, acts of anger. I must. This is the only hinderance to my forgiveness. I cannot let my feelings of hurt and pain be the controlling factor in my own healing. My debts, my errors of judgement, my willful transgressions can never be forgiven without the spirit of forgiveness in my own heart. Cancellation of my own debts is dependent upon my forgiveness of others. I constrain God by my stubbornness. I must release God to forgive me.
Thought for February 12: Colossians 1:13-14 – Forgiveness February
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I cannot change the past. It is a stone that is simply too large to move. It is the immovable object trailing along behind held by ropes to my inner wellbeing. It constrains my self-image. It impedes whatever progress I think I am making in all my relationships. I scratch and pull and yank and sometimes simply try to ignore the weight constantly restricting me. I get so tired of the strain, I stop and think, “my place, my current position good enough”. But the weight continually increases until the shadow of that immense rock shades everything I do. I toil in a tethered country of struggle. The stone becomes hallmark of the dominion in which I live. But there is a solution to the darkness, to the weight that so easily grabs and pulls. A solution which does not include darkness, struggle, or immobility. The solution is forgiveness and the severing of the bonds that would impede my headway. The solution which opens to me a new kingdom. Bliss and progress are now my path.
Thought for February 13 – Matthew 6:23 Jesus said. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself, each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Nothing wrong about planning for the future. Looking forward to a new experience, planning the task list for today and for tomorrow; both good things. But there is definatly a place of ill if we are worrying so much about a coming rainy day to miss the good weather. There are but two days to savor in the week. Two days that fill my heart with joy and expectation. The first of these days is tomorrow because it has not yet come and is filled with hope and anticipation. The second of these days is today because it is the only day we must live in. Live in it by making every moment count by forgiving and moving on. All the rest of the days are already gone. There is nothing we can do but live in the grace and mercy of our Lord. The Lord is in our todays and that is good enough.
Thought for: February 14 – Ephesians 3:19 – Forgiveness February
To know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
My eldest son was once a resident of an exceedingly small town. It was once a place of prosperity and vigor but now most of the buildings are falling and boarded up. You could well say it has a town limits sign on one end and other on the other end, with little in between. Our spiritual journeys may well be described in the same manner. Our earthly Christian life begins at forgiveness and a new life and will end when we move out of our earthly world. A rich and full life is available to all who believe. It forgives that which went before and provides to us a fullness of a Godly life. God desires to give us a marvelous beginning with forgiveness and salvation and a great ending in Glory. And for now, in this new life I am discovering a new abundant life in between the two signposts.
Thought for February 15: 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 – Forgiveness February
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.
Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
There must be some point in a broken relationship where it is enough. A place and a time where healing is more important than grief. A place and time to make amends, a place where we can be set from the tyranny of past mistakes. Perceive this time as an opportunity to learn. These hurts are a part of you but not meant to torment you. Others may judge and pass on continual condemnation and that is their problem their lack of compassion. I will grow from my mistakes. Those bound by the lack of forgiveness not healed but are eaten by their own attitudes. I will keep on keeping on. I will take the lessons of forgiveness to heart not the hurt. Ten years from now it will hardly matter and few will remember it anyway.
Thought for February 16. Psalm 103:11,12 – Forgiveness February
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
There was a high school football coach in the mid-west who after a loss would keep the scoreboard lit for the rest of the week reminding the team as they practice of their failure. In football that might be a useful strategy but not in life. As an injured party is does little good to keep it on the scoreboard. In relationships with others, it only makes them angry. Angry at themselves and angry at you for bringing to memory of past failures. God’s word is full of admonitions to forgive each other and overlook faults. We must be reminded continually of God’s grace and mercy toward us and His choice to remove our short falls. With God, forgiveness means our sin is out of sight and out of mind. May He give me grace to extend that forgiveness to those around me. Let us take down the scoreboard. I can make a choice to be engaged with the present, instead of the past.
Thought for February 17: Psalm 51:1 – Forgiveness February
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
It was a family decision to take the old 4WD International Scout up the mountain to cut a fresh Christmas tree. Up with seemingly hundreds of others we pushed through the snow-covered roads to the designated place. We cut the tree and tied it to the roof and set off home. Then the right front wheel fell off! It seems all the nuts holding it on had become loose and finally the last one gave way and we came to an abrupt stop. I needed help, I needed abundant mercy, I needed at least four undamaged lug nuts. I tried to solicit other travelers on that road to give up a nut. Finally, a mechanic stopped and simply encouraged me to take one nut off each of my other tires. What a concept! In the early church the saved encouraged others to show compassion, to daily inspire others to love one another and to forgive one another. By the way, if you have a spare nut, share it with one who needs one.
Thought for February 18: Acts 7:59-60 – Forgiveness February
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen knew that Christ was the Judge and not the crowd of stone throwers. He knew that in just moments he would be standing in Christ’s presence. His prayer was not, “forgive me for the life I have lived.”, but “Forgive these who sin against me.” Why did he not ask forgiveness for himself? Why wasn’t he thinking about the judgment that he was going to meet so soon? Because Stephen was forgiven before the stoning. He had no fear about that judgment for himself, and so when the last hour struck, his desire of heart and mind was for those who were hurtling stones and breaking his body. Without hesitancy, Steven’s focus was not on the stones and pain but rather he prayed for his persecutors. I am closer than most to my earthly end, but I do not fret about it. Like Steven, I am now more worried about you.
Thought for February 19: Colossians 3:13 – Forgiveness February
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Why does God care so much as to forgive me from all the dumb decisions, willful acts, nurtured bad habits and purposeful neglect? Why would the personified perfection of God desire to have such a flawed, imperfect person like me to be a part of His family? Why would God want to call me “beloved”, “child”, or even “heir”? WE ARE FORGIVEN TO FORGIVE. It is the greatest Godly act we can do. Forgiveness is love acted out. It is not keeping records of wrongs. Forgiveness is being kind when wronged. Forgiveness does not dishonor. Forgiveness is not self-seeking. It is love.
Thought for February 20: Micah 7:18-19 – Forgiveness February
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
It may well be hard to understand but when the Bible of the Old Testament refers to people most of the time as sinners. Sinners condemned. Sinners in need of pardon. Sinners estranged. Sinners in need of acceptance and love. Sinners in deficit. Sinners falling short. Sinners deserving penalty. Sinners a far off. Sinners separated deeply troubled, without hope, without expectations, without vibrancy. The perfect image of God’s most treasured creation adulterated, corrupted, and broken. Conversely, we hear God responding to sinners as one who would bring pardon. Pardon at the expense of Himself. Pardon exercised in love. Forgiveness offered, no matter how terrible our attempts at life has been. And that special pardon includes the purposeful forgetfulness of our past.
Thought for February 21: Luke 7:47-48 – Forgiveness February
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The response to forgiveness is love. What a concept! When God intercedes into our broken world, it is for a purpose. When God places His hand upon the individual in forgiving love it is in the expectation that the forgiven will respond. This expected response to forgiveness is to display, to show off, to boldly act in love. You do not love to forgive but forgive to love.
Thought for February 22. Acts 5:19,20 – Forgiveness February
But during the night an angel of the LORD opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. And said “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”
Jail break! The place of imprisonment was the highest security system of the age. It included a personal jailer at a table by the door, it included the prisoners with chains on their hands and feet. It was simply impossible to escape. But they did! God stepped in in the form of an angel to break the bounds, swing the door, take them by their hands and lead them out the labyrinth of other cells, and set the apostles free. Free to what? Free to do something. To speak the whole message of Life. If you are free, SPEAK!
Thought for February 23: I John 2:1-2 – Forgiveness February
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
The follower of Jesus was speaking to the church. To the saved, to the forgiven, to those who have professed that Jesus was the Light and the Life. He was simply saying, “sin is not a good thing.” Acting out of hurt by striking back was not in the plan. Withholding forgiveness for fellow sojourners is not in the plan. Living in hurt is not in the plan. Living with pain is not in the plan. What is in the plan is forgiveness. We have an avenue of ridding ourselves from that which is eating us up.
Thought for February 24: 1 Peter 5:9 – Forgiveness February
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
It is difficult. It is hard to do. To be assaulted on all sides by various forces, all endeavoring to strip me from my joy, my faith, my love. Evil personified by Satan is a real force. A force that is impossible to eradicate from our world. From the serpent in the garden to our ever present, this force is prowling in the nation, the church, in our families, in our personal lives. It may be invulnerable, but it is not unconquerable. The weakest follower of God can confound and overpower if we simply resist, if we stand firm. We are loved and forgiven to stand firm to resist.
Thought for February 25: James 5:16 – Forgiveness February
Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
There must be a safe place. A safe place to confess without condemnation. A safe place of prayer. A safe place to understand all, including me, including you, are not perfect. A safe place where we are healed. A safe place where there is power. A safe place where there is valuable, successful, healing changes in our lives. There must be a safe place and that place is within the united gathered in believers. My friends, let us confess without fear, pray without condemnation for healing. Will you be my prayer partner?
Thought for February 26: Proverbs 15:18 – Forgiveness February
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
Anger, resentment, wrathful disposition, furious spirit are all characteristics of a soul that simply has no forgiveness. It is a soul that looks for trouble. It is a soul that has soured. It is a soul that is not and cannot be satisfied with a simple, “I am sorry”. It is a soul that needs revenge, conflict, and discord. It is a sick soul which needs revenge, retribution and pay back. But the one who is patient, kind, calm, loving and forgiving is healthy. The presence of this healthy soul calms all those around. “Peace like a river attends my soul and it is well with my soul.
Thought for February 27: Proverbs 17:9 – Forgiveness February
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raises high his gate seeks destruction
I have been there. I was so filled with feelings of hurt that I did not want to be around anyone. I was satisfied with that state of self-imposed cloister. My hurt was almost pleasurable because I justified my self that it was caused by someone else. I justified myself into believing, somehow this terrible pain I had endured was good for me. It was the old, “no pain, no gain” mantra. It was a badge I could wear with distinction. Pride in pain. I raised it up for all to see. “Look at me I am well on my way to martyrdom.” In the misery of my pain I realized it is not enough to an be a victim. I had to let it go. To forsake the walking wounded and join the forgiven. Healing!
Thought for February 28: Psalm 86:5 – Forgiveness February
You, LORD, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
The best place to be is where you are at peace. So how do we get there? From where can I find help for my troubled soul? Where can I expect help to get to this peaceful place? Can I set expectations of my culture, the new normal, the government, even my neighbor to be there at any time and at any place? Can I find this place of peace in my marriage? Can I find this place in the latest gadget? I will find my peace in my creator, my God, and my king. All because He is forgiving, He is good, He is abounding in love. So now, I call on Him for peace.