Monday's Blessing
Lamentations 3:22-23
“Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
What's your take on the New Year? Keep in mind life is going to follow your present thoughts. If your dwelling on a frustrating 2016 drumming up all the negative things that have happened, focusing on the mistakes you've made, and what you've done wrong, then your perpetuating a problem to take root in 2017. Take this year to let go, seek forgiveness from anyone you've hurt, and forgive the people who have hurt you. This is the only way you can release any bitterness you have been harboring. Take a moment right now, close your eyes, and begin by forgiving yourself. You are human, God knows this. Get rid of any bitterness you've been harboring on yourself. If you're going to go forward this 2017 let's start right here. Quit looking back.
The scripture says that God's mercies are new every morning. You may have made a lot of mistakes, but God has not run out of mercy. He makes a fresh new batch every single morning. Do you know why? Because he knew we were going to use up all the he made yesterday.
You may have done several things this year you're not proud of, but you don't have to carry that around with you any longer. You simply need to receive God's mercy and forgiveness. Today can be that new beginning.
Don't be a prisoner of the past. Some people are always dwelling on their disappointments. They just can’t understand why their prayers aren’t being answered, why their loved one wasn’t healed, why they are mistreated. They don't realize it, but they're allowing their past to poison their future. God has a new beginning in store for you. He wants to restore what's been stolen, but you may not be letting go of the past.
How can we forgive others when we are unable to forgive ourselves? This is the first step in complete redemption that fosters a new beginning. Once you forgive yourself you can begin to forgive others easily. Having our hearts in perfect harmony opens the door to blessings for the New Year. Hate and disdain can only hold us back. After all, that takes negative thoughts to keep festering and dislike someone. You can forgive others easily. It is as simple as the following four steps:
1. Recognize no one is perfect.When we hate somebody, we tend to lose our perspective about that person. When we’re filled with resentment and bitterness and hurt, we tend to dehumanize the offender. We treat them like an animal.
But we’re all in the same boat. The Bible says, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT, second edition). We’re all imperfect.
2. Relinquish your right to get even. This is the heart of forgiveness. The Bible says, “Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it” (Romans 12:19a TLB). You deserve to retaliate, but you must commit not to do so. It’s not fair, but it’s healthy. This isn’t a one-time decision but a daily one that may even require moment-by-moment decisions.
3. Respond to the evil with good. This is how you know you’ve fully released someone from the wrong that has been committed against you. Humanly speaking, it’s nearly impossible to respond to evil with good. You’ll need God’s help. You’ll need the love of Jesus to fill you up. Why? God’s love doesn’t keep track of wrongs (see 1 Corinthians 13).
4. Refocus on God’s plan for your life. You stop focusing on the hurt and the person who hurt you. Instead, you refocus on God’s purpose for your life, which is greater than any problem or pain you might be currently facing.
Take this week to continue forgiving yourself from anything you feel you have done or not done. Then move forward forgiving anyone who has hurt you this past year with this week's meditation.
This Week's Meditation:
I am the light of the world. Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.
Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow your thoughts to come into your mind. Each time a negative thought comes slowly bring your thought process back to the meditation and forgiveness. Great things will begin to happen.
Lamentations 3:22-23
“Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
What's your take on the New Year? Keep in mind life is going to follow your present thoughts. If your dwelling on a frustrating 2016 drumming up all the negative things that have happened, focusing on the mistakes you've made, and what you've done wrong, then your perpetuating a problem to take root in 2017. Take this year to let go, seek forgiveness from anyone you've hurt, and forgive the people who have hurt you. This is the only way you can release any bitterness you have been harboring. Take a moment right now, close your eyes, and begin by forgiving yourself. You are human, God knows this. Get rid of any bitterness you've been harboring on yourself. If you're going to go forward this 2017 let's start right here. Quit looking back.
The scripture says that God's mercies are new every morning. You may have made a lot of mistakes, but God has not run out of mercy. He makes a fresh new batch every single morning. Do you know why? Because he knew we were going to use up all the he made yesterday.
You may have done several things this year you're not proud of, but you don't have to carry that around with you any longer. You simply need to receive God's mercy and forgiveness. Today can be that new beginning.
Don't be a prisoner of the past. Some people are always dwelling on their disappointments. They just can’t understand why their prayers aren’t being answered, why their loved one wasn’t healed, why they are mistreated. They don't realize it, but they're allowing their past to poison their future. God has a new beginning in store for you. He wants to restore what's been stolen, but you may not be letting go of the past.
How can we forgive others when we are unable to forgive ourselves? This is the first step in complete redemption that fosters a new beginning. Once you forgive yourself you can begin to forgive others easily. Having our hearts in perfect harmony opens the door to blessings for the New Year. Hate and disdain can only hold us back. After all, that takes negative thoughts to keep festering and dislike someone. You can forgive others easily. It is as simple as the following four steps:
1. Recognize no one is perfect.When we hate somebody, we tend to lose our perspective about that person. When we’re filled with resentment and bitterness and hurt, we tend to dehumanize the offender. We treat them like an animal.
But we’re all in the same boat. The Bible says, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT, second edition). We’re all imperfect.
2. Relinquish your right to get even. This is the heart of forgiveness. The Bible says, “Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it” (Romans 12:19a TLB). You deserve to retaliate, but you must commit not to do so. It’s not fair, but it’s healthy. This isn’t a one-time decision but a daily one that may even require moment-by-moment decisions.
3. Respond to the evil with good. This is how you know you’ve fully released someone from the wrong that has been committed against you. Humanly speaking, it’s nearly impossible to respond to evil with good. You’ll need God’s help. You’ll need the love of Jesus to fill you up. Why? God’s love doesn’t keep track of wrongs (see 1 Corinthians 13).
4. Refocus on God’s plan for your life. You stop focusing on the hurt and the person who hurt you. Instead, you refocus on God’s purpose for your life, which is greater than any problem or pain you might be currently facing.
Take this week to continue forgiving yourself from anything you feel you have done or not done. Then move forward forgiving anyone who has hurt you this past year with this week's meditation.
This Week's Meditation:
I am the light of the world. Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.
Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow your thoughts to come into your mind. Each time a negative thought comes slowly bring your thought process back to the meditation and forgiveness. Great things will begin to happen.
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