Friday, February 6, 2009

Fingerprint Friday { forgiveness }

I have struggled the last couple of days with how to forgive selfishness and unkindness shown toward me. I know in my spirit that I needed to do this, yet it has been almost a physical struggle and I could feel it like raging pain inside. I know that holding on to unforgiveness can cause serious side effects - mental stress, sleep deprivation, and even sickness - but the war to choose to forgive is a great one and the battlefield is your mind.

This morning, I was reminded of a study on forgiveness that I did this past fall, and some wise principles I learned there.

Forgiveness is not saying what others did to you was ok.

It is simply a choice to allow God to work instead of trying to work it yourself.

When you choose to do something and begin to do it, even when you don't feel like it, the feelings will follow.


And then, as I was doing schoolwork with my daughter later this morning, I looked down at her Bible verse of the week, and was astonished that the Lord would choose to speak to me straight from my daughter's school paper:

"Be gentle and ready to forgive;
never hold grudges.
Remember, the Lord forgave you,
you must forgive others."
Colossians 3:13


I am not always gentle. I have made many mistakes of my own. And God freely chose to pay the price so that I could be forgiven of all these things - I cannot even begin to express my gratitude. So I can choose to forgive the offenses against me, and my feelings will follow.

This is the greatest fingerprint God left on earth -
Forgiveness paid for by His Son.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God


So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.


2. Be sure to link so others can find the entire list of participants! Go over to PamperingBeki's blog to add your link to the list of participants.

4 comments:

GingerLouise Clothing said...

Well God spoke to you and you spoke to me, this morning--I shared how it would take a miracle to forgive this person who has harmed and continues to harm me and my child and how I really don't want to forgive because that means he gets away with it--I know its screwy thinking and it is making me sick in all the ways you described--
so thanks for sharing what you did today because the truth is he is not mine to judge...

Rosebud Collection said...

I think forgiving is one of the hardest things. In all honesty, nothing is easy, when you try and do the right thing. What a beautiful way God spoke to you..
It says it all.
You know the post above mine..saying "the person gets away with it"..they don't. I have seen things make full circle..and you never fool God.

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

Thank you Rebekah.

God bless you.

artsyclay said...

That is so awesome that He gave you that message...and it's good that you chose to follow His direction.

Sometimes it has taken stubborn me a long time to realize He is sending me messages ... and to do what He wants me to do ... and then AHHHHH, peace at last.