Tag Archives: Matthew 6:14–15

Dedicated: A Search of the Heart

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Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23–24

When was the last time you dedicated time to searching your heart for offense and wickedness? What might happen if we made this a regular practice? If you’re ready to do a little (or perhaps a lot of) soul searching, read on.

Sometimes our anxious thoughts are rooted in an unforgiving heart. When we hold on to resentment, bitterness, or anger toward someone who has hurt us, we carry a burden that God never intended us to bear.

Jesus had some particularly strong words about forgiveness:

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.
Matthew 6:14–15

Did you notice verse 15? Those are powerful words. I cannot bear the thought of living without God’s forgiveness. Can you? Are there situations in your life that seem unfair? People who have hurt you? Circumstances over which you had no control? Of course. We all have them. Some wounds are deep, and some injustices are very real. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the hurt never happened or excusing someone’s actions. It means refusing to allow that hurt to take up permanent residence in our hearts.

So what should we do?

Give it to God! Let Him have control of all that happens to us, against us, for us, and even without us. Ask Him to make you aware of any anger, bitterness, resentment, or envy you may be harboring toward another person. Be willing to let Him uncover even those things you would rather leave hidden.

Only when we surrender that burden to Him can we begin to move forward in forgiveness and freedom.

And perhaps we should make David’s prayer our own:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

Lord, search my heart. Show me what needs to change. Give me the courage to surrender what I have been holding onto and the grace to forgive as You have forgiven me. Lead me in Your everlasting way. Amen.

I am joining a great group of Christian writers at 5-Minute Friday. We write for 5 minutes each Friday (sometimes longer). You can read the other writers’ posts and share your own here: https://fiveminutefriday.com

Always Forgiven!

ResurrectionWE CANNOT OUT-SIN HIS FORGIVENESS!!!!

For Heaven’s sake don’t even think that I would ever suggest even trying.  One of the ways we get ever closer to Jesus likeness is our whole-hearted desire not to sin.  But we are human and we are sinful and that’s something we simply can’t ignore!

In Psalm 103:2-3 David tells us that we are not to forget His benefits and one of these is the forgiveness of sin.  For me, David’s words speak mountains of truth about forgiveness.  His story helps us understand that even the one (David) who had a Heart like His could and would sin!  David depended on God’s forgiveness, asked for it and it was given. Fully!

God is the God of the second, third, forth….chance.  Take a look at Jonah 1:1-3.  God told him to go to Ninevah and preach against its wickedness.  Jonah tried to run away and had the adventure and epiphiny of his life.  (Yes, my God is the Only One who could keep a man alive in the ‘belly of a whale’!)  Jonah 3:1 says the LORD spoke to him a second time and said go to Ninevah and proclaim the wickedness of the Ninevites.  Jonah obeyed!  God will forgive our disobedience but does expect to eventually obey.

Jesus tells us clearly in Matthew 6:14-15 that we must forgive others when they sin against us.  If we don’t the consequence is to big to imagine…the Father will not forgive us.  We are to be the picture of God to those around us.  If there is no way to out-sin God’s forgiveness then there is no sin of another that we can’t forgive.

Mighty, Awesome, Forgiving LORD!  Forgive my sins, the ones I know and the ones I don’t.  Give me Your super-natural ability to forgive those who have and will sin against me in some way.  Nurture in me a heart of forgiveness!  Make it so!!!