BBD 06.24.15 How to be Happy: Forgiveness (Classic)
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The Burning
Bush Devotional
Classic
from 2002
06.24.15
How to be
Happy: Forgiveness
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. - Matthew 6:12 NKJV.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses. - Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV.
Psychologists for years have concentrated on the negatives,
but there are a growing number who are now focusing on the positives. Positives
such as how we can be happy, and what it is that makes a person happy. One of
the character traits that contribute to happiness, has been found to be a
readiness to forgive, or an easy forgiveness. Psychologists have found that the
trait most strongly linked to happiness is forgiveness. University of Michigan
Psychologist Christopher Peterson says of forgiveness, “It’s the queen of all virtues, and probably the hardest
to come by.”
Those who are Christians know what a great weight
unforgiven sin can be. As Christians we also know what a great joy it is to go
to our Lord Jesus in confession and repentance, and be forgiven and cleansed
from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). What joy to know that the weight, the burden of our
failures has been washed away, and that we have been made as white as snow in
the sight of our God! In much the same way that the weight of our own sin bears
upon us, there is also a burden, a weight, a cost for being unwilling to
forgive others. That burden is in knowing that we are living outside of the
will of God. That cost is a high cost coming in the form of increasing
unhappiness, and often resulting in a physical manifestation of deteriorating
health.
How can we forgive when someone has hurt us? We must
always remember that we were the enemy of God and yet Jesus died for us that we
might be forgiven. Our love for our Savior should be more than our hatred for
our enemy. God calls upon us to forgive, He pleads with us to forgive, He warns
us to forgive. The Bible has much to say about forgiveness: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,
forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses
(Mark 11:25).” “…bearing with
one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do (Colossians 3:13).”
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy
triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).”
If you are having difficulty forgiving someone, begin to
pray for that person and ask God to bless their lives. At the same time, ask
God to help you to be able to forgive. I think you will find that it is very
hard to harbor hatred toward someone you are truly praying for. Allow yourself
to be happy. Forgive!
Copyright © 2002-2015. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
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Please continue to pray
for our friend Michelle who is recovering from surgery and undergoing treatment
for cancer. Michelle is a precious servant of God and is in a place of
importance for God's Kingdom. I have been asked not to share her last name because
some would know immediately who she is and the family does not want publicity.
Here is the last update received from her husband: “Michelle is back home. Chemo starts on Tuesday (Today). Our
medical advisers are capable lovely professionals. We are thankful for many
blessings. We continue to pray for a miracle, God’s blessing on the treatment
and that nausea may be kept away. We have been touched that so many people
around the world are praying for Michelle's healing.” Thank you for your prayers for Michelle!!!
Please continue to pray for
Michelle, Justin Lewis, Shane Hall, Tammy, Reta, and Beverly. Please pray for those
affected by the earthquake in Nepal and for those affected by the recent
flooding in the USA. Please pray for an end to the racial hatred in the USA and
that it will be replaced with peace and love. Pray for the families of the
victims in the Charleston SC church shooting. Many prayer needs are posted at
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prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray
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