Three Ways to Forgive

1. Be a Screen Door

     Like the wind blows through a screen door, let blustry comments, stormy blasts just blow right past. Incidents can only hit hard if you have your front door closed. But having a screen door policy allows some of the pain to blow by, us all hidden in Christ….

2. Only Believe the Best

     When you believe that everyone is always just doing their best, that we never war against flesh and blood but against the principalities, that in light of this fallen world and sinful limitations, they truly are doing their best… this changes everything. Love bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things and whatever is good and pure and lovely, think on these things.

3. Tell the Thankful Truth

     The truth is, there is always something, a lot, to give thanks for and that is the truth about every single parent. Consider offering a father, a mother, the gift of a jar full of slips of paper with your gratitude and thankful memories jotted down. This kind of grateful truth-telling helps to heal old wounds.

Here I Am, Signing Up Again

     Here I am again, Abba. How often do I seem to want to stray away from your heart? My heart's desire is to be wholehearted, childlike, and mature in my trust in you and in my love for you. And yet, I find myself again and again throwing a childish fit when I don't receive what I think you want for me. I don't want to disqualify myself when you don't disqualify me, but I don't want to make a religious excuse for my sin either. I love you, Abba, and I want to please you in everything that I do. I didn't please you yesterday, and I missed a great opportunity to partner with you in prayer. Please forgive me and set my heart again in the place of wholehearted devotion to you. You are my greatest treasure and my greatest pleasure, and I don't want to sacrifice your presence on the altar of my own selfish desires that don't really satisfy anyways. I know that I can only love you as much as I receive and understand how much you love me. I sign up again to love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, Abba. In Yeshua's Name, Amen.