Surprise, surprise! God is speaking to me about forgiveness again. How quickly it sneaks up on me. If I can be honest, there are some people that it is just so hard to forgive. I can forgive them for a little while or I can forgive a certain something they have done. It seems that just when I feel good and able to love the person, that the enemy just digs at my heart again and then all of the sudden I find myself growing bitter. It is so unbelievably ugly. Deep in my heart I want to forgive them, but I am having such a hard time...especially because this person doesn't seem to care at all about the hurt they incurred.
Every time I hear these songs, they speak to me. They remind me of the hurt I am going through and that yes, it is hard, but the words are so convicting. "Help me now to do the impossible" "Well maybe there's something I missed, But how could they treat me like this? It's wearing out my heart, The way they disregard". It has become a prayer...I really want to forgive them regardless, so I am aiming for that.
"Forgiveness"
Matthew West
It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just too real
It takes everything you have just to say the word…
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it’s power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
"Losing"
Tenth Avenue North
I can't believe what she said
I can't believe what he did
Oh, don't they know it's wrong?
Don't they know it's wrong?
Well maybe there's something I missed
But how could they treat me like this?
It's wearing out my heart
The way they disregard
This is love. This is hate.
We all have a choice to make
Oh, Father won't You forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin'
It's only the dead that can live
But still I wrestle with this
To lose the pain that's mine
Seventy times seven times
Lord it doesn't feel right
For me to turn a blind eye
But I guess it's not that much
When I think of what You've done.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/tenth_avenue_north/feels_like_ive_been_losin.html ]
This is love. This is hate.
We've got a choice to make
Oh, Father, won't You forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin'
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin' (oh no)
Why do we think that hate's gonna change their heart?
We're up in arms over wars that don't need to be fought
But pride won't let us lay our weapons on the ground
We build our bridges up, but just to burn them down
We think pain is owed apologies and them it'll stop
But truth be told it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not
Freedom comes when we surrender to the sound
Of Mercy and Your Grace, Father, send Your angels down (singin')
Oh, Father, won't you forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doing (oh, no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losing
I feel like I've been losing
Oh Father won't you forgive them
They don't know what they've been doin'
Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin'
I feel like I've been losing
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin'
I can't believe what he did
Oh, don't they know it's wrong?
Don't they know it's wrong?
Well maybe there's something I missed
But how could they treat me like this?
It's wearing out my heart
The way they disregard
This is love. This is hate.
We all have a choice to make
Oh, Father won't You forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin'
It's only the dead that can live
But still I wrestle with this
To lose the pain that's mine
Seventy times seven times
Lord it doesn't feel right
For me to turn a blind eye
But I guess it's not that much
When I think of what You've done.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/tenth_avenue_north/feels_like_ive_been_losin.html ]
This is love. This is hate.
We've got a choice to make
Oh, Father, won't You forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin'
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin' (oh no)
Why do we think that hate's gonna change their heart?
We're up in arms over wars that don't need to be fought
But pride won't let us lay our weapons on the ground
We build our bridges up, but just to burn them down
We think pain is owed apologies and them it'll stop
But truth be told it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not
Freedom comes when we surrender to the sound
Of Mercy and Your Grace, Father, send Your angels down (singin')
Oh, Father, won't you forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doing (oh, no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losing
I feel like I've been losing
Oh Father won't you forgive them
They don't know what they've been doin'
Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin'
I feel like I've been losing
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
Cause I feel like the one losin'
And, of course, I am NOT anywhere near perfect. I know I need forgiving too. I don't know who I have offended that I need forgiveness from. I was reading this morning in Psalm 17 and the first few verses hit me like a bunch of bricks. I am such a sinner and I am so thankful for the forgiveness the Father gives me when I mess up...when I fail and fall.
Psalm 17:1-4
1
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2
From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!
3
You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
So, today I am trying to forgive. I am purposing in my heart forgiveness. I know I am not perfect, but I know that God will also give me the strength to forgive as He forgives me.
Is there something you need to purpose in your heart today to do?
Is there someone that you don't think deserves your forgiveness, but you need to forgive them anyway?
