Have you ever met someone in the road and immediately found yourself lifting up one side of your lip (like a snarl) and rolling your eyes?  Ha, me EITHER!  I WOULD never do something like that (ahem).  

I had a heart-to-heart talk with someone a few days ago and our conversation went to FORGIVENESS.  Yes, I know — some of you have read about this subject quite a few times on my blog, but I believe it is something we need to hear over and over until we GET it.  

So, back to my first question about the “reaction” you felt when you met someone who has hurt you.  If you still have a negative reaction or feeling when you see the “offender” — you haven’t forgiven.  

This friend and I talked about the sneaky root of PRIDE that is so often behind our hurt.  

We have free will and we can “will” to forgive!  God knows the deepest secrets in my heart.  He knows — HE KNOWS.  

After talking with my friend, I realized bitterness had taken root in her life:

Hebrews 12:15
Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it– (Amplified version)

I love how the Amplified version states it: Bitter torment!  If you are wounded and harbor unforgiveness, YOU are the one tormented.  Your bitterness about the other person does defile many as you spew your negativity to everyone who will listen.

I don’t know about you, but I want my heart to be clean.  I don’t want ANYTHING in my heart that would grieve the Holy Spirit or block what God would like to do in my life.  

I am choosing to forgive.  I am using my WILL to forgive those who have rejected, hurt, or wounded me or my husband.  How about you?

Another friend of mine had a holy visitation last week.  She was suddenly awakened by a very bright, white light that she could see through her eyelids.  She immediately began to pray for Japan and the Lord began to speak to her.  He explained that as quickly as that light was right before her eyes, He will return.  There will be no time to repent — no warning. 

Matthew 24:36-44

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;  and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 25:1-13

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!

 

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

 

‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

 

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.