The most beautiful response to offense

Thursday 11 May 2023

The most beautiful response to offense

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Forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us. Matthew 6.12

My brother was assassinated in December 1999. He received three bullets in the body, including one in the head. After a few weeks of investigation, the police managed to arrest his killers and incarcerate them. As for me, I was consumed with anger thinking of the suffering my brother had endured.

Forgiving someone who has offended or even traumatized you for the rest of your life is not easy. Faced with such situations, your will is confronted with that of God, and this is where all the difficulty lies. What to do ? Clinging to the offense or forgiving in order to be rid of it ?

Even if the offense seems considerable to you, forgiveness is the most beautiful response you must oppose to it. This is God's solution ! If you decide to apply it, it will accompany you in your step, will stand by your side to strengthen you, and you will be healed of the wound of the offense.

A few years have passed since my brother was murdered. Today, I no longer have any resentment towards these people. What happened ? I forgave and God did the rest !

Listen the voice of God

Do you feel challenged by this testimony on forgiveness ? Perhaps you are struggling with anger as a result of an offense received ? Let God whisper in your ear what he wants from you.

Forgiving is not easy. However, forgiveness is not an option but a commandment from God, and He stands by your side to help you. You can pray like this : "Lord, you see the harm that has been done to me (state the situation clearly) and the current state of my heart, but I want to obey you and I ask you to help me forgive."

Praise God

God does not ask us to do things that are out of our reach. If you decide to forgive, he accompanies you, strengthens you and heals you of the offense. If you've experienced it before, praise it for it. Otherwise, praise him in advance, by faith, because he will give you the strength not to keep the offense and to forgive !

Act today

Unforgiveness is like a poison that you swallow thinking you are hurting the other. If you are having trouble forgiving an injury or situation, ask God for help, and then write down on a piece of paper what was done to you that caused you pain. Proclaim that you forgive by the grace of God. Tear the sheet and burn it. If it comes back to upset you, declare that you have forgiven.

Honor the Lord

Our journey for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Thank you, Dad, for freeing me from resentment and bitterness through forgiveness. Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

Yannis Gautier

Source (The Thought of the Day)