DAILY NEWS

SPEAKING TO THE SOUL

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

The attitude we build over time determines a lot about the person we become and can affect our health and how well we age. God’s word suggests a regular audit of the “trash” that accumulates in both head and heart.

Dr Bycock’s first of four phrases for a healthy life is “I forgive you”. This reminds me of Jesus’ words from the cross. In agony, gazing at his executioners and detractors, he carries no bitterness, even in the agonies of death and separation from his Father. This is the attitude we are to seek.

Who is it we hold something against? A family member, former friend, work colleague? It may be we have tried previously to address it, yet we feel the same emotions revisiting our heart. If we have forgiven with sincerity, then we can speak that back to the feelings of pain or guilt as they stir again. Here is the past seeking to revisit and take up residence once more. Our challenge is to replace a decayed part of our psychological resilience with the truth of the healing we have received. Our return for offering unlimited forgiveness is freedom and peace.

My natural constitution is to retain criticism and blame. This can only lead to bitterness, which in turn leads to anger and slander. Even as I criticise, I sense my world is shrinking and I am becoming a smaller person. I am in fact locking myself in a prison of my own design. The only person holding the keys to my freedom is myself. Even if my offer of forgiveness is thrown back at me, or I may no longer be able to make my offer personally, I can clear out some of the trash stored up within me.

QUESTION

Who needs to hear you say, “I forgive you”?

PRAYER

Thank you for your promise that as I forgive others, I am forgiven by you.


Image-1.3aac527a9aac4b589e24e2e9a795f48f.png