"WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.
[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives."
You cannot win a war birthed out of pride, tantrums, discontentment and selfish motives.
If you want to get revenge, God will let you; BUT HE WILL withdraw his presence.
Is that person really that important?
Remember, God said vengeance is mine. In other words, "Don't get carried away with people; stop giving them so much of your life, thoughts, time and attention; Stop violating My Presence in your life because they violated you."
God's Presence (or gift) is far more valuable than the offense.
Moses understood this when he said:
"And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?" (Ex 33:15-16)
RIGHT NOW, maybe you are mad at God or someone because of where you are in life; maybe there is some unresolved anger, pain, hate or trauma; As painful as it is, you can choose to let it drop (leave it and let it go.)
Forgiveness is not about the other person; it is for you.
Experts say:
� "In nurturing a patient's will to live, the first step is locating and treating past traumas. These poorly healed scars drain a significant portion of energy, and they hamper the body's capacity for self-defense."-David Servan-Schreiber, MD, from AntiCancer
� "Chronic unforgiveness causes stress. Every time people think of their transgressor, their body responds. Decreasing your unforgiveness cuts down on your health risk. Now, if you can forgive, that can actually strengthen your immune system." -Everett Worthington, PhD
Today, you are distinguished from all other people upon the face of the earth. What kills others makes you stronger.
I curse every unlawful entry and trace of cancer, arthritis, anxiety, depression, heart disease, anger and hostility, hypertension, insomnia, and other stress related diseases from coming against your life in the name of Jesus.
Your destiny and dream depends on your ability to forgive (release others) and let it drop (leave it, let it go.)
As the religious folk stoned Stephen, Acts 7 says: "BUT HE, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand; And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]!"
Could you pray that prayer?
Let them go. You have been given the same spirit and capacity of a champion.