Friday, February 21, 2014

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

I Need HELP
 

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.

 
An African woman gave her heart to Christ. Her husband was the chief of a Zulu tribe. When she told him what she had done, the chief brutally beat her. As she was lying on the floor bleeding, the man mocked her and said, "What can your Jesus do for you now?"

The woman picked herself up and tearfully said, "He can HELP me to forgive you."

The woman in this illustration recognized something very powerful about forgiveness that most overlook. She recognized that she needed HELP from Jesus to forgive. Forgiving was not something she could do in her own strength or power.

We often beat ourselves up when we find it difficult to forgive someone. However, forgiveness is not a natural reaction. Forgiveness is powered by a relationship with Jesus Christ and strength from the Holy Spirit.

If you are having a difficult time forgiving someone in your life, I challenge you to increase your prayer life and your time in The Word. When you pursue His presence, everything changes. It is His Spirit that makes forgiving the unforgiveable possible...

Dear Lord, Please give me the peace to forgive those who have hurt me. Thank You for being the greatest example of love and forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving me.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.

Reflection: Have you allowed the Lord to help you forgive those who have wrongfully hurt you?