Today’s Reading: Psalm 119

How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. — Psalm 119:103

I fell in love with the Bible at a young age. I still have my first Bible, and I can still remember the excitement of searching to find the text for the sermon or the verse for the Sunday School lesson. Later, I got involved in Bible quizzing and my love for the scriptures intensified as I spent hours memorizing the scriptures and perfecting my recall. God’s word is still a big part of my life today. It’s my favorite way to spend my morning and I find myself hungry for a word from the Lord.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. — Psalm 119:105

The Bible is unlike any other book we can read because it is alive. When we spend time soaking in the scriptures, it changes us. It is God-breathed and powerful. The Spirit accompanies God’s word and speaks to us through the ancient writings. We gain an understanding of who God is and what His plan is for our life, and the Spirit reveals the areas in our life where we are falling short of fully letting God have control. The moment we read the word, it becomes active in our life.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. — Hebrews 4:12

It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it. — Isaiah 55:11

When we long to hear from God, the first place we should go is to the Bible. God uses His written word to speak into our lives, to answer our questions, and to guide us through even the most difficult of situations. When we need Him most, He is there for us. If you seek Him in the Scriptures, you will find Him.

Do not snatch your word of truth from me,
for your regulations are my only hope.
I will keep on obeying your instructions
forever and ever.
I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
I will speak to kings about your laws,
and I will not be ashamed.
How I delight in your commands!
How I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
I meditate on your decrees. – Psalm 119:43-48

May God bless your time in His Word this morning! May you hear from Him in a special way as you open up your heart to all He wants to teach you today.

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide…
I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.
How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. — Psalm 119:97-98, 101-104

Today’s Reading: Psalm 29

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. — 1 Kings 19:11-13

Have you ever longed to hear the voice of the Lord? When Kari Jobe came out with her song “Speak to Me”, it resonated with my heart. There have been so many moments in my life when I longed to hear from God; there have been times when I prayed for a word from the Lord to get me through a situation or to lift my spirits. God is faithful and He speaks to us in so many ways — sometimes audibly and sometimes in a gentle whisper.

The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord strikes
with bolts of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” — Psalm 29:3-9

Years ago, I heard the voice of God loudly say, “Stop!” I was driving home from church and all three of my girls were buckled into their car seats behind me. We were approaching one of the busiest intersections in town, and I stopped at the red light. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and applied pressure to the gas pedal. As I started to roll forward, I heard an audible voice tell me to stop. As I slammed on the brakes, a semi-truck came barreling through the intersection just inches from the nose of the van. I did not see it until it was right in front of me. I have no doubt that God spoke to me that day in order to save all four of our lives — it was not a gentle whisper, but a loud voice.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. — John 12:27-30

Most of the time, God speaks to us through other people or through His written word — the Bible. But there are times in our lives when God allows us to hear His voice in order to teach us or to strengthen our faith. There are times when He clearly instructs us, like He did for Moses on Mount Sinai:

“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’” — Acts 7:30-34

I encourage you to spend time this week listening for the voice of God. Spend time in His word; find a quiet place to sit and wait on the Lord. Seek Him and He will be found — sometimes in a gentle whisper and sometimes in a loud voice; sometimes through a scripture verse and sometimes through a preacher or friend who has been given a word for you. Give God your attention and listen for the voice of the Lord.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 25

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you. — Psalm 25:1-5

I am so thankful this morning that I serve a God who sets a path before me, even when I am not sure where the road will take me. When we put our trust in the One who created us, allowing Him to use us for the purpose for which He created us, we can know that He will be with us every step of the way. And when we stray from the path He has planned for us, He is there to guide us back. He does not leave the journey unfinished and He does not leave us where He found us. If we will humble ourselves before the Lord in repentance, He will lead us back into a right relationship with Him.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
For the honor of your name, O Lord,
forgive my many, many sins. — Psalm 25:6-11

This Psalm, written by King David, shows the repentant heart of a man who had strayed far from the path God had laid out before him. He had seen the generous provisions of God, yet reached beyond what was His to take what was someone else’s. This reaching caused him to get completely off balance with God and he quickly lost his way. One sin covered up another sin, which covered up another sin, until the multitude of bad decisions overwhelmed him. He found himself off course and cried out for God to rescue him from the mess he had made. “Lord, I give my life to you…point out the road for me to follow…forgive my many, many sins.”

The same grace displayed towards David is available for us today. Have you gotten off course? Perhaps today is the day to pray Psalm 25 and allow your Creator to get you back where you need to be — back on the path He planned for you long ago.

Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. — Psalm 25:12-22

Today’s Reading: Psalm 24

Those who know me well know that fall is my favorite time of year. I love the cooler temperatures, the smell of backyard fires, and the fall decorations. I love going to Friday night football games and Saturday fall festivals. I love the anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas that we often feel in the fall, but most of all I love the beauty of the changing leaves on the trees.

Fall is also fundraising season for the nonprofit I work for, so I have the privilege of doing a little extra traveling as I try to make it to as many banquets as I can. A few years ago, I was driving to Jacksonville, Illinois, for the Pregnancy Resource Center banquet, and I chose to cut through Spoon River territory in order to enjoy the beauty of the fall leaves. Typically I map out the route that will take me the least time, but that year I decided to take the scenic route, and I was not disappointed.

The weather that day was gorgeous. The temperature was comfortable and the sun was shining down on the trees. You could see all the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves. Red, yellow, orange and purple mixed in with so many shades of green. The beauty was breathtaking! Every time I came up over a hill, I would anticipate what the next mile was going to look like and I was rarely disappointed.

To make it even better, there was just a slight breeze that caused the leaves to slowly drift down across the road. It was raining down the colorful leaves around me and I was caught in the beauty of the season. I found myself praising God for the beauty of the leaves and the grand effect the sun had on the leaves as it shone brightly down.

The next day I drove to Shelbyville, Illinois, for another banquet, but the weather that day was much different than it had been the day before. It was cold and rainy, and clouds covered the sky. I have to admit there was very little beauty to be in awe of that day. The clouds were blocking the effect of the sun and the result was that the scenery was much less breathtaking.

Now, consider this. Were the trees any less beautiful on Friday than they were on Thursday? Did they have less color or less variety of colors? No, the trees themselves were the same. The difference was in the lack of sunshine. It is amazing the difference it makes to have the sun shining down on or shining through the trees. The beauty is still there, God’s creation is still quite gorgeous, but its beauty is hidden or veiled by the clouds and the rain on the windshield.

God spoke to me on that second day of traveling. He showed me that there is beauty in every circumstance of life and in every person I come in contact with. But He also showed me that, just as the beauty of the Fall colors is dimmed by the lack of the SUN, the beauty of people is often dimmed by the lack of His SON – the lack of Jesus in their life. Their potential remains the same; their beauty is there but waiting for the enhancement of God’s son, Jesus Christ, to shine down and make a difference in the appearance of their life.

When we think of autumn, we often think of it as being a season of change. The temperatures are changing, the leaves are changing, and the foods are changing. This is probably what I love so much about this time of year. And more than ever, this has been a season of change for Scott and I. We are living in a new community, getting used to his new role, and settling into an emptier nest than we are used to.

What change is the Lord leading you through in this season of life? Is the SON shining down on your circumstances and showing you the beauty all around you, or do you find your blessings hiding under the clouds that today has brought? Perhaps this morning would be a good time to look for the beauty of the season and intentionally list out all the good that God is surrounding you with. Look at your day through a different lens — a lens of acceptance and submission, a lens of optimism that sees the beauty surrounding you. Ask God to make His presence known to you as you give Him praise for the season you find yourself in today.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
The earth trembles at his glance;
the mountains smoke at his touch.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord…
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! — Psalm 104:31-35

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. — Psalm 24:1-6

Today’s Reading: Psalm 37

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act. — Psalm 37:7a

This morning I am soaking in the lyrics of a song by Elevation Worship called “Won’t Stop Now”. I am overwhelmingly grateful for a God whose presence is available for us to experience. As many of us prepare for church, we look ahead to enjoying the fellowship of believers and opening God’s word together. We will stand among both friends and strangers, lifting our voices in worship to the God who has provided for us this last week.

What has God done for you this last week? With intentionality, let’s consider what He has brought us through and give Him the glory. Perhaps it was comfort that you received from God this week, or perhaps peace when it did not make sense to be calm. If God answered your prayers this week, take a moment to thank Him again and give Him glory by sharing your story of God’s faithfulness with someone else today.

I give you glory / For all you’ve brought me through / And now I’m ready / For whatever you wanna do / I’m moving forward / To follow after you / And now I’m ready / For whatever you wanna do / Your presence / Is an open door / We want you Lord like never before / Your presence / Is an open door / So come now Lord like never before [Won’t Stop Now / Elevation Worship / Steven Furtick & Chris Brown]

This was a big week for our family. It was the week of my husband’s presidential inauguration at Nazarene Bible College. We were surrounded by leaders in the church who were placing their confidence in the role to which God has called Scott. Family and friends traveled many hours to come and help us celebrate. God’s Spirit was present, and we had a wonderful opportunity to worship Him and give Him praise for the many lives He has prepared for ministry through the school.

But this was also a week where we were concerned about some of our family members. We spent lots of time praying over test results and asking for healing for those we love so dearly. This morning we sit in a place of trust knowing that God is in control and He is aware of all the details of our lives.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread. — Psalm 37:23-25

This morning let’s soak in the promises found in scripture and know that God is present in our lives — the good and the bad. Know that God will never abandon you.

In every season / Your grace has been enough / And I’m believing / The best is yet to come / The cross before me / My hope on things above / And in you Jesus / The best is yet to come / I know breakthrough is coming / By faith I see a miracle / My God made me a promise / And it won’t stop now [Won’t Stop Now / Elevation Worship / Steven Furtick & Chris Brown] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjoA6n5GfXs

Today’s Reading: Psalm 56

Every atmosphere is changed when You draw near / Every failure falls away, in the silence I hear / The voice that calms the sea / You’re in the waters deep, no matter what I see / You are with me, You are for me / You’ll never leave / You are with me, You are for me [Never Leave / Red Rocks Worship] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1Ph99tXOCQ

YOU ARE WITH ME

In time of famine, when everything he built kept getting taken away from him, God told Isaac, “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you” (Genesis 26:24).

When life as he knew it was changing, and Jacob was on the run from the decisions he had made, God spoke up: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” – Genesis 28:15

When Moses was overwhelmed with what God was asking him to do, he heard God say, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

YOU ARE FOR ME

Even in his grief, David knew that God was for him.
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side! — Psalm 56:8-9

In misery, Micah cried out, “As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.
Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side.” – Micah 7:7-10a

YOU’LL NEVER LEAVE ME

No matter what you are facing, know that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you alone. No matter what is ahead, know that God loves you enough to stay.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” — Hebrews 13:5b-6a

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” — John 14:15-17

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 6:13-20

Sometimes there are disappointments in life. At times the burden we are carrying for other people is heavy enough to interrupt our thoughts throughout the day. Living our faith out does not mean that life is easy and everything works out perfectly, but living in relationship with God gives us a place to take our fears and anxiety. No matter how difficult things look right now, we can be confident that God never breaks His promises.

God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through? — Numbers 23:19

I believe at times our disappointment is not that God made a promise and did not keep it, but rather that God did not do what we wanted Him to do. When things do not go our way or our prayers are not answered in the way we had hoped, we begin to doubt whether or not God truly is faithful. But in the midst of our struggles, we must remember that it is not God who is wavering. God is steadfast and consistent — a Rock to hold onto when everything else seems to be spinning.

For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. — Hebrews 6:13-20

My prayer for us this morning is that we can enter into His sanctuary, pour out our hearts to Him, and hold tight to the hope that lies before us. Thank you, God, for giving us this confidence this morning — that You never break your promises, and You never will! Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 12:20-50; Psalm 55

What is on your mind this morning? What decision are you facing or what situation is heavy on your heart? This morning let’s simply sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what He has to say. What do I need to hear today? What words of Jesus speak specifically of where I am and what is happening in my life today? Jesus, let your words wash over me fresh and new today.

Follow me…be where I am.

Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” — John 12:23-26

Walk in the light…put your trust in the light.

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” — John 12:35-36

Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” — John 12:44-46

Do as I have done to you.

“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” — John 13:15-17

Love each other.

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” — John 13:31-35

Don’t be troubled…trust in me.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” — John 14:1-4

You know me.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7

Ask me for anything and I will do it!

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” – John 14:12-14

Perhaps today you will walk into a new situation and hear Jesus saying – I know you cannot see what is ahead but put your trust in me. Follow me. Be where I am. Walk in the light. Put your trust in the light. Do as I have done to you: Love each other. Don’t be troubled. Trust in me. You know me. Ask for anything and I will do it! What is He saying that speaks into where you are at or what is ahead for you today?

Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice…

Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall…
I am trusting you to save me. – Psalm 55:17, 22-23

Today’s Reading: Mark 10:32-45; Matthew 20:17-19; Luke 18:31-34; Psalm 56

As we look over the gospel accounts, we see moments when Jesus spoke clearly to the disciples about what was coming. They heard yet they did not fully understand. Something was about to happen that would forever change them. They could feel the anticipation and fear of what was to come, but they were confused about God’s larger plan that was unfolding. Can you relate to how they were feeling?

SOMETIMES WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE CONFUSION, FEAR AND ANTICIPATION.

“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” – Mark 10:33-34

“…Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?…” – Mark 10:38b

“…For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of light.” – John 12:35-36a

There have been many times in my life when I was able to look back and see the evidence of how God had been preparing me for my current situation. I did not understand at the time, but later God increased my understanding. Looking back, I can see how various experiences in my life were shaping me into the person I needed to be for God’s plan. I can look back and see how God was revealing, little by little, things I needed to learn for a future purpose.

Because I can look back on yesterday, as the disciples did,
and understand NOW what God was teaching me THEN,
I can trust Him with my TODAY
knowing that God has a plan for my TOMORROW.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you…
This I know: God is on my side!
I praise God for what he has promised…
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. – Psalm 56:3, 9-13

Today’s Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

There are times in our lives when it is easy to forgive someone who has wronged us, and then there are times when it is the hardest thing we have ever had to do.

The world defines forgiveness more from an inward perspective of letting go of resentment for the sake of peace of mind. If I make a conscious decision to let go of my need for vengeance or my desire to carry a grudge against someone, it frees me from the anger that can build up inside of me and rob me of joy. Forgiveness does not mean I excuse the behavior or give someone permission to continue to hurt me. I choose to forgive for my own sake, not necessarily for the sake of the one who has hurt me. [https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness/definition]

Biblical forgiveness starts with my need to ask God to forgive me of my sin. I recognize that I have gone against His will or disobeyed Him, so the need to be reconciled with my Creator causes me to ask for forgiveness. This is not about merely going through the motions of saying, “I have sinned, please forgive me.” It needs to come from a heart that is sincerely repentant. There is an element of regret or remorse that brings me to a place of apology.

I think we often take this definition of forgiveness into our relationships with others. We think there is no need to forgive someone who has sinned against us unless they sincerely apologize, showing some kind of regret or disappointment in themselves. We wait for this recognition of wrong and hold onto our hard feelings until we see it. But let’s see how Jesus defined our need to forgive others.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” — Matthew 6:14-15

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” — Mark 11:25

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! — Matthew 18:21-22

Then Jesus shared a story about a servant who owed the king a lot of money but was unable to pay. The king forgave him his debt, but then he turned around and demanded the money another servant owed him. When the man could not pay, he had him arrested and thrown into prison. When the king heard that he did not extend the same mercy to someone else that he had been extended, he called the servant in and had him thrown into prison.

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” — Matthew 18:35

God calls us to be merciful to one another. He knows that we need to forgive other people just as much as they need to be forgiven. He does not tell us to demand an apology from someone else, nor does he say to wait until they make amends. He tells us to forgive just as He forgave us. And He knows that forgiving others is what will help us move forward. Forgiveness has a way of acknowledging my pain while refusing to let it define my future.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14

It is not easy to forgive someone who has hurt us or sinned against us. But we serve a God who does not ask us to do hard things on our own. He steps in and gives us the strength to do what He is asking us to do. And then He fills the space that has been filled with bitterness with a peace that helps us move forward in freedom. Thank you, God, for your amazing provision! Help us to let go and forgive others.

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. – Psalm 29:11