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I had a really, really crazy dream last night and most I forgot but I remembered the person in the dream told me to have"mercy and come back to me" ..This morning my bible study reflected the same thoughts.

Ephesians 4:22-24 describes two different "bents" that are found within every believer: the patterns of the corrupted old self—also known as "the flesh"—and the righteousness of a new nature in Christ.

The characteristics of these opposing inclinations are vividly portrayed by today's verses. The quality of forgiveness, or the lack of it, will largely determine which tendency predominates in our lives.

The inevitable result of an unforgiving spirit is anger, bitterness, and malice.

By refusing to forgive, we allow the old sinful nature to dominate and produce its poisonous fruit.

Every area of our life is affected when we refuse to extend to others the pardon which Christ so generously extended to us—in essence, we are treating those around us as we would never want the Lord to treat us.

His mercy toward us has no limit.

Although the pain and injustice of an offense can break our heart or damage our sense of self-worth, a refusal to forgive denies God the opportunity to redeem the hurt.

We want Him to change the offender and make him sorry for what he has done, but the Lord wants to transform us.

A forgiving spirit frees us to live in our new Christ-like nature and enables us to see others through eyes of grace and mercy.


Which one's characteristics describe you?

As believers, we all long to exhibit the qualities of our new nature, but the Lord can produce them only if we are willing to exchange offenses and grudges for tender hearts that forgive. Something has to change—let it be you.

 Thanks for this Joyce. I'm afraid I fall a short in this area and fail in my walk with the Lord. I can and do forgive most everyone but must admit there are a small number whom I hold resentment toward and secretly desire them to be called for their actions. I don't dwell on the thoughts, but they are there none the less.
I am confident, if our Lord tarry, I will overcome this failure.

I understand that Jim.  I am there too.  My comeuppance is the Lords Prayer.   "Forgive us our sins as we forgive........"  Do I really want our Lord to forgive me the way I forgive?

 A frightening thought isn't it Judy? As often as I have read and recited that prayer I think it has never been so glaring as it was when I read your post. I had better muster up some forgiveness forthwit! Our Lord forgave those who crucified Him, yet I am so puffed up I will not forgive such minor transgressions against me? How unworthy to bow before such an awesome and merciful God!

Thank you, Jim and Judy for your comments.

Harder than forgiving for me is "forgetting the hurt"...

How about you??

I think that Forgiving is Christ like, Forgetting is the world's/ flesh  way of keeping us in bondage to sin.

I will now think of the Lord's prayer differently

God has created us to remember.  We don't forget the hurt or the cause.  Remembering is not in my opinion no forgiving.  It is not allowing us in that situation to have it happen again.  About 5 years ago I was hurt by several family members.  I remember the hurt and all that happened, but there is no anger or bitterness toward these people.  There is love and I pray for them.

I remember listening to a pastor on the radio  talking about forgiveness. After the message the Holy Spirit asking "Have you forgiven_______?"  My response was "Yes of course I have."  I again felt the Spirit say, "Then love _____!"  I responded "How can I love ____ after all ____ has done!"  In reality I hadn't forgiven.  I forgave then asked Our Lord to Love through me.  I can honestly say that despite all that has happened I love these folks, and that is not me but God working on my spirit.  I could not forgive myself....that was an impossibility.   We out of obedience forgive and ask God to give the feelings of forgiveness and love.  The feelings follow the act.  The train follows the engine!

IN THE PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD
In the presence of a Holy God
I bow down and I adore
You reveal the secrets of my heart
I am shaken to the core
In the presence of a Holy God
There's new meaning now to grace
You took all my sins upon Yourself
I can only stand amazed!

And I cry "Holy, Holy, Holy God
How awesome is Your name
Holy, Holy, Holy God
How majestic is Your reign"
And I am changed
In the presence of a Holy God

When we face His Holiness we cannot help but be changed...including how we forgive!

 I'm not sure I can always separate forgetting and forgiving. I certainly prefer to think I forgive (as much as that is possible from man) but the bible teaches that our sins aren't only forgiven but forgotten. So have I truly forgiven? I think I see your point Joyce. We forgive through Christ in us, our lack of forgetting is the old flesh creeping back. Is this sort of what you are saying?
Wonderful poem Judy to coincide with your take on this subject.

...  And in His Presence, sometimes things we thought hard to forget seem to fade into nothingness in His Glory.

I am so amazed, and so grateful, that in beholding Him, basking in His Presence, some things just are burnt up and forever lose their hold on you.  I remember the first time I knew that.  I had a "chance" for some old hurt to surface, and was blown away when I found it not to be there in me.   It's like The Holy Spirit did that hidden work and kept me out of it altogether.  Praise God!  

Jim That is a song that I love. It is on an Integrity Music tape from the 80's.

I believe God is the only one who can truly forget.  And that is because of the blood.  As humans we forget for a time and then a word, scene, smell, touch, etc. and the memory is there.

Quote from: Nita on July 27, 2010, 03:17:44 PM
........... It's like The Holy Spirit did that hidden work and kept me out of it altogether.  Praise God! 

Yes it is a wonderful thing Nita, and a promise fulfilled.

Quote from: JudyB on July 27, 2010, 03:53:25 PM
Jim That is a song that I love. It is on an Integrity Music tape from the 80's.

Uh oh, that isn't contemporary is it?  Just joking Judy, the words are lovely and I'm sure even more so to music.

Forgiving isn't forgetting.  In fact, we are commanded to forgive, not forget.  Forgiving is a deliberate act in which we decide not to dwell on the wrong, not to bring it up to the forgiven individual - simply not to deal with it anymore.  God has no forgotten even  one of our sins - but He no longer holds them against us, since our Sonsor has already suffered for them.  The Greek word for "forgiveness" is very accurately translated "remitted."  It's as if our creditor came to us and handed us his bill with the word "cancelled" on  it.

By the way, the word "mercy" is also interesting.  "Grace" is defined as a free, undeserved gift, and mercy is defined as freedom from deserved wrath.

Thank you Al.

Quote from: Al Moak on July 27, 2010, 07:18:00 PM
Forgiving isn't forgetting.  In fact, we are commanded to forgive, not forget.  Forgiving is a deliberate act in which we decide not to dwell on the wrong, not to bring it up to the forgiven individual - simply not to deal with it anymore.  God has no forgotten even  one of our sins - but He no longer holds them against us, since our Sonsor has already suffered for them.  The Greek word for "forgiveness" is very accurately translated "remitted."  It's as if our creditor came to us and handed us his bill with the word "cancelled" on  it.

Great input Al! This could get in to what can become a complex theological idea, as well as biblical interpretation. Although I can agree with what you say at face value for the most part, I would first cite Heb.10. More specifically vers.16-17 which seem rather clear. I'm sure you are very familiar with the remainder
of the chapter. If we accept "remitted" as an accurate translation of the greek we must then deal with the word "cancelled" offered by our creditor. While I may agree forgiving isn't forgetting, I'm not satisfied we can separate the two. It would also seem, based on the scriptures, He did not separate them. I just don't think it's that cut and dry Al. Wow, a great conversation!

AMEN to that Jim

Never did I think my crazy dream would invoke such a conversation.

Good postings.

Yes, Jim that is what I meant about forgiving with Christ living inside of me but forgetting is the human flesh trying to create havoc when old thoughts come back.

But like Nita says, I , too, have thoughts that use to bring up old feelings and now , Praise the Lord, it seems so trivial that it even made me upset in the first place.

Prayerfully, I am growing stronger in my faith with the Lord and I am listening and discerning HIS messages more clearly.

thank you,Judy , for bringing music to the postings...

Al, your wisdom and input is always appreciative.

Quote from: joyce robson on July 28, 2010, 10:58:38 AM

Never did I think my crazy dream would invoke such a conversation.

Good postings.

I'll second all that Joyce. One never knows what might spark interesting conversation.This one should give a lot of food for thought. Everyone has been terrific with input. If nothing else, though not a good trait, it's reassuring to know I am not totally alone in my shortcomings. 
You typed;
"Prayerfully, I am growing stronger in my faith with the Lord and I am listening and discerning" ..............
This too is referenced in scripture. Philippians 1:6 I am confident the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. NRSV