Hey! Just wanted to check in to see how you were breathing today. My mind goes to the book of Genesis 2 when it speaks about God breathing into man and man becoming a living soul. From day 1 God made our bodies to depend on breathing HIS breath in and out every day. But then here comes our good friend offense (not actually a friend at all) stopping by to take our breath away figuratively speaking. Choosing to get offended and holding on to un-forgiveness is like inhaling your breath and holding that inhaled breath. Now try literally walking around holding your breath for a long period of time and see how far you get. You won’t get far at all, you may even pass out. That is what walking in un-forgiveness can look like. Holding on to that inhaled breath of un-forgiveness limits your movement, keeps you from functioning at your full potential, and can bring death in your life (living outside of God’s purpose).
Sometimes offenders are affected by your un-forgiveness, sometimes they have no clue they have offended you, and often times for the ones who do know could probably care less. Either way you are hurting you and you only. You are stopping you and you only. At the end of our lives here on earth, we will be standing before God giving an account to Him alone, not with the offenders next to us. God will not be trying to hear “well they said this and they did that to me” “God….they didn’t say” or “didn’t do”. God is looking at our end of the bargain. He wants us alive breathing well and functioning at full capacity and purpose without distractions. Sometimes we think we are fooling others looking like we are breathing (walking in forgiveness) because we are smiling…cheesing hard…all teeth. But how many of us know that it is possible to smile holding your breath too. And we will not fool God with that. Forgiveness is the key that will keep your spiritual lungs open and healthy and your breathing pattern strong… living a healthy life. The word of God, prayer, and worship is the oxygen and the emergency inhaler you need to stay on track. We MUST depend on Him.
Wherever you are right now and whatever you are doing, just take a moment to take a deep breath and then breathe out. UN-forgiveness is a part of the enemy’s plan. The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy, but Jesus came so we may have life and have it more abundantly His word says. Choose to exhale and release that offense beginning today. If an executive decision God has made left you offended, make a choice to exhale and release it to His Sovereignty. Choose to exhale and release the individual(s) or Organization that offered that intentional or unintentional offense to you. Let God be God. Choose to also exhale and release yourself from what you may have done to offend God, others, or yourself. YES we have the ability and we actually have offended God and others around us with our “wonderful” selves. Offense is an act of sin against God no matter if we are on the giving or receiving side. We do things every day to bring offense to Him. Realize that He “got over it”…..yes over ALL our offenses at the cross with His son Jesus WAY before the offense even happened. Can you imagine? God knew we would sin against Him even before we committed the sin and He let us live to commit the sin but had already forgiven us before we did the sin. That is absolutely amazing to me and I encourage you to follow His example to get over it and forgive. Thank God for His Grace and Mercy! Thank God for the Blood of Jesus!
Now just to be sure, are either of these offense scenarios I mentioned above REALLY worth forfeiting your life’s purpose and access to ALL that our great God has in store for you and for you to do? I will encourage you again to choose to exhale and release every offense today.
Here’s the deal, He has a plan for your life to give you a hope and a future, but the thing is you have to be BREATHING and willing to LIVE to receive it. BREATHE AND LET GOD BE GOD.
There is so much ahead for you! Get rooted and grounded in Him. Breathe and Live well my Brother! Breathe and Live well my Sister!
Scriptures of Help:
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
Luke 6:27 (NIV)
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
PRAYER: God you are a great amazing God and I come to you with a grateful heart. I thank you for forgiving me and for your grace and mercy. I thank you God for breathing your breath of life into me. God please help me to forgive. I ask you to help me keep a healthy breathing pattern and to honor the breath you have given me every day by exhaling and releasing offenses (forgiving You, myself, and others). I will no longer hold my breath looking for an apology, I will no longer hold my breath in anger, shame, and frustration. Un-forgiveness is not worth forfeiting the plan and purpose you have for me. The enemy’s agenda is shut down in my life. I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. From this day forward I will choose to inhale your word, to totally forgive, and to walk in your forgiveness over and over….just as you forgive me over and over and OVER. I make myself available to be used for your glory and honor. Today I will BREATHE and declare my freedom in YOU.