I give my all to You

Saturday, April 14, 2007

A lesson learnt..

We had caregroup last night, and even though it wasn't the usual caregroup where we had dinner followed by games, P&W, and Bible discussion, God still spoke to us through Alvin & Christine. We had dinner, games, P&W, and a time of sharing (sharing what God taught/spoke to each one of us during Oceania Convention). During the time of sharing, Alvin shared that he felt God saying that we, as a unit, had to love and forgive one another just as He loves and forgived us. Christine confirmed this as well. Through the whole period in Melbourne, there were times where each one of us had stepped on another's toe, and conflicts had appeared. Hurts were inflicted, and grudges were probably nursed. Perhaps some had not resolved the conflicts in the Biblical way, talking to others about it instead of praying immediately and/or speaking to the person involved one-to-one (I admit to this myself). I felt God really pointing out this area to me during caregroup last night. Alvin quoted several Bible verses: 1 Cor 13 (about love), and Matt 18:15-17 (about how to resolve conflict if praying to God for help in forgiving the person somehow doesn't take away the hurt completely).

I was doing Quiet Time this morning, and guess what the topic was on? Forgiveness. I believe God is really wanting to emphasise on this, that we have to be united, and love one another with His love, the way that He loves each one of us. The article goes like this:

"Poison to yourself"
Scriptures: Lk 11:1-13; Mk 11:24-25; Lk 7:40-50; Acts 7:51-60; Eph 4:17-32
As well as forgetting our failures and the sins that have already been forgiven, we must put from our minds the sins that others have committed against us. In the Lord's Prayer we find: "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us." God forgives us; now we must offer that same forgiveness to others.

Have you been sinned against? Search your heart now. Are you harbouring revenge? Forget it. I say this reverently for God's sake and your own sake, banish the thought of retaliation right now. Whenever you hold resentment against another that resentment is poison to yourself. I realise that for some this is hard and that you are unable to do it alone. You need God's help. But His help is available. Claim that help now. Say something like this: "Lord, I am struggling to forgive the person who has wronged me. Just as You have forgiven me, help me to forgive them. Deliver me from every trace of the memory of the hurt, which is damaging to recall. In Your mercy, help me to forget."

You are facing a new future and need to muster all the courage you can for the days ahead. Press forward with the light step of a forgiven person. The apostle Paul had a past: the blood of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, was on his hands. But he went to God for forgiveness and faced the future with the words we have looked at: "Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal..." (Phil 3:13-14). So must you.

It really woke me up when I read this. I knew God was speaking to me during caregroup, but this shook me up even further. I had an attitude that God was speaking to the entire caregroup, and He didn't necessarily mean me, but now I know for sure that He's speaking to me as well. I believe He's not just referring to this Melbourne trip, but also all the past and future times where I'll get my toes stepped upon as well.

Thank You Daddy for speaking to me, gently correcting me as You always do. I pray that by Your mercy, You'll help me to forgive ones who have hurt me in the past, and ones who will hurt me in the future. Help me to focus on having not just Your anointing, but also Your character. Amen.