| Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Study |
"One of the most challenging experiences we have in life is learning to forgive. Letting go of hurt feelings and pain that was inflicted by others is not easy. Sometimes holding onto a grudge may seem like a good idea, and we have no problem justifying it. The payoff, however, isn't worth it.
Unforgiveness robs us of our peace … and is in opposition to God's attitude toward us.
So, how can we forgive? The answer is found through prayer and living a life that honors God. When we study scripture, we learn that prayer is a vertical relationship between our Heavenly Father and us. Forgiveness is the horizontal relationship between us and others.
And the benefits of forgiving others are countless.
First, God's peace will fill our hearts and minds. Without harboring bitterness, the Holy Spirit can move freely in our lives." |
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Next, when we forgive someone, it reminds us of how the Lord forgives us. In fact, as this afternoon's verse says, if we want to receive God's forgiveness, we must learn to forgive others. We can't hate our neighbor and love God at the same time. Hatred and love cannot coexist in our hearts.
It's as simple as this: If we want God to answer our prayers, we have to let go of hateful feelings and unforgiveness and allow Him to handle the difficult situations in our lives.
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