One day while working in my garden, I started thinking about the many falls I have had recently. Yes, I have fallen quite a few times over the past two years. It seems my knees and ankles are not what they used to be. They often give out and buckle causing me to follow suit. As I contemplated this, the Lord reminded me that if you watch man long enough, you are sure to see them fall. Wow, what a statement! I have heard this before, but have never applied it to my own walk with Christ.
Just today, I fell once again. I was sweeping outside and suddenly belly flopped on the concrete. As I write, I can feel my body become sorer by the minute. And so it is when we fall spiritually. What may start out as a thought soon gives birth to an action, if not hampered. When a Christian entertains an idea that is not in line with the word of God, he is treading some very dangerous ground. Indeed, 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
But what if we don’t? What if we fall into the trap of entertaining a “wrong” thought? What if it gives birth to sin? The answer is simple: ” 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8). God does not turn a deaf ear to those who sincerely repent.
My friends, I speak from experience, very recent experience. You see, I have harbored unforgiveness in my heart toward someone very close to me for about two years now. Hmm, it seems that is when I began to fall (physically and spiritually). I have slowly been in a downward spiral and finally woke up to what is happening. Yes, I was hurt and disappointed by someone, but if I allow unforgiveness to take root, Hebrews 12:15 warns us, “…lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”
I am unwilling to let the enemy of my soul destroy the work that Christ has begun in me. I have chosen a better way…forgiveness. Understand that when you forgive a person that does not mean that you have to have a relationship with them. It simply means to forgive and release that person from the anger and bitterness you have toward them. Once you do that, God will take care of the rest. I was reminded by a dear Christian friend that “He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29) and “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3).
So, what do you do when you decide to forgive? You wait! Wait on the Lord and let Him encourage You by spending time with Him in His Word. It is really much simpler than people make it out to be. However, do not be in err and think that you can give lip service and expect God to bring you out of the pit; you have to really want to forgive. Repent and turn away from the sin that has ensnared you. Soak in God’s presence and let Him change your heart.
I am expecting God to move on my behalf! I am expecting that I will stop falling (again, physically and spiritually) and become stronger as I let God lead me! I have already taken the first step…what about you? Are you harboring unforgiveness, bitterness, anger? I encourage you to let it go. We are not meant to carry such burdens. They will destroy us! Unforgiveness is the opposite of love, and if we don’t have love, we do not have God.
Again, my friend reminded me of the words of Zephaniah: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (3:17). Take comfort in His Word and you will not be disappointed!
