Letting Go

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV)

²¹Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

²²Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' ²⁷The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

²⁹"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

³⁰"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³²"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' ³⁴In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Prayer for the day:

Father, always I am a model of you. As you have forgiven me, I forgive others and release the burden of anger, disappointment, hurt and revenge to you as my shoulders can not hold the weight. I trust in your judgment and know I have not the credential to sit in judgment of anyone. I let go and claim joy in knowing all that you do is in consideration of me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Scripture Message:

We all have been hurt or disappointed by someone in our lives as we have all probably hurt or disappointed someone. Holding on to anger is not only spiritually weighted, it is physically damaging as well. Can you recall how you felt when you upset someone, hurt someone’s feelings or wronged someone, the feeling when they accepted your apology or forgave you? You feel lighter, less stressed and optimistic, why would you not, in turn extend forgiveness to someone else releasing that burden to the Father, the only true judge. Forgiveness is as much for you as it is for someone else, refuse to grasp anger & disappointment as the longer you hold on to it the heavier it becomes. Lift that weight, lighten your load, free your mind & trust our Father afterall, he knows your circumstance better than you.

Thought for the Day:

“Sincere forgiveness isn't colored with expectations that the other person apologize or change. Don't worry whether or not they finally understand you. Love them and release them. Life feeds back truth to people in its own way and time.” Sara Paddison

Goal for the Day:

Refuse & dismiss any angry thought & disappointing feeling. It is an anchor that doesn’t deserve the weight it carries.