Lord, Help Me Not To...Sample

DAY 3 LORD, HELP ME NOT TO BE UNFORGIVING! Have you ever had a friend hurt your feelings? A spouse? A family member? Maybe you found out a friend was gossiping behind your back, maybe your spouse forgot your wedding anniversary, or maybe a family member overstepped a boundary. Sometimes, the deepest hurts come from the ones closest to us. Hurt untreated can develop into a little green monster I like to call unforgiveness. When someone asks you for forgiveness, but you choose not to forgive them, you carry unforgiveness. Whether intentional or not, unforgiveness left unresolved will fester into a host of negative things. Anyone ever felt resentment or anger after an argument? Jealousy? Those emotions are merely by-products of unforgiveness. In Proverbs 17:9 (TPT), it says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Can I be really honest with you? It's on you to forgive. If not, the root will only grow. Dwelling in unforgiveness creates so many walls that eventually you will build a wall of offense separating you from everyone else. So, how do we start practicing forgiveness? Recognize the offense. If you’ve been hurt or angry, identify the root. And then, address it. Will it be easy? No. Is it necessary? Absolutely! Ask yourself, “Who do I need to forgive today or who do I need to ask forgiveness from?” Today, I want to encourage you to replace unforgiveness with forgiveness.