Author: marquitabp

Forgiving and Forgetting

"For I will be merciful regarding their wrong deeds, and I will never again remember their sins."  Hebrews 8:12 ISV

God tells us He will forgive us and forget our sins.  He tells us that we are to do the same–well explicitly with forgiveness.  But why is it that we can forgive things, but but there are some things that we seem incapable of forgetting? 

There are many small indiscretions such as someone stepping on your foot are easy to forget, or someone bumping into you, but those more personal attacks against your heart are more difficult to throw away.  I've learned that it is easy to forgive once you actually make the decision to do so, but it is much more difficult to forget because God equipped us with a memory.  The sad thing is though, we seldom remember all of the sins we have committed against God, but don't forget when so and so said those hurtful things to you or about you.  I've forgiven those who have hurt me, but there are just things that have been said and done that I must take a conscious mental note of.

The importance of remembering some things rang out to me in simplicity–the old saying "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me."  You don't want to be made a fool of.  However for those things that attack the core of your being, your heart and your character, they are much more difficult to simply cast off and with reason.  I myself prayed that God help me forget a very painful situation from my childhood and I have not been able to do so yet.  Maybe I'm not trying hard enough, maybe I have not fully let go, or maybe I haven't fully forgiven those involved…and I do pray to God for that.  But there is an importance of remembering certain things; maybe that is part of your ministry and calling here.  I know that I am supposed to encourage others, teach and break down the Word, and among other things, help others heal through my own pain.  The relevance of that situation is that I can minister to a group of people that not many others can because of my suffering.  I have forgiven those involved, but I can now give healing and encouraging words through my own experiences.  Be cognizant of that, because by you dwelling on that situation and not looking for the opportunity to minister to someone, you miss that chance to heal for yourself and you miss out on working for God!!

Sometimes God allows us to completely forget a situation in which forgiveness has played its part.  Now don't misconstrue suppression or repression of the past for forgetting–you are simply ignoring the event and not operating in forgiveness.  Pray to God for the path He wants you to take.  But most of all remember that your pain is never your own; it is for you to share with others as a ministry.  The tests we pass equip us to guide someone else through their own test.  We are all here to help one another get into the Kingdom, even if it is through your own pain.  Love y'all!

"He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God."  2 Corinthians 1:4 GWT

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"No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of God and their righteousness is of me," says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17
http://enterthemindofmarquita.blogspot.com

Blurred Focus

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  Ephesians 6:11-13

I used to complain so much.  I complained about how hard life was, complained about being sick, complained about just how unfair things were.  That was before I started really understanding what I would read in the Bible.  I was like the seeds that fell on the thorns because I would hear something powerful but it would get choked up by all the anger, hurt and bitterness I had inside; I might even say it a few times.  Not to say I am completely delivered from this, because I still slip up from time to time.  I just thank God for the discernment to catch myself now.  I'll complain and say something crazy and usually before I get it all the way out of my mouth, I say that's a lie and God forgive me.  I am not whatever I was complaining about or confessing.

Too many times in our flesh we complain or point out some difficulty we are facing.  We pine over it and just mull it over, meditating on that thing.  And that is where we lose the battle.  We focus on that thing negatively instead of remembering what God can do.  We do the exact thing God tells us to do with His Word except with a thought sent from the enemy!  Isn't that funny???  Well I think it is, because I recognize that we throw in the towel in our minds before we ever use our hands!  It is disheartening to realize that.  But its never too late to change! 

I am all for acknowledging the things we face.  Like, I am vertically challenged, lol.  I had a kidney transplant.  I have a family predisposition to high blood pressure.  All true statements.  But I'm not going to complain about or dwell on being short, or having had a kidney problem, or that I can't eat too much salty foods to prevent high blood pressure…nope I won't.  I'll just get a stool, make sure I take my meds regularly, and check the sodium levels on my foods and drink lots of water.  Or if I'm in a trying situation, I will find scriptures to align my mind with what God says and make sure that I reach out to other believers for prayer.  Now I don't always immediately think of scripture, I want to complain!! But I pray to God for the strength and focus.  Like Isaiah 54:17–No weapon formed against me shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.  The power God gives us is in our tongue!!!! We can confess scriptures, we can pray and Lord knows that is a mighty weapon within itself, we can declare our own victory in very situation.  In Mark 11:23 Jesus tells the disciples this: "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him."  You have to speak–speak to cast out doubt, speak to lift up praise, speak to confess the Word. 

We too often focus on the negative or the obstacle we face.  And if you've been doing that for a long time, you have to break through all the crap that has been planted to truly plant the Word.  We fight against the manipulation of our mind!!!  Our minds are inclined to go against the Spirit.  But don't you know Jesus has given us the keys!!! In Matthew 16:19, He said "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."  So bind up defeat, right now and loose your victory, because through Christ we already have won!!!!!  Know the tools and weapons God has for you so that you can win.

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."  1 Corinthians 16:13
http://enterthemindofmarquita.blogspot.com