“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 5:44-45
In Chapter 1 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, Sara Horn notes that Jesus talks about forgiveness in the context of prayer, a reminder that forgiving is only part of the process. We also need to pray for those who hurt.
To truly appreciate God’s unconditional love for us, we need a better understanding of forgiveness. Sara believes this better understanding will happen when we begin listening- to ourselves, to others, and to God. To be good listeners, we must identify the white noise of bitterness, frustration, and self-doubt that drowns out what the Lord wants us to hear. As Sara states: “What distracts our hearts distracts our souls.”
Sara asks if we can identify white N-O-I-S-Es in our life. “N” is discussed today.
1. Negative Self-Talk. Sara emphasizes that the negative statements we allow to penetrate our hearts are more than statements- they are lies. This negative stance, Sara points out, has far-reaching consequences:
“When you believe that nothing can ever change in yourself or others, you will never see the importance of forgiving yourself or somebody else.”
Today’s question: What negative thoughts have penetrated your heart following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The foundation of walls”
