“Our understanding of forgiveness must begin with this truth: By God’s design, you are the master of your mind.”- June Hunt
“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”- 2 Corinthians 10:5
In Chapter 7 (“Cutting the Bottom Out of the Bag- Resentful Thoughts Released, Not Rehearsed”) of How to Forgive, June Hunt notes that we all start at the same place on the road to forgiveness: in heavy pain (emphasis author’s ). Ms. Hunt adds that “we all think the journey is too long, up a mountain too high, with a backpack too big.”
But we don’t face the task of forgiveness alone. God doesn’t demand we forgive and then leave us struggling to find the strength to do so. June reminds us that forgiveness isn’t a feeling. Forgiveness is a purposeful choice. To release our resentment against our offenders, we have to change how we think.
This is not an easy task. How we think about forgiveness is deeply ingrained within us, as June describes:
“Our thoughts are like covered wagons that have traveled the same road over and over across the prairie of our minds, leaving deep ruts . Changing course is hard and it takes deliberate efforts and repetition to make it happen.”
June observes that our thoughts can be constructive or destructive. Perhaps the most ironic thought, however, is that we have no control over our thoughts. The apostle Paul encourages us to “take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” As Ms. Hunt emphasizes, you are in charge of what you think. Indeed, “you are the master of your mind.”
Today’s question: What has helped you affirm that you are the master of your mind? Please share.
tomorrow’s blog: “Gravitating to negativity”