Luke 23:34- Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” In Let It Go, T. D. Jakes states that Jesus forgave those who were crucifying them because he had bigger issues to fight and didn’t want to face his resurrection drained by any issues of bitterness. He concisely relates […]
A number of authors I’ve read and annotated have emphasized that a major reason we must forgive, even when an apology is not forthcoming, is for our own emotional well-being. Bishop Jakes refers to that concept as “writing it off”. He says we must learn that “some people will not or cannot give you what […]
Continuing his discussion of anger in Chapter 5 of Let It Go, Bishop Jakes describes the negative consequences of anger harbored for extended periods of time, long after its potential usefulness has run its course: 1. Internalizing a deep, brooding seething anger for too long a period puts our bodies in a constant state of […]
T. D. Jakes discusses the emotion of anger in Chapter 5 (“The Power of a Pure Heart”) of Let It Go. He doesn’t assert that we shouldn’t be angry in the wake of an offense. Quite the contrary, when we constructively channel anger, it can be “an incredible asset and a powerful catalyst to catharsis.” […]
In Chapter 3 of Let It Go, T.D. Jakes describes 4 steps essential to developing an attitude of forgiveness: 1. Develope self-awareness regarding how you monitor and manage your reactionary thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. While we can’t control the offenses that come our way, we can control our responses. 2. Don’t allow your emotions to […]
There was a popular cigarette ad in the 1960’s that featured smokers with a black eye asserting that they’d rather fight for the right to smoke that brand of cigarettes rather than switch to a competitor. In other words, they’d rather be right, even if it hurt! That type of scenario also can play out […]
In Chapter 2 of Let It Go, Bishop T. D. Jakes shares his realization, gained through a painful personal experience, that “sometimes the greatest opportunities are hidden in the deepest moments of offense. If you aren’t strong enough to check your emotions, you can miss a great opportunity. . . .” For years after my […]
T. D. Jakes (Let It Go) observes that we all have aspirations, hopes, and expectations, regardless of the stage of life we find ourselves. However, we need to take time to consider what we’ve learned throughout the course of our lives and analyze whether our ‘education’ is working for us or not. If we don’t, […]
T.D. Jakes (Let It Go) previously had stated that unforgiveness leaves people stuck in the prison of their past. He adds that the other danger of unforgiveness is that we become infected by it and have the potential to pass it on to others. The good news, Bishop Jakes tells us, is that just as God […]
Bishop T. D. Jakes (Let It Go) posits that forgiveness is a big idea, as opposed to the destructive, small ideas of revenge and anger. We need to think big thoughts in order to effectively introduce and practice forgiveness so that we can begin to heal. While we have experienced justifiable emotions such as hatred […]
In his Introduction to Let It Go, Bishop T. D. Jakes points out that the key to successfully navigating our transitional, desert times is to be intentional. He asserts: “Success is always intentional. No one walks across the stage to accept a college degree by accident. No one crosses the finish line in a marathon […]
Max Lucado (A Gentle Thunder) has lots of hummingbirds around his house. One day a hummingbird flew into his garage through an open door. However, this bird insisted on trying to exit via a closed window. Eventually the bird was trapped between two window panes. Max reached in, grabbed a few feathers, and jerked the […]