The Bible is filled with stories of forgiveness and grace. People who endured hardship at the hands of another, yet somehow found the strength to forgive them. Faithful servants who chose to let go and let God. Men and women who put their faith in the wisdom and the power of God. Others who prayed for their enemies.
We read about Joseph and his brothers, David and Saul. And, let’s not forget about Jesus, and the tenderhearted way He forgave those who crucified Him.
“Father, forgive them,” He said, “for they know not what they do.”
How many of us are willing to do that? To forgive before the pain has a chance to subside. How many of us are willing to humbly forgive before we carry the weight of that pain? And, if we are carrying the weight, are we willing to let go of it?
We need to forgive if we ever want peace. We need to let go and let God do His work.
In Acts Chapters 6 & 7, we read about Stephen. A faithful servant who chose Christ-likeness when every bone in his body was under the strain of temptation and pain. A man full of power and grace, who used his very last breath to live as Christ lived.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59-60, NIV)
Here’s the thing about forgiveness–forgiving doesn’t mean that we condone their behavior, but the weight of unforgiveness is not ours to bear. If we truly trust God we need to believe that He is faithful and just, righteous and fair. We see the hurt, but He sees the heart, and He fights for the ones that He loves.
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The Ultimate Marriage Vow: 21 Days to a Lifelong Commitment
Every difficult day and every trial we face is an opportunity to connect with God in ways we might otherwise miss. And when we do trust in God? We open a door to deliverance, mercy, and grace.
And so, I’m asking, will you give me 21 days? That’s all I’m asking you for—3 weeks, 10 minutes a day, and a gentle heart that’s willing to yield. Give me 21 days to show you what God can do for your marriage. 21 days to remind you that marriage is a gift worth fighting for. 21 days to love on and pray for your husband. 21 days to a life filled with love, joy, and peace. 21 days to a life-long commitment.
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Tilling the Soil
Read 2 Corinthians 12.
Planting Hope
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV)
Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together they’ve come to learn that relationships aren’t always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.
She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as “Christian Women Online Magazine.” After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.
It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness. Reshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.
Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.
Connect with Darlene:
Facebook: @timewarpwife
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You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife