DARE: Whatever you haven't forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Let it go. Just as we ask Jesus to 'forgive our debts' each day, we must ask him to help us 'forgive our debtors" each day as well. Unforgiveness has been keeping you and your spouse in prison too long. Say from your heart, "i choose to forgive."
The book states that today's love dare is the toughest one of all! It can big for a person or it can be little. The truth is that forgiveness is just tough! Forgiveness is one of the most complex problems in a marriage. But the truth is forgiveness MUST happen, or a successful marriage won't happen.
Jesus tells a parable in the Bible about a servant who's master forgave him for all his many debt. He was overjoyed, but then the servant wen to collect debts from one who owed him. When the master heard this he immediately handed him over to those who would torture him until all the debt was paid. A day that had begun so happy, had ended in such sorrow because of his unforgiveness.
Isn't this our life? God forgives us over and over and over if we just ask, but yet we hold grudges in our heart. Decide for ourselves that people don't deserve forgiveness but Jesus says "My heavenly Father will also do the same for you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from you heart" Matt 18:35
Uforgiveness not only puts those around us in a prison, it entangles us and puts us there as well. It weighs on our hearts and allows trife and malice to build up. Sometimes it is hard to come to a conclusion that we must forgive, because we are hurt so much. THe person may not even be sorry about what they have done. they may feel jsutified and blame you. BUt forgiveness doesn't absolve anyone of blame. It doesn't clear their record with God. It just clears your from having to worry about it and worry how to punish them. When we forgive someone, we are not turning loose to what they have done, we are turning them over to the one judge, GOD. We are saving ourselves from having to argue with them, decide a punishment, and have decided it isn't about who wins or loses. It is about freedom and our ability to let go!!
But doing it....is hard! "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is MINE, I will repay,' says the Lord. Rom 12:19
HOw do you know you have been successful? their name or face, no longer causes you anguish. Them being around you no longer causes you to be mad. Rather you pity them and hope they get this turned around!
GREAT Marriages are not created by people whop never hurt each other, but by those who chose to keep 'no record of wrongs'. I Cor 13:5
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