Man, forgiveness is tough stuff.
Just when you think you’ve conquered that battle with anger, heartache, and bitterness, this person you are called to love despite their unchanged behavior, does something ELSE to hurt you.
And then, you’re right back where you started!
Or, am I the only one?
I have a couple of people , so if you don’t have any, you can borrow one of mine.š
We were singing this hymn at prayer service last night. It is called Behold The Throne of God Above.
In it, the Gospel is told. We are reminded that we were lost, and that Jesus died to make us CLEAN and FREE.
Read the words with me:
I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my
God!
Beautiful, right?
Powerful, right?
Well, you see, last night I was really praying for some key relationships that I CONTINUE to struggle with.
When you KEEP people in your life who hurt you, guess what?!
You will continually get hurt.
Sometimes, it’s a matter of removing that person from your everyday life, so you can move on.
But sometimes this person plays such a role in our lives that we CANNOT simply “remove” them.
So, I took my name out of the hymn.
Every time the song has a “me” or an “I”, I replaced it with the name of someone I need to TOTALLY FORGIVE.
To forgive them for all hurt they caused in my past, present , and future.
So, let’s try this. Put that name in place of yours:
____ have/has a strong, a perfect plea
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for ____
______ name is graven on His hands
______ name is written on His heart
___ know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid her/him thence depart
And tells _____ of the guilt within
Upward ____ look and see Him there
Who made an end to all _____ sin
Because the sinless Savior died
______ sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon ____
To look on Him and pardon
____
______ perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself ______ cannot die
_____ soul is purchased by His blood
______ life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ _____ Savior and ______ God!
With Christ _____ Savior and ______ God!
______ soul is purchased by His blood
_______ life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ _____ Savior and ____ God!
With Christ _____ Savior and _____ God!
Now, I know true forgiveness can only come from the Holy Spirit.
We can’t do it in our own tiny strength.
But we DO have to DESIRE it in order to get it.
This exercise makes me truly DESIRE to see the person the way God sees them.
Wholly loved,
Wholly desired,
And wholly forgiven.
Let them take your place in that hymn.
Just like Jesus truly, and painfully,
Took yours.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13
Back To The Beginning 
Proud of your u Pam, very insightful. Maybe you just need to keep praying the prayer with the persons name in it. ā¤ļø
I need to do it each DAY!š