Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


Freedom from Unforgiveness


"We lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP

The other day, I heard from a dear lady who confessed that she was struggling with unforgiveness toward someone who had deeply hurt her. The thing that was most discouraging to her was that she had been under the impression that she had gotten over her negative feelings toward this person. When the old familiar pangs of resentment resurfaced, she realized that she still had some residual ill feelings. I tried to reassure her by reminding her that forgiveness is, in fact, a process. It takes time, and we simply can't rush it. We can make the decision to forgive - which is our part, and which the Lord won't do for us - but then we must rely on God to give us the divine enablement (grace) to let go of the hurt, the anger, and the bitterness.

I could really relate to this woman's struggles. It seemed as though there was always someone that I was in the process of trying to forgive. I could make up my mind to forgive someone, and I could be fine for weeks. And then all of a sudden, I could sense those old feelings of resentment trying to rise to the surface again. I don't want to just bury my negative emotions. I used to do that years ago, and I wound up needing tranquilizers and psychiatric care. Now that I know that Jesus can heal us everywhere we hurt, I carry these destructive feelings to Him in prayer, and I trust Him to deliver me from them, as I cooperate with Him.

There are a number of ways we can cooperate with God to overcome feelings of unforgiveness. One way is to stop talking about how others have hurt or offended us. Talking about it just keeps us bleeding. And it keeps our negative emotions stirred up, when we desperately need them to calm down. If we need to initially vent, we can share our feelings with a godly person who we can trust, but then we need to keep quiet about it. And we should never forget that the Lord should be the first One that we turn to. He is the best listener we will ever find, and He's the only One who can really help and heal us.

Another way to cooperate with the Lord in this area is to stop thinking about how we have been hurt or mistreated. The Bible says that we are to "cast down" the wrong kinds of thoughts, and make all of our thoughts "obedient to Christ". (2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV) The Message Bible describes this as "fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can discipline our minds, instead of always being at the mercy of our fleshly thoughts and impulses. Let your mind dwell on how others have hurt or offended you, and you will become more and more agitated, angry, and bitter all the time. Pretty soon, your mind and your body will begin showing signs of strain and illness.

Cooperating with God for the renewal of our minds is absolutely essential in the forgiveness process. Scripture says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2 NKJV) The Amplified Bible translation refers to this as having a "new attitude". The best way to renew our minds is to study, memorize, and meditate on the Word and promises of God. It is not enough to stop thinking about the wrong things, but we must begin, on purpose, to think about the right things - things that the Bible calls "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy". (Philippians 4:8 NIV) Scripture says that the Word of God is "alive and full of power - making it active, operative, energizing and effective". (Hebrews 4:12 AMP) And feasting on it will literally reprogram our minds, and will help us think like God, rather than like the rest of the world.

Isaiah 8:11 (NLT) says - "The Lord has said to me in the strongest terms: 'Do not think like everyone else does.'" If you are struggling with feelings of unforgiveness today, I urge you not to think like everyone else would in your situation. Cooperate with God to adopt a new attitude - and lay hold of the peace, joy, and freedom that are found in a life lived for Christ!

Prayer: Lord, please don't ever let me be content to live in the bondage of unforgiveness. Whenever someone hurts or offends me in any way, help me to turn to You for Your perspective, comfort, and healing. Teach me how to resist talking and thinking about my hurts and resentments. Thank You that as I cooperate with You for the renewal of my mind and my attitudes, You will reward me with supernatural wholeness, well-being, and peace!


- J. M. Farro

 

go to main Devotionals page
go to Devotionals archive

 

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego - EP [DREAM]
iNTELLECT, Philip Anthony The Commission - EP [Polished Arrow]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Gileah Taylor I Call This One - EP [Velvet Blue]
Gileah Taylor I Call This One DEMOS - EP [Velvet Blue]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
Alexxander Suma - Single [Reach]
Gracie Binion Not Our First Dance - Single [BEC]
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road You’ve Already Won - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drenae Ride Or Die - Single [Syntax]
EJ Swavv Deep End - Single [Syntax]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Will Kellum Joy - Single [Syntax]
Keyodis Georgia's Only Son - Single [Charon Collective]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]
Steven Malcolm One You (feat. Parris Chariz) - Single [Curb]
New Christian Order, outr.cty & Prodi Da Prodigal Violence (ft. International Show & Q-Flo) - Single [Syntax]
No Vain Glory A Psalmist's Prayer - Single [Syntax]
Of The Land You've Met Me - Single [BEC]
Hunter Plake Circles (feat. Ryan Ellis) - Single [BEC]
PRXM & Kei Harris No Parts - Single [Syntax]
Red Rocks Worship Faithful Father - Single [Provident]
Jeremy Rosado Keep Holding On - Single [Capitol CMG]
Jordy Sam Dramatics - Single [Syntax]

Next Friday, June 20, 2025
ALBUMS
Dan Bremnes The Hero - EP [Curb]
Dan Dean More [StowTown]
The Swirling Eddies Let's Spin! (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
The Swirling Eddies Outdoor Elvis (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
The Swirling Eddies Zoom Daddy (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor The Miracle Faith Telethon: 35th Anniversary Ed (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]

SINGLES
bodie GOOD OLD DAYS - Single [Provident]
KingsPorch You Can Have it All - Single [BEC]
Rhymes in Harmony In His Presence - Single [Syntax]
Jordan St. Cyr Circles (feat. Riley Clemmons) - Single [BEC]

VINYL
IRONWRATH Master Storyteller (Double Vinyl Gatefold) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images