So Take Heart!!!! And Forgive...

"So take heart Let His love lead us through the night, Hold on to hope And take courage again"

-Hillsong United 

First of all, I would like to ask you, when was the last time you were truly happy and woke up with joy in your heart... irrespective of everything going on in your life? 

Lately i've been talking/counselling (For lack of a better word) quite a few people who are struggling with forgiveness, for other people and for themselves. Forgiveness for other people hurting them, forgiving God (yes forgiving God, though He doesn't need it, it's the other way round) and the hardest part Forgiving and LIVING with yourself.... 

Stuff happens to us, Stuff gets us down... Stuff breaks us, Stuff that makes us walk with pain in our hearts for so long that we forget what it's like not to be without pain... 

But... so long as you keep hurting, the situation, the person that hurts you.. they keep winning... 

I'm a calm person.. I rank very highly on the "agreeableness" on the Big 5  (HR and Psychologist should know what this means) in other words.. i avoid conflict as much as I can and don't like competition and stuff.. i like to work at my own pace and do my own thing.. but somebody or a situation winning at my expense... ah.. i turn into something else... there is absolutely NO WAY you can win at my expense not if I can help it. especially if there is absolutely NO compromise.. So I have a problem with NOT forgiving people or a situation.. cos the longer I allow them to hurt me, they stay winning, 

I am telling you.. THEY cannot and MUST NOT win.. 

Forgive yourself... Forgive them.. it may take days, months, years.. but so long as you keep at it, they won't win.. 

Trust in God... forgive yourself 

Forgive yourself for meeting that person or getting into that situation

Forgive yourself for putting yourself in that position

Forgive yourself for not seeing it coming 

Forgive yourself for not being stronger 

Forgive yourself for not stopping sooner than later 

Forgive yourself for your failures

Forgive yourself... cos they cannot win... quite frankly the devil is using these situations or people to make you unbunz and have a hold over you. they CANNOT win.. 

If you hold on to the hurt, it will only end up hurting you. When you don’t forgive others, it creates bitterness and anger in you. It will eat you up on the inside and drain you of your energy, leaving you tired all the time.

Wake up, Seriously you gatta wake up and hold on to the goodness inside you, do not let anything take that from you..

Because I see people as a result of these things that happen to them, they cross the line from being cautious to being a downright cynic, hard-hearted, wicked and expect the worst from life. Once you cross the line, they win. Whether you want to admit it or not, because they've changed you into something you are not, you can't enjoy the goodness of life, because you are so busy being hard-hearted,cynical and over-protecting yourself that you won't be able to appreciate and see the good in front of you, simply because of that, they have won at your expense.  So yes be cautious, but hold on to the good inside you, expect nothing from people.. don't expect the worst, expect nothing, if they surprise you.. thank God!! if they mess up.. well still Thank God!!! 

Speak no negative into your future because of what has happened in the past, the tongue is a very powerful thing. A word is enough for the wise. 

Forgiveness is not about trusting the person again or forgetting everything that happened. It’s about putting the situation in God’s hands instead of seeking revenge or holding a grudge 


So ....

If anyone has hurt you..do nothing, say nothing, leave them to God.. God will pay them back accordingly and if you're lucky you'd probably get a front row seat. Just remember not to gloat or anything lest God turns his anger away from them and turns it to you (Written somewhere in the Bible.. can't remember.. usually crappy with bible verses and stuff) 


It's not the easiest thing but.... Praying this prayer is a start... you might even have to pray it like what 70 times...  “God, I am giving you this hurt right now. I am letting it go to you. You’re in charge. Help me to forgive the person/situation who hurt me"

Forgive  and wake up with joy in your heart... trust me it's a really good feeling to wake up like that. 

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All our failure
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome
All our heartache
And all our pain
God our healer
He has overcome

All our burdens
And all our shame
God our freedom
He has overcome

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome

God our justice
God our grace
God our freedom
He has overcome

God our refuge
God our strength
God is with us
He has overcome

     - Take Heart (Hillsong United)