Do you ever wonder why some people that have been in the Lord for a long time are dried up? If discernment is one of the gifts you operate in (which by the way is needed in these end times), You can always tell by the words that come out of a persons mouth where they are at. If someone is constantly being negative and condemning  chances are good that they are harboring un-forgiveness in their hearts. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34b)

In all my years of serving God, I have come to realize that many in the Body of Christ are operating from a place of un-forgiveness.  As believers we get wounded, disappointed and betrayed.  We must constantly be in the face of the Lord asking Him to search our hearts. Offense leads to un-forgiveness and un-forgiveness leads to Bitterness. When you are bitter it will come out in your speech. Whenever, I hear an angry believer, I wince because I know they are speaking out of the contaminated place in their heart.  We don’t have to stay the same.  One strong indicator that we are not walking in forgiveness toward a person, issue or circumstance is how we react when a similar thing happens. If we are triggered and become negative, or we dig in our heels and rise up with the “How Dare You” attitude, that is a good indicator that un-forgiveness has taken root in our heart. The other strong indicator is when we wake up with anxiety or depression and we just don’t know why we are feeling this way. The culprit is likely to be un-forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a journey. There are stages that we have to go through. Stage 1 – Is taking a truthful inventory of what is in your heart and asking the Lord to help you identify who and what you have not forgiven.  Many of us have a hard time forgiving ourselves, or even God. Many religious folks will tell you, I am not mad at God. But in their private time with Him they may ask “Lord, why are you letting this happen to me”?

Stage 2 – Confessing it out loud (between you and God) that you need help forgiving  whoever or whatever  it is.  In Stage 2, it is important to know, that a person does not have to ask for your forgiveness in order for you to speak out by Faith, and say I forgive.

Stage 3 –  Repent and release the offense.  And when you pray, make sure you forgive the faults of others so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.”(Matt. 6:14-15 TPT)  Stage 4 – After you have been truthful with yourself, you have confessed, repented and released, Holy Spirit will do the rest. He will supernaturally remove things, that you give Him permission to remove.  You will feel free and you will not longer react when you see, hear or think about the person or the issue.  Also, you will  no longer be triggered when a similar situation happens. There is no better feeling than being completely healed of an offense.

I truly believe that in 2018, Father wants His sons and daughters to mature and become all that He has called us to be.  Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.  (Col. 3:13-14 TPT)