Biterness, Forgiveness, & Letting Go

Firstly, I'd just like to say that this summer has been the most amazing summer of my life. I have made the most incredible friends & God has blessed me with the most amazing relationships & friendships. You all have no idea how sad I am to wave summer goodbye & say hello to fall. (Even though autumn is my favorite season) The only reason I'm praising that summer is gone is 1.) Hockey season!! and 2.) NO MORE MOWING!

Secondly, I really need you all to pray for me as hockey tryouts are coming up in less than a week! I am unbelievably nervous and just thinking about it makes me want to run through a wall. For most people hockey is just a sport but for me it's my passion & it's very very important to me. So please, pray that I don't vomit on the ice from being so nervous. Ha. :)  


In youth group we talked about forgiveness. Since I was on a rant on my previous blog post about others persecuting & judging you, I thought that maybe forgiveness would be a good topic tonight. 


Forgiving is hard. It's probably one of the hardest things we as humans will ever have to do. I think it's so hard for us people to forgive because we don't want to be nice to the people who hurt us. That's my struggle, anyway. Why should I forgive this person whom has caused me so much pain?! Oh, that's right...because if I'm living by what the Bible says then I should PRAY for those her persecute me. 

  Matthew 5:44-

 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Tough, eh? Sometimes I would rather punch people in the face than forgive & pray for them. BUT, that's not very Christ-like.

 
Okay. So let me get this straight. I'm not only to love my enemies, bless people that curse me, do good to those who hate me & PRAY for them who despitefully use me? Not easy, not fun, but it's what I have to do. Who said being a Christian was easy anyway? Forgiveness is tough. 

Simple as this; It's the least I can do, considering Christ died for me.

I leave you with a verse from 1 Peter;
 

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. —1 Peter 4:12-14, 1

Whoa. Let him NOT be ashamed. 

Read the verse over. Read it over again if you have to. Read for a fourth time if ya want. I don't care how many times you read it but let it sink in. 


-Hayley