Have you ever had times when you felt like you just couldn’t hear from God? To tell you the truth, I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t. Today I’m sharing over at Proverbs 31 Ministries about that very thing. I thought it might encourage you too. Let me know if it does. Be sure to check out the freebies at the end.
I was so confused. I was talking to God, but it seemed He wasn’t talking to me. There seemed to be a barrier between us. I was a single 20-year-old who needed to make an important decision about my future, but I wasn’t hearing from God.
Mr. Thorp was an older, godly gentleman who mentored my Christian friends and me in our teen years. After a Bible study meeting, I asked him to pray for me.
“Let’s read some Scripture about prayer before we pray,” Mr. Thorp suggested.
First he turned to Matthew 18:19-22, which says:
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”
Then to Matthew 6:8-15. Then Mark 11:22-26.
Every passage Mr. Thorp turned to regarding God answering prayer had verses about forgiveness either before it or after it. He stopped reading, looked me in the eye, and said, “Sharon, I sense that God is telling you that you have unforgiveness in your heart. Have you forgiven your father for what he did to you and what he withheld from you?” (Mr. Thorp had walked with me on my spiritual journey and knew very well what had gone on in my home.)
I was stunned. “Mr. Thorp,” I respectfully replied. “I came here to pray about my future, not talk about my past.”
“But, Sharon, God can’t talk to you about your future until you obey Him regarding your past.”
It was a rough morning, but a good one.
At that time, I’d been a Christian for seven years. My father came to Christ six years after I did. He’d been a violent, heavy drinker with a rage disorder who gambled, indulged in pornography and had affairs. Dad hit my mom, terrorized my brother and treated me as if I were non-existent.
When he gave his life to Christ, he was truly a new creation.
The change was (and still is) one of the most miraculous transformations I’ve ever seen. Only Almighty God could have orchestrated the twists and turns that led my father to the cross. Click & Tweet!
However, I had a nagging resentment toward my dad, which I clung to with a closed fist. Yes, I saw the change, but no, I didn’t trust him. I didn’t even like him. I still had nightmares, fits of fear and trigger points of panic. Whenever Dad made a mistake — because he still wasn’t perfect — the bitterness of my childhood rose up. God was speaking to me through Mr. Thorp, saying, “Now’s the time to let it go.”
Mr. Thorp and I spent hours talking through the pain of my past and the purpose of forgiveness. We prayed. I cried. Finally, in my heart, I could sense myself releasing years of hurt and anger. In turn, God filled my heart with a tender love of a daughter who saw her dad through the lens of grace. I was free.
Amazingly, after forgiving my father, my inability to hear from God was lifted. I knew exactly what I was supposed to do. I’m not saying that once you forgive, everything in life falls into place. However, my refusal to forgive my earthly father hampered my communion with my heavenly Father.
So here’s what God’s asking you and me today … Is there someone in your life you haven’t forgiven? It’s time to let it go. Forgiveness isn’t saying that what the person did was right, and it doesn’t necessarily mean you reconcile. But forgiveness does mean you’re going to let go of the angry resentment, give the person to God and live free. Remember, the only person we hurt when we choose not to forgive is ourselves.
Jesus didn’t tether our forgiveness to the caveat that someone we forgive has changed or asked for forgiveness. Why? Forgiveness really isn’t about the other person at all … it’s about our decision to forgive as Christ forgave us, and in turn, be set free.
Lord, today I choose to forgive _________ for ____________. I have been terribly hurt [misused, abused], but I’m not going to allow the offense to control me any longer. Just as You’ve forgiven me, I now forgive ____________. I relinquish any need for revenge and place the consequences of this person’s action in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer of forgiveness, leave a comment and say, “I did it!” Let’s celebrate together.
Do the voices in your head say you’re not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough…or just not enough, period?
It’s time to stop listening to lies that sabotage your confidence and to embrace the truth of who God says you are.
Join me for 7 days to transform your thought life by replacing the lies that steal your confidence with God’s truth >>> CLICK HERE to join today! It’s FREE.
Do you love podcasts? I had a great time talking with my friend Gwen Smith about what to do when you feel like you just not good enough. You can listen here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/
Comments 75
I did it
I did it
I did it.
But…
I feel – almost KNOW – I have either committed the unpardonable sin or the sin unto death.
I am repenting of MY DEED of having denounced Christ (again), not just because I regret the consequences, the torment. I WAS REPENTING OF THE DEED ITSELF MONTHS BEFORE I felt the slightest torment.
I AM FLYING TO CHRIST EVERY DAY begging forgiveness FOR THE DEED ITSELF… Confessing my having denounced Him for something useless compared to Him.
Will Christ EVER forgive me one day.
I beg forgiveness, and now only get temporary peace, but WHY WON’T IT LASSST?
Y’ALL KEEP PRAYING THE JESUS WILL at last one day take me back! He does not OWE me forgiveness, but FOR HIS GLORY ad atonement and the display of His Sovereign will I BEG IT!
I did it and forgave a couple of people that have hurt me
I did it.
I did it !
I did it!
I did
I did it!
I did it.
I did it! Really weird, but today i woke up from a dream and the summary of the dream was that i had unforgiveness towards someone.. Then your email about forgiveness came through a few hours later.. I hear you loud and clear Lord! I prayed the prayer in your email. I did it.
I did it!
I Did It
I did it!
I DID IT!!
I did it! The funny thing is that I didn’t know there was any unforgiveness till I read your devotion and asked God to search my heart.
thank you for sharing
I did it. I am so grateful for God’s grace.
I did it (and pray it will stick!)
I really want to release this and not snatch it back up next time I am upset.
I did it!
I Did It 🙌🏻🙏🏻♥️
Sharon, I get so much out of your writings! You seem to be speaking directly to me. I had to learn to forgive both my father and my ex-husband in just the way you did your father. But I see so many people around me stuck in the same cycle! My brothers and sister, who suffered abuse at our father’s hand also, my son who was divorced by his wife and plunged into depression, even my current husband who struggles with unforgiveness toward his ex-wife. I just wanted you to know that I will be sharing this article with people I feel can also benefit from the truth! Thank you for being a conduit of God’s love and voice of compassion and reason.
Shirley
I did
I did it.
I did it! Thanks.
This is so powerful! I did!!!!!
Amen!
I did it! Although it was hard, I never realized how much I really felt this way. This was God speaking to me today! Thank you!
I did it!
I did thank you
I did it!
I just did! Thank You!
I did it! I feel Free
I did the prayer. thanks so much.
I did it!
I did it!
Thank you for this beautiful message about forgiveness when you feel like you can’t hear from God. I too have carried a lot of anger towards my dad for the actions he took on my mom, brother, sister and myself throughout my life. I prayed the prayer of forgiveness for my dad. Thank you.
I did it
“I did it!”
I did it!!!
I did it!
I did let go of my unforgiving heart and choose to forgive them the people who hurt me in past,because that is what God is telling to do.. I’m glad that I did and I have so much peace in my heart right now, if God forgives us for all the sins we commit why can’t be like him after all we are His children..
I Did it!
That’s a powerful testimony. I have forgiven but it still wants to crop up.
I did it!!!!!!
I did it.
I read your email after reading Dr. Jim Denisons daily column. He shared excerpts from Dallas Willard’s book about hearing God. God used that to open my eyes and heart to an awesome truth. Then I read your message for today. I had been holding on to unforgiveness and hurt I held for years. Praise God I chose to forgive the two family members who had me pain and suffering.
God bless you.
I did it!
This came to me at a perfect time. Thank you! God bless you for the grace you spread to others! Thank you Jesus! I forgive…
This came at the perfect time..I needed to forgive and let go of the anger! Thank you Jesus! And thank you Sharon for spreading God’s grace….
I did it.<3
Forgiveness, I did it.
Forgiveness, I did it.
I did it
I did it!
I did it for two people.
Thank you for the encouragement
Julie
I DID IT!!!
I did the prayer . I feel better thank you so much
Sharon, I prayed today to forgive my mother and in laws of past disappointments and hurt feelings (on my part) from them. They have festerd and caused much bitterness for me. I want to really be rid of these feelings. I know I will have to lean more on Jesus to overcome all these years of bitterness. Please pray for me . I hope someday to meet you. Mary Ellen
I did it! Thanks for being Gods voice for so many of us.
I did it. Let’s celebrate together.
I did it. In Jesus name
Sharon thank you so much for this post. There is someone that I need to forgive and I have been praying for them, trying to put it behind me. I feel like now my eyes have been opened to what I didn’t quite understand and you’ve provided me with a pray that resonates with me!
I did it! 🙌
I did it!!!
I did it!
I did it!!!
I DID IT! I chose to forgive my ex husband for all the lies, cheating, hurt, pain and neglect in our 25 years of marriage. He has moved on like he never did anything wrong in our marriage. Has never apologized to me for all the wrongs hes done. I feel i am stuck in my past reminiscing anout it and blaming myself for a failed marriage. I cant move forward as much as i want to because of all the bitterness, pain and resentment he’s caused me. So today i choose to forgive him so that i can break free from these chains that are holding me back and keeping me from my happiness, my blessings and my future. Thank you so much foe this post! Please pray for me. God Bless
I did it. Thank you Jesus for being an example of forgiveness. We forgive becuase you first forgave us and paid a price we could not pay
I did it! Now… I just want to continue to believe it in my heart. It keeps cropping up in my thoughts.
I did it!
i did it
I did it.
Thank you for allowing God to use you in a mighty way! You are such a blessing ! I did it… yay! Thank you Jesus😁
I did it!
I did it—-twice.
I did it!
I did it!
I did it! My Dad was a functional alcoholic and was distant emotional. He never confirmed my feminine part of me. Once he told me I was an “old maid”. Very hurtful. I forgave him. Thanks for your messages.