Forgiving God

OFFENSE: Greek – skandalon, a trap or snare
Proverbs 18:14 NLT
The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a
crushed spirit?
If our hearts are closed off to the only One who can help us, we’ve
already lost.
Three Filters to Run my Frustrations Through:
1) Am I Focused on GOD or PEOPLE?
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians:
who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny
Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds
unbelievable.” – Brennan Manning
1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, including leaders.
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 NIV
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that
there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says,
“I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow
Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul
crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course
not!
Three Filters to Run my Frustrations Through:
2) Am I Focused on COMPLAINTS or CHARGES?
Psalm 13:1-2 NIV
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide
your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and
day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy
triumph over me?
PAIN internalized turns to POISON.
Jeremiah 12:1-3, 5 NLT
Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So
let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous?
Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they
have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you
are far from their hearts. But as for me, Lord, you know my heart. You
see me and test my thoughts… “If racing against mere men makes
you tired, how will you race against horses?”
Three Filters to Run my Frustrations Through:
3) Am I Focused on TRUSTING or KNOWING?
Matthew 11:2-6 NIV
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the
Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to
come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back
and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight,
the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Isaiah 61:1 NIV
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners…
Romans 8:18 NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with
the glory that will be revealed in us.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than
your thoughts.”
“To pray in pain, even with its messy struggle and tough questions,
is an act of faith where we open up our hearts to God.” — Mark
Vroegop
God, I’m sorry that I’ve held onto grudges and offense against You. I
confess You have never wronged me. So, today, I choose to focus
my faith on You over people. I choose to drop the charges I have
against You. I choose to trust when I don’t understand. Today, I’m
getting out of the quicksand of offense. I want relationship with You. I
let You into the places of my heart that have been blocked off. I give
You my pain and my sin. And, even if I never know why that event did
or did not happen, I will still love You and serve You all the days of
my life. I put my faith in You, Jesus, as the Son of God. Restore me.
Heal me. Forgive me. I love You God. Amen.