Let’s be honest, failure is bitterly painful.
Have you studied really hard for an important exam, done a long run of all nighters, attended every class, made notes on the notes of your revision notes, walked into the exam believing you understood everything required to ace the test – only to get the mark back and it is much less than you hoped for, or worse – you didn’t pass?
Fasting, typically in the form of food deprivation, is purposed by God according to Isaiah 58:6 to loose the bonds of wickedness, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke.
Have you ever had that opportunity, that moment to boast about the Lord but you crumbled and were crippled by the fear of what others might think or say?
Like me, you’re probably familiar with dealing with the trials of friendship, and the ways you will extend yourself to make things work. But at some stage, you probably believed you had reached a point of no return, and that the relationship simply wasn’t worth it.
‘Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of EVERY prisoner fell off!’ – Acts 16:25-26
‘Life happens’. This is a phrase you’ve probably heard more than once. What it really means is that things won’t always go your way and from life, you can expect your fair share of struggles as well as triumphs.
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26)
In modern times, due to the proliferation of information, we can often become absorbed into our own worlds’: our houses, our families and our circle of friends.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it HOLY (Genesis 2:3).
*side eye suspicious face*
Could He reallllllyyyy have given us any more of an obvious clue? Sunday was a day full of surprises, because what God had in store forus was almost scary, when He says ‘holy’ don’t think He doesn’t mean it!
“Wake up! It’s time to wake up!” Micheal diligently shouted from the corridor. And so day two began, at the not-so-early hour of 8am, and what better way to start the day than with a prayer walk? Slowly rubbing the sleep from our eyes, willing ourselves out of bed – many of us wondering what a prayer walk could actually entail – in not so speedily a time, we eventually made our way out of the villa to the corner of Calle Virgen de Fatima (Virgin of Fatima Street).
A short note on FORGIVENESS
Then came Peter to him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?”
Jesus said unto him, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
It is human nature to hold grudges. Even the most Christ-like of us struggle to defy our human inclination to seek revenge or reparation. It is essential to understand that Jesus’ mandate (Matthew 18:21-22) is not that we forgive four-hundred-and-ninety times. That is an awfully strenuous act. In fact, it is his mandate that we open ourselves to forgive as often as we are wronged.
Whether it is the first, or the thousandth time, we are to forgive with grace, and that grace can only come from God. God is asking for unlimited forgiveness. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) and He lives with and within us. There should, therefore, be no limit on our willingness to forgive our fellow human.
But the point of forgiveness is not to mend the bridges between humans. Forgiveness has the wonderful effect of bringing peace to us. When we forgive, we are not burdened by the load of revenge and grudge. Forgiveness allows us to move past our grudge rather than being stagnated by it.
If our God can forgive us for our sins every time we transgress, it is only fair that we, at least, try to do so too. Our mission in this life is to run the race like God would. What Would Jesus Do? We are asked to be perfect (Matthew 5:48), but in our sinful nature, all we can do is try to live a life that is worthy of being like Jesus Christ. So, again, if God is willing to forgive us numerous times, how much more should we be eager to do the same? (Ephesians 4:32) Forgiveness is the purest form of love that we can show each other. It frees us, mends bridges and puts us in right standing with man and God.
Forgiveness comes from a position of strength and is a healer. Conversely, holding a grudge is equivalent to letting the devil live rent-free in your life. That is not the tenant you want to accommodate. Holding a grudge drains us of our happiness and peace.
Remember that we are all human. And while we all strive for perfection, humans are flawed and have been since the Garden of Eden when Eve allowed the devil to tempt her. So, it is a great leap forward to forgive someone when wronged and it is the only way we can achieve freedom.
Life is short. Love all unconditionally and forgive those who hurt you and find peace with all men.
