PJP2 “7 PRAISES” - 161230 - FORGIVE

FORGIVE: Follow Only (Our) Redeemer's Guidance In Verily Everything

(NOTE:  Team, from the very get-go, let me preface my appreciation for your patience....a LOT to say today......jaj)

These last few days of 2016 we have begun to see on Facebook et al, evening News, other venues our collective 'reflections' on the ending-year.  Though I would not think of speaking for you, I will share from my own 2016 there are scenarios in which I would be best to Follow our Lord's Example (FLEX) and FORGIVE situations in which I sense I have been wronged in some way.

Details of these scenarios are not the importance - What I Sense His Holy Spirit Guiding me towards Is The Importance of "Letting Go" of The Grudge I've been nursing (especially well before The Grudge grows up into something much worse), AND Move Ever Forward In His GRACE Of (The) WAY (GROW In HIM).

So.....today's PJP2 "7 PRAISES" (161230) focuses on the J-ACRONYM....FORGIVE....

As we leave 2016 and begin 2017, I am Hearing His Holy Spirit mention anew that our Lord Jesus both Prepared us and continues to Prepare us for both our Past, our Present, and our Future with Him.....Jesus Said.... (John 16:12-15 {ESV/emphasis added/jaj})....“I Still Have Many Things To Say To you, BUT you Cannot Bear Them Now.  WHEN The Spirit Of TRUTH Comes, He Will GUIDE you Into ALL The TRUTH, For He Will NOT Speak On His Own Authority, BUT Whatever He Hears He Will Speak, And He Will Declare To you The Things That Are To Come. He Will Glorify Me, For He Will Take What Is Mine And Declare It To you.  ALL That The Father Has Is Mine; Therefore I Said That He Will Take What Is Mine And Declare It To you."....

Wow, such a Broad and Powerful WORD of Encouragement from our Lord Jesus with Regards to our Past/Present and Future.  What an Phenomenal PROMISE and GIFT He has Given us via The Eternal Presence of His Holy Spirit.  What an Awesome Assurance for us to Rely On Christ our King's WORD.

So here's a Thought for us to Ponder.....When we sense we've been wronged in someway, what's the first WORD of Guidance we might turn to?

Consider with me that our Lord Jesus crystallized God's Commands to us to Two Great Commandments.....

Matthew 22:36-40 John 16:12-15 {ESV/emphasis added/jaj}....“One of the scribes/Pharisees asked, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?'  And Jesus Said to him, 'You Shall LOVE The Lord your God With ALL your Heart And With ALL your Soul And With ALL your Mind. THIS Is The Great And First Commandment.  And A Second Is Like IT: You Shall LOVE your neighbor As yourself.  On These TWO Commandments Depend ALL The Law and the Prophets.”

I know for me, when I have this sensation of being wronged, my first reaction is usually one of judging the other.....Our Lord Jesus Provides us Guidance on this reaction as well....

Luke 6:37-38 {ESV/emphasis added/jaj}....“Jesus Said, 'Judge NOT, And you Will Not Be Judged; Condemn NOT, And you Will Not Be Condemned; FORGIVE, And you Will BE FORGIVEN; GIVE, And It Will BE GIVEN To you.  Good Measure, Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over, Will Be Put Into your lap.  For With The Measure you Use/Give It Will Be Measured/Given Back to you.'”....

Oh BUT my friends, I know me well, and the old self, the one who has this blinded thought that he is really in control, strives to rip away At God's GRACE and His Guidance to my Inner Spirit.  Like our ancestor Peter, I hear the old self say....{Matthew 18:21-22(ESV/emphasis added/jaj)}...."Then Peter came up and said to Jesus, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, And I FORGIVE him?  As many as seven times?'  Jesus Said to him, 'I Do NOT Say To you Seven Times, BUT Seventy TIMES Seven'".....

So, Team, my PJP2 Prelude Prayer for us today would be simply - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Praise You for Your Amazing LOVE and GRACE.  Lord Jesus, Daily, even Moment-by-Moment Open our Inner Ears to Hear Your WORD of TRUTH to us.  Holy Spirit, Open our Inner Heart and Plant Your Guidance Within us.  Father God Help us Learn to Apply Your GIFT of FORGIVENESS.  May our Lives Ever Reflect You, Lord Jesus, as our One and Only True King.  In Your Holy Name, we Pray.....Amen and Amen....jaj