Episode 005: Finding Strength in Forgiveness (Jess' Testimony)
05/04/20 • 143 min
Chapter A: The Necessity of Forgiveness: choosing to deal with it over pushing it down
Is there an area in your life where you've been hurt or wronged, and you've pushed it down ... and yet it creeps up once in a while?
Jess shares gives part of her story of childhood abuse and rejection to share how God's word reveals:
- The necessity of forgiveness
- How we've been duped into thinking that withholding forgiveness makes us strong
- That behave as if forgiveness is a choice
- Withholding forgiveness causes US to suffer, not the offender
- The depth, majesty, and love God forgives us
Chapter B: The Benefits of Forgiving those that you can't understand how they could hurt you in such a terrible, ugly way
Is there someone in your life that has hurt you so terribly, that you can't even wrap your mind around how they could do this to you?
It doesn't have to be a dramatic offense to hurt deeply.
How do we genuinely get to a place where we can let it go? How do we prepare ourselves to deal with it?
- Forgiveness is strength - given to you by God, His strength
- In forgiving there's finally true, genuine freedom from the pain
- It doesn't matter anymore... can we get to a place where we can say "it wasn't okay what was done, but I'm letting it all go." (We'll separate forgiveness and trust in the next episode 5.c)
Chapter C: Discerning Forgiveness and Trust
Just because you forgive someone, should you also let them fully participate in your life as if nothing happened? How do you separate forgiving and forgetting?
In this episode we look at the definitions of forgiveness and trust, and explore the different ways we can genuinely obey God, trust Him and forgive and love others; even if it means from a distance.
Chapter D: The Rejoicing Father: Discovering once and for all God IS PERSONAL
Praying the most terrifying prayer of my life exposed my character and lead me slowly down a miserable road of disobedience.
When the Holy Spirit indwells you, the darkness cannot fit and you feel the battle within yourself. It is nothing short of madness.
God WILL come for His sheep. He will either return with you on His shoulders rejoicing or give you over to the adversary.
Also, if you think "God loves me, but He loves everyone so what's special about that." I share how without a doubt how He loves YOU the person, with intimate and specific detail to who He created you to be.
Chapter E: Changing the Legacy and Walking in Pursuit of Holiness
Titus 3: 3-7 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
When we recall... we remember... where we once were, we’re reminded that fallen nature is not that far from us, and we need reminding to stay on course, we can ask for His help.
We have everything we need in Jesus - we only need to seek Him.
Chapter A: The Necessity of Forgiveness: choosing to deal with it over pushing it down
Is there an area in your life where you've been hurt or wronged, and you've pushed it down ... and yet it creeps up once in a while?
Jess shares gives part of her story of childhood abuse and rejection to share how God's word reveals:
- The necessity of forgiveness
- How we've been duped into thinking that withholding forgiveness makes us strong
- That behave as if forgiveness is a choice
- Withholding forgiveness causes US to suffer, not the offender
- The depth, majesty, and love God forgives us
Chapter B: The Benefits of Forgiving those that you can't understand how they could hurt you in such a terrible, ugly way
Is there someone in your life that has hurt you so terribly, that you can't even wrap your mind around how they could do this to you?
It doesn't have to be a dramatic offense to hurt deeply.
How do we genuinely get to a place where we can let it go? How do we prepare ourselves to deal with it?
- Forgiveness is strength - given to you by God, His strength
- In forgiving there's finally true, genuine freedom from the pain
- It doesn't matter anymore... can we get to a place where we can say "it wasn't okay what was done, but I'm letting it all go." (We'll separate forgiveness and trust in the next episode 5.c)
Chapter C: Discerning Forgiveness and Trust
Just because you forgive someone, should you also let them fully participate in your life as if nothing happened? How do you separate forgiving and forgetting?
In this episode we look at the definitions of forgiveness and trust, and explore the different ways we can genuinely obey God, trust Him and forgive and love others; even if it means from a distance.
Chapter D: The Rejoicing Father: Discovering once and for all God IS PERSONAL
Praying the most terrifying prayer of my life exposed my character and lead me slowly down a miserable road of disobedience.
When the Holy Spirit indwells you, the darkness cannot fit and you feel the battle within yourself. It is nothing short of madness.
God WILL come for His sheep. He will either return with you on His shoulders rejoicing or give you over to the adversary.
Also, if you think "God loves me, but He loves everyone so what's special about that." I share how without a doubt how He loves YOU the person, with intimate and specific detail to who He created you to be.
Chapter E: Changing the Legacy and Walking in Pursuit of Holiness
Titus 3: 3-7 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
When we recall... we remember... where we once were, we’re reminded that fallen nature is not that far from us, and we need reminding to stay on course, we can ask for His help.
We have everything we need in Jesus - we only need to seek Him.
Previous Episode
MiniSode 4.e: Advancing Forward in Faith: Our Faithful God
Perhaps instead of needing more faith, may we utilize the measure of faith we’ve been given, say by using our talents God has equipped us with.
There is another illustration of how we will be held accountable by putting faith in action by using the talents God has given. Jesus shares a parable in Matthew 25 beginning in vs 14.
The parable illustrates different levels of faithfulness with different amounts of talents, which a man had given each one of his slaves.
Let’s not miss a perhaps even greater truth here however. The parable is also saying, when we do possess a true saving faith, we will find a way to utilize what measure God has given to us. The wicked slave was not condemned for his failure to invest the talent, rather his lack of good works showed he lacked genuine saving faith.
Do we believe in God’s ability to move unmovable mountains?
That His Promises are for us to grab ahold of?
We can read them today, in 2020 in our bibles. We can read His will We can read His promises, We can hold them up and say Lord I read this and I believe this. "I trust You! You WILL fulfill your promise!"
WHO CARES about the obstacle?! WHo cares about the obstacles in your way? Is your God not greater? Did He not create ALL things? Even our greatest adversary, the devil, is God’s creation.
I often think “Lord WHO IS YOUR EQUAL CONTENDER?"
Why aren’t we getting fed up with this: There are enemies of your God - your PRECIOUS GOD Who loves you, died for you, gave His Son - most of us have a home, have some food and clothing. Has He been good to you? He’s certainly given me more than I deserve.
Why aren’t we angry, with a godly, heavenly fire over the injustice that’s being done in our lives by the adversary? Aren’t you tired of the chipping, the accusing the wearing down -... your enemy studies you and takes that chipping hammer to you and those you hold precious. He accuses you, and mocks your God. This should light a fire in us! Yet so many of us are hiding out in caves, waiting to be rescued and unwilling to fight.
Has God not given us His mighty armor?
His weapons of protection:
- His belt of truth- we are one of the fortunate ones to have direct and easy access to truth
- His helmet of salvation - it is a gift
- His breastplate of righteousness - another gift paid for with your Messiah’s blood
- His shoes for you - to spread the gospel in peace. They’re gripped for running swiftly or standing firm
- His shield of faith - another gift. Our faith is being worked out in us daily. I love a message from the late Dr. Walter Martin and it’s stuck with me so much that I pray this almost everyday if I remember: He said “Lord Jesus, You have said that You have conquered the world. I believe you. Therefore, conquer this day through me. Give to me the victory.
Give to me the measure of faith I need for TODAY. Nevermind tomorrow, nevermind next week - I might not be here. Give me the measure of faith I need for today.”
I love this prayer because it puts right now into frame. For today. I can do that. Furthermore it motivates me to seek Him again tomorrow to pray and ask for the same measure. He always generously blesses.
God is good at accomplishing His will. To view our problems with fresh eyes, new lenses, which are focused on the object of our faith, which is God - those mountains ;they won’t seem so big.
Verses Sighted:
Psalm 89
Exodus 23:22
1 Samuel 7:3, 14:9, 17:9, 20:21, 26:19
2 Samuel 15:25
1 Kings 18:21
Next Episode
![undefined - MiniSode 5.a: The Necessity of Forgiveness: choosing to deal with it over pushing it [the memories, the feelings] down](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/39d8d6e184ec4fc2a2c312ddc0a348522ef9262d028d51da668a827a2a5a2c35.avif)
MiniSode 5.a: The Necessity of Forgiveness: choosing to deal with it over pushing it [the memories, the feelings] down
Is there an area in your life where you've been hurt or wronged, and you've pushed it down ... and yet it creeps up once in a while?
Jess shares gives part of her story of childhood abuse and rejection to share how God teaches us:
- The necessity of forgiveness
- That we've been duped into thinking that withholding forgiveness makes us strong
- We behave as if forgiveness is a choice
- Withholding forgiveness causes US to suffer, not the offender
- The depth, majesty, and love God forgives us
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/seeking-holy-244194/episode-005-finding-strength-in-forgiveness-jess-testimony-27461713"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to episode 005: finding strength in forgiveness (jess' testimony) on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy