What “Forgive” has Taught Me

 

Last year, I chose, as my Word of The Year, the word "forgive" (and its allied words). This choice was very interesting for me.

I discovered a Facebook group that kept me ‘on target’ with my word. In the past, I wrote about my word in the fall of the year. By joining this group, I had to blog about my word every month. This practice helped me keep my word to the forefront of my heart and mind.

I found myself asking for God’s forgiveness quite often. I’d mess up and immediately find myself saying, “Forgive me, Lord”.

I also found I became more forgiving toward others. I find myself being less judgmental about things others do that I do not understand.

God has taught me so much during this past year. For that I am very thankful.

The concept of choosing a word to focus on and apply to our lives replaces the practice of making resolutions which no one seemed able to keep.

I will announce my word for 2024 in January. My decision about this word was rather difficult. However, I know it will reach me what God knows I need.

I believe I will keep the practice of choosing a word a year to focus on as long as I am able.

John the Baptist

 

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Bible Blender

 

            In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of      heaven is near.” That is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah. Matthew 3:1-3a (NIV)

 

John the Baptist was what we today call an itinerant preacher. The prophet Isaiah described him as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the LORD.’”

 

John told the people to repent, to turn away from sin and not return to those ways.

 

During the wandering of the Israelites, they would stop doing things that God did not like but they always seemed to fall back in their sinful ways.

 

When they closely followed God, things went well. However, when the Israelites fell into sin and did not follow God’s ways, their collective life was in torment. A former Sunday school teacher made the analogy of a roller coaster ride—they followed God, all things went well; they disobeyed God and all things did not go well at all.

 

As a people, we face difficulties at every turn. Nothing happens in our world that gets accepted by a vast majority of us.

 

We must trust the LORD and wait patiently for Him to act. We also must prepare our hearts for Him to use us according to His will.