Forgiving Father … You are loving, merciful and so patient. I am rebellious and want my own way. I want things to go the way I think they should go, and how I think is best. I want to control and I want to be comfortable. I don’t want to surrender. I think I’m right … pretty much all the time.
Why is that? What is that all about? I say I love You. I say I trust You. I say You know best. Yet, I rebel. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
At the same time, I can’t use that as an excuse. Your Spirit, The Holy Spirit lives in me and the more time I spend with You, the more You rub off on me. I begin to change, The Holy Spirit transforms me. I become more loving. I give people a little more grace. I feel more compassionate and act less selfishly.
In life there is a lot of conflict and struggle; a lot of anger and selfishness. All this results in hurt. Your love covers it all. You did it by the cross, when Jesus was hung on the tree and then rose from the dead. In Jesus’ resurrection, we have the truth of forgiveness and reconciliation.
How can that play out in my life? How can I forgive more? How can I reconcile with the people and things with which I struggle? I think the answer is You. I think it’s spending more time with You, allowing You to change me; seeking You out … seeking space in my day to include You more in my life.
That way Your love, Your mercy, Your grace … Your gentleness, Your generosity, and patience embed themselves more and more into my being. Otherwise I’m living life white knuckling it, trying to do it in my own strength and power. I can do this for a while, but the time comes when I burn out.
The more I surrender to You, the more transformed I am, and the more naturally Your gifts of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness bubble out of me. It is then when I become more Christ like. Holy Spirit help me do that. Help me make more space in my life for You. Help me seek You.
In the Forgiving and Ever Faithful Name of Jesus I pray.
Amen.
