“Choosing to see life’s situations through the eyes of Jesus Christ will humble you.”
As I rushed to my phone and typed those exact words into google, my anger grew deeper, my ears radiated steam, I could not hear my thoughts, I was infuriated. I took a quick glance at the first devotion and scripture that popped up and I locked the screen of my phone. “I’m going for a walk to think this through,” I told myself. The walk started out heavy and I was so angry that tears began to collect in my eyes. I took a deep breath and acknowledged my anger. Yes I was angry. I felt betrayed. But I remembered what Joyce Meyer once said in a sermon, “When emotions subside, then decide.” I attempted to think this through in my mind but it was so overbearing that I had to make sense of this by speaking out loud. Of course I forgot my headphones so now I’m looking like a mad lady talking to someone when it was just me, but it wasn’t just me, Jesus was with me. He allowed me to express myself without interrupting and in expressing myself I answered so many questions I was going to ask Him beforehand. I took my phone back out to peek at the devotion I referenced earlier and it was Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The blogger expanded on this verse by saying, Jesus’s journey was full of false accusations but instead of operating from anger, he chose to forgive them. In that moment I knew I had to chose between anger or forgiveness.
God’s Holy Spirit
My walk drew into quietness after I finished expressing myself and acknowledging my emotions. I began to hear God speak in my thoughts. First he exposed me to my imperfections but with a graceful tone. He reminded me of the many times I wasn’t in the right or I falsely accused someone. I began to remember God’s sacrifice for me and the anger subsided. He reminded me that my initial response to this false accusation was from a carnal state of mind in which I operated from my own strength. I did not consult Christ first before approaching the person because “I thought” I was calm enough and strong enough to handle this matter with kindness and self control. I fooled myself. It was the complete opposite. But God handled me with grace even after that. To be completely transparent, I didn’t go into prayer before approaching the person because all I could think about was just getting to the bottom of the matter and how it would be a distraction to my time with God if I hadn’t gotten it out the way (I mean I had just opened my eyes and the attack happened so I hadn’t prayed nor began my study time with God yet). I was deceived and I limited God in His ability to bring me into a peaceful state of mind. Nevertheless, I was submerged in grace. I was reminded of Matthew 7:3-5 “’Why would you focus on the flaw in someone else’s life and fail to notice the glaring flaws of your own? How could you say to your friend, ‘Let me show you where you’re wrong,’ when you’re guilty of even more? You’re being hypercritical and a hypocrite! First acknowledge and deal with your own ‘blind spots,’ and then you’ll be capable of dealing with the ‘blind spot’ of your friend.” I had to remember the extent of God’s forgiveness for me and once I did, I began to think out of love.
Forgiveness is the drive to love
The moment I confessed with my mouth that I approached the matter wrong and stopped pointing fingers even though I was falsely accused, my heart grew wider in love for Christ, myself, and the other person. I accepted God’s forgiveness, and I accepted His grace to help me forgive myself for the way I reacted. Forgiveness wasn’t that bad after all. It was lighter than carrying around the weight I felt when I was angry. Forgiveness caused me to see the light of love in which drove Christ to die for us. Forgiveness caused me to die to my pride and yield myself to humility. I was humbled out of love.
Application
By the time I had reached the front door, Christ and I had a gameplan we worked through together.
- Always seek God’s counsel first. No matter what you think or feel needs to be done or said, go and sit at His heart. “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
- Remember this is not the first nor the last time you will be falsely accused but be reminded you will be forgiven according to how you forgive. “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
- Remember our warfare is not of this world. Don’t allow what you see become the target, it’s always deeper than the person or thing you are hyper focused on. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
- Not every situation needs to be addressed. Silence is power. “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.” Matthew 27:12
Prayer
Dear Dad,
Thank you for showing up in my careless mistake. Thank you for being my safe space and the place of refuge I came to hide in my distress. Because you handled me with grace and love, I eagerly sought to make amends with the other person. I saw no right or wrong, I saw your love. Thank you for exposing me to the impurities that lie within myself, disciplining and correcting me by way of your Word and Holy Spirt. I thank God for Jesus Christ on today, Amen.
