"SURRENDERING RESENTMENT"
By Evangelist Diana Gray
Copyrighted (c) 2000, 2001, 2002 All Rights Reserved
 KJV Bible For All Scripture

     A special area of needed healing is that of hurting, inner emotions stemming from past memories.  Scripture calls bruised past emotions as well as physical and moral weaknesses, "infirmities." 
Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 

     When people blame others, by not taking the responsibility for their own actions, than they are hindered spiritually. Taking responsibility for one's actions is so very important.  You see this means that you have to take responsibility for things that have happened to you, by swallowing your pride.  It's hard to set your pride aside.  Without doing so, you will never get beyond the faults and failures that have occurred during your lifetime.  You will never be able to spiritually grow to a deeper level, without humbling your pride.  Pride hinders spiritual growth and keeps us from truly seeing the Lord. 
     Every time you fail it will set up a wall between you and the Lord.  You will always blame others for your failings and never learn from your mistakes.  Oh, you might be able to mentally acknowledge the errors, but emotional denial is close at hand.  You might say to yourself, "why should I take the blame when I can pass it onto someone else.  It comes down to carnal selfish sin.  Sin of selfishness and unforgiveness.  Sinful pride goes hand in hand with selfishness and unforgiveness.  Remember this, no matter how hard or easy, you pass the responsibility for what happened onto someone else, God knows you are responsible for your own actions.  One can never hide the true facts to an all seeing, all hearing God.  It's far better to judge yourself first before the Lord has to judge you. 

     Matthew 7:2-5 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 

      First a person must evaluate themselves to see if they have any sins.  Upon first glance maybe hidden sins of unforgiveness don't show up.  It is so easy to see our brother's sins before we can notice our own.  If someone hurts you, ask yourself this question, "Am I holding the sin of unforgiveness towards my brother or sister? Do I need to let go of their sin against me because I am no better than they are with my sin of unforgiveness?"  Be sure your sins will find you out!

     Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 

     Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 

     Good things shall be withheld from you when you judge your brother of his sins against you, when you don't take the time to notice your own sins.  Unforgiveness is a terrible thing to have and contributes to a lot of sicknesses.  How many times does a person have to have an upset stomach to make them realize holding grudges only makes yourself sick.  Revenge is better left up to the Lord. Our job is to pray for those who hate us.  Love them in spite of what they have done to us.

     Romans 12:19-21 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

     Instead of trying to repay one bad hurt for another hurt, we need to repay with love and kindness.  Hard, yes but you can do it when you strive to see people through the eyes of Jesus full of love and compassion.  Real love requires all of our efforts and sacrifice.  Everything we have to give like money, time, our pride, and personal involvement to help the other person.  By putting the other person's needs ahead of our own we walk with a humble attitude.  I am not saying to be a doormat letting people walk all over you but I am saying to turn the other check and leave revenge to the Lord.  I have lived a long time and I can tell you from experience that God can take better revenge on someone than you ever though possible.  People in life really don't get away hurting others without themselves reaping the benefits. "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good!"
     Don't pretend to love and forgive people with a false display, but in reality love them with honesty and purity of heart.  You may as well be real because God sees your heart no matter what you do.  Be first honest with yourself, and then honest with others.  A person can only act phony just so long before their true feelings express them self.  What is hidden in your heart will come out of your mouth sooner or later.  A person can only hide what's in their heart just so long.  True motives and true feelings will be expressed sooner or later.
     Another word about resentment, throw the words, "if only" out of your vocabulary.  The "if only" he had said this or done that, I wouldn't have had this problem.  "If only" this happened or that! Speaking the "if only" plays right into the devils hands.  Satan wants you to live and stay in past resentment and regrets. 
     Let me ask you this question, can you ever go back and change anything that has happened in the past?  What about the last hour? You can't can you?  You can never go back and redo or relieve the past.  Our memories are only memories of the past from a few minutes to a many years ago.  The "if only" do nothing but bring emotional pain into your heart from something you can no longer change or redo.  Asking the Lord to help you accept what has happened, forgive you for your part if there needs to be any forgiveness, and move on.  You can't (really) totally forget the past, but you can move on in the present with hope in your heart for a brighter tomorrow. Eternity will be so wonderful without all of the mistakes and pain of this life and when we have Jesus in our hearts, we have hope for a happier tomorrow.
     Sometimes you meet someone who acts and moves just like someone in your past that hurt you.  How do you react towards that person?  Loving and kind or irritated and anointed with them?  If you are acting frustrated and irritated easily with them then you need to look into your heart and ask yourself if maybe you haven't truly forgiven that person. 
    Someone who acts, looks or reminds you of the other person is innocent of anything that happened in your past no matter how much they seem to resemble the person who hurt you.  Treat them with all of the compassion and real love that you can.  The more they remind you of the other person in your painful memory, the more you need to show them your love and compassion.  In a way, (where your feelings are concerned) you will "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good!" Bless your heart with healing forgiveness, by blessing others.

     Genesis 50:50:18-21 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. 

     When something happens that we perceive a evil, the Lord can mean it for good.  After we pray, we have to leave it in the Lord's hands.  Forgiveness, and surrendering resentment comes when you start blessing the other person with health, happIness and a good life.  The greatest thing that you can do when you feel resentment towards that person, is to pray that the Lord brings salvation into their life.  Seeing them in Heaven will in the end, bring greater joy to your heart.  You see in Heaven those who hurt you will love you with all the love they have to give.  Everyone in Heaven will only feel love towards one another.  Surrendering your resentment now will bring emotional healing and comfort to your special heart. 
     You didn't like what happened and it was uncomfortable at the time, but through the wisdom of the Lord you did learn something from it.  God is a God of positives, (not negatives) and there with the Lord's help, was something positive that came out of what happened.  If you haven't seen anything good, then ask the Lord to reveal it to your heart.  Ask Him to show you His goodness and mercy trough the whole experience.  After you have asked the Lord, sit back and allow Him to reveal His wisdom and purpose in His time.  He will when He knows you are ready to receive the truth into your heart.  For some people the answer will come swiftly and for others several years.  Be assured you will have your final answers in Heaven.  The main thing is to strive to move on with your life trusting in the Lord to be with you. 

    2  Corinthians12:8-10 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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