Forgiving

The art of forgiving is a spiritual grace every Christian should develop. Because this is so difficult to put into practice, Roy L. Smith offers the following suggestions:

1) Begin by assuring yourself that compared to Christ's suffering you haven't been seriously wronged at all.

2) Recall the many kind deeds that have been shown to you, perhaps even by the person who has harmed you.

3) List the benefits you have received from the Lord.

4) Thank Him for blessing you with His love and forgiveness each day.

5) Make an honest effort to pray for the one who has injured you.

6) Go even further by looking for an opportunity to help him.

7) If the offense is especially hard to forget, try to erase the memory by thinking gracious and generous thoughts.

8) Finally, before you fall asleep at night, repeat slowly and thoughtfully that phrase from the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

You may find that this is sometimes easier said then done. But with time and and the Lords help it will happen.

Humility

Is it just me or does humility seem to be a lost art? The Apostle Paul in his letters articulates humility, but it seems to be absent today in the Lords church. Even meny "men of God" seem to have forgotten what humility is, Let alone the world.

Lets look at three descriptions Paul has of himself in his writing;

I am the least of the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:9

I am the very least of all the saints. Ephesians 3:8

I am the foremost of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

With each description Paul seems to be a little harsher on himself. I can't help but think that as he grows in the Lord the more humble he became. The Bible is full of humble men bowing down before God. A Godly heart is one that bows down in humility and rises up in praise to a risen Savior.