The Grudge

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  Mark 11:25, 26

Most of us have heard the story about how the Grinch tried to steal Christmas. Let me introduce you to my Grudge, this spirit of unforgiveness that I’ve repeatedly allowed to steal my joy and freedom in Christ.

I ran into my Grudge again just the other day. She has often interrupted my thoughts and robbed me of my peace of mind. Like an old friend from the past, I seemed unable to forget about her. I had often picked her up out of the gutter, nursed and rehearsed her until I was left just as filthy and defiled as she was. The longer I held on to her, the bigger she became until she had sucked all the joy right out of me!

Do you have a pet grudge that you continually recall, the one you nurse and rehearse, thus keeping it alive to harass you yet another day? In a sick way it may even give you a temporary sense of pleasure as you remind yourself of the pain it caused you and the injustice of it all. Did you know you can kill it once and for all by giving it a big dose of FORGIVENESS? If it continues to come back, keep giving it dose after dose until it is totally dead and gone. You will then be forgiven by your heavenly Father, free from the misery, resentment, bitterness and bondage of it.

Unforgiveness is a cruel taskmaster; it is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. Taking offense and holding on to a grudge is one of Satan’s favorite ways of blinding and stumbling us.

We are never more like Christ than when we forgive.

Jesus, thank You that while we were yet sinners You demonstrated Your own love for us in order for us to receive Your forgiveness for our trespasses. May we freely forgive those who have trespassed against us. Amen.