I have been pondering "resolutions" for the upcoming year. Its kind of hard to do when your children are sliding down the staircase in pillowcases screaming like banshees...but I don't really have to think too hard. I have decided to do everything my friend Kelli does! I read through her resolutions this afternoon and I have been thinking about them since then. She "said" all the things I desire to do and be, especially about being a Godly wife.
The thing that stuck with me most was this verse...
{...forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14}
One of the hardest things for me to do is forget the past, to forget about how I have been wronged. Even as I type the words I can see how selfish it sounds. Although I feel like I am justified in my anger and hurt, I know I am not handling it in a biblical way. I react to things in the here and now instead of looking forward and upward and looking at the "big picture".
{ Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many (Hebrews 12:14,15). }
{ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:31,32). }
{ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (I Peter 2:23). }
{ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14,15). }
Lord help me to remember these verses in the next couple of days as issues are being resolved!
And thank you Kelli for your biblical insight...it is God's providence that you have these types of posts when I need them the most. I look forward to stealing more ideas from you in the future! ;)
