Forgivness #2 - My Own Prison

This Sunday I shared how many of us live in a prison of our own making.
This prison has a name, it’s called “UN-FORGIVENESS”.
This unforgiveness can be because we have not forgiven others, we have not forgiven ourselves or we have not sought out God’s forgiveness.

Unforgiveness can become a dark and deadly prison. The longer we choose to not address the sin in our lives, run for giving or receiving forgiveness the darker the cell or cage becomes. For many people these prison becomes more intense and dangerous as we begin to “self-medicate” ourselves because we can’t deal with the pain and truth of unforgiveness. Rather that face the issue head on we settle for momentary “high” to numb the pain, distract us from the real issue. We “self-medicate” in so many ways, some more dangerous than others. Sex, drugs, alcohol, food, movies , TV, etc. Anything that creates a false sense of happiness, but in the end only numbs us to the real pain of the sin.

This self made prison of unforgiveness kills not only us, but radically effects those around us. The side effects of a “self-medicate” life can be, divorce, loss of Job, anger, bitterness, rage, depression, and suicide. And the tragic thing is that we have no one to blame but ourselves. Because we have chosen a life of unforgiveness of some kind.

King Saul had a tormenting spirit come upon him as he avoided dealing with his sin and other life issues. He choose to not seek forgiveness and he spun out of control. Young David, tried to sooth King Saul by playing the harp (self-medicate). It didn’t work. The bitterness, rage, anger, hatred, self-worth side effects only got worse. How sad... it never had to be that way. Freedom was Saul’s if only he had faced his sin, worked through the forgiveness issues and restored the relationships in his life.

This self made prison of unforgiveness is made by us and our chooses... not someone else. Stop blaming others for your addictions and nasty attitudes and behaviors. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul gives great action steps to freeing ourselves from this prison of unforgiveness.

Philippians 4:8-9
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

The Keys are in your hands...do you want freedom.... start by addressing the sin in your live.
Look in the mirror and get real.
Then “fix your thoughts” on the truth.... God’s truth. You are loved, you are forgiven, your of value, etc. Start looking for the good in life, rather the dark lies of the enemy.
Then “Practice” what God has taught you. Really, follow Jesus Christ and how he lived, loved, and forgave. His was a life of truth and grace. A wide open adventure... not a dark prison.
And if you are “self-medicating”, get help today. Be honest before you really explode.

Rather than, anger, bitterness, rage, you will finally know God’s peace.

The choose is yours.... the keys are in your hands... what will you choose to do?