Keeping a Heart of Forgiveness
I invite you to come out of your cave of seclusion, open up your heart to walk with me, beside the still waters for a refreshing change of heart.
Forgiveness is impossible within ourselves. It is a supernatural happening that can only be performed by The Holy Spirit at our request.
We are constantly in the process of walking in Calvary love and forgiveness as we face changes one day at a time.
I recently prophesied about Change, and the many faces of Change that we all experience, I have also shared many times that change that many refer to as Transition brings Transfer.
True Transformation takes place in the spirit as we pass through many stages of truth that bring us to transfers of wealth, position, location as well as purpose. And so it is a continuing process as we move forward in life.
We experience changes as we grow in HIM and reach maturity.
So today, I would like to expound on a Truth of Transformation that takes place when sudden, or unexpected change, reveals what is really inside of us.
So often the trials and tribulations of changes are revealing any sin or any imperfection that remains in our heart. For we do not know our own heart.
We are coming through a time when The LORD is exposing many works of the flesh including rebellion and pride that have produced much division.
A few days ago, in the still of the night, the voice of The LORD spoke, I heard, “Acceleration and Advancement time is here, but many have some unfinished business that must take place before they are ready for their desired elevation to come up on higher ground.”
I AM speaking about the need for deep forgiveness from the heart.
It is vital to understand forgiveness has nothing to do with feelings and everything to do with Obedience.
The first step of forgiveness is an act of your will to be willing, and obedient, out of your heart of Love for the one who forgave you.
There are many steps to walking out the forgiveness God requires ‘from the heart’. Heart is the word here for the spirit or inner man.
So it is from your spirit that you must forgive your brother.
I have experienced this teaching many times when someone keeps doing something over and over the ‘offends’ me and The LORD has taught me to walk this out many times until my heart was totally submitted to Calvary forgiveness.
Let’s look at Matthew 18:21-35 TPT,
“Later Peter approached Jesus and said, “How many times do I have to forgive my fellow believer who keeps offending me? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven times! The lessons of forgiveness in heaven’s kingdom realm can be illustrated like this: “There once was a king who had servants who had borrowed money from the royal treasury. He decided to settle accounts with each of them. As he began the process, it came to his attention that one of his servants owed him one billion dollars. So he summoned the servant before him and said to him, ‘Pay me what you owe me.’ When his servant was unable to repay his debt, the king ordered that he be sold as a slave along with his wife and children and every possession they owned as payment toward his debt.
The servant threw himself face down at his master’s feet and begged for mercy. ‘Please be patient with me. Just give me more time and I will repay you all that I owe.’ Upon hearing his pleas, the king had compassion on his servant, and released him, and forgave his entire debt. “No sooner had the servant left when he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him twenty thousand dollars He seized him by the throat and began to choke him, saying, ‘You’d better pay me right now everything you owe me!’ His fellow servant threw himself face down at his feet and begged, ‘Please be patient with me. If you’ll just give me time, I will repay you all that is owed.’ But the one who had his debt forgiven stubbornly refused to forgive what was owed him. He had his fellow servant thrown into prison and demanded he remain there until he repaid the debt in full. “When his associates saw what was going on, they were outraged and went to the king and told him the whole story. The king said to him, ‘You scoundrel! Is this the way you respond to my mercy? Because you begged me, I forgave you the massive debt that you owed me. Why didn’t you show the same mercy to your fellow servant that I showed to you?’ In a fury of anger, the king turned him over to the prison guards to be tortured until all his debt was repaid. In this same way, my heavenly Father will deal with any of you if you do not release forgiveness from your heart toward your fellow believer.” Matthew 18:21-35 TPT
We have only two choices when someone does us wrong or wounds us:
1: To forgive willingly or
2: To harden our heart.
If we choose to harden our heart, we must realize there is a price to pay for unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness builds a wall between us and The LORD. It produces bitterness that defiles many.
We must let go of offenses and release the debt we feel is owed to us. Remember, Jesus paid a debt HE did not owe. You owed a debt you could not pay.
Beloved, Forgiveness is just not an option. But we do have a choice. The LORD Himself is the one who turns a believer over to the enemy to be tormented until the believer is willing to forgive his brother.
If we continue to allow our feelings to arise and the offense to remain in our heart, each time we see the person that keeps repeating the offense, we are denying the price that Jesus paid.
It is a walk of love to forgive. We must walk out of our flesh and remain fixed in our spirit until we have walked forgiveness all the way to the cross and can demonstrate Calvary Love.
Indeed, we must guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it flows all the issues of life.
“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 TPT.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 KJV
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Lets look at an example of fear. When The LORD is revealing the spirit of fear, He says, ‘I have not given you a spirit of fear, but LOVE, POWER, and a SOUND MIND.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
The process of a heart being changed from fear to The Fear of The LORD, is a process of being delivered from the very spirit of fear, in order to fully embrace the Fear of The LORD.
It requires renewing the mind, receiving The Power of God, and allowing His love to fill your heart.
As His love fills our heart, it strips away all the fake facades that posed as love and takes away the conditions and limitations we placed on love and the many conditions we required of others to meet.
I keep hearing The LORD say, “I desire to tear down every wall that you have built around your heart to protect yourself from hurt and pain, for I AM taking you to a deeper place in Me.
The purity of My Love shall cleanse and purify the motives of your heart. This deeper experience will fill you and carry you forth with a love beyond the limitations of your emotions and all your superficial dreams for My Love is beyond your imagination.
Beloved, My Enduring Love has no end, and it can only be found in me in The Secret Place.
I AM calling you to a new Hiding Place of deeper intimacy that is all you need,” says The Love of your Life who came to give you Life Abundant!
As I was training for inner healing counseling, I took a correspondence counseling course by Dr Bruce Thompson who developed a counseling ministry at YWAM’s University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii that grew into the College of Counseling and Health Care.
The course was about the ‘Walls of My Heart’. I now realize that was the beginning of my healing and my call to write about the heart since Proverbs 4:23 states that the most vital issues of life arise out of the heart.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
~ Sandi Holman
Sandi Holman was called to the nations as an End-Time Handmaiden in 1984 with Gwen Shaw and served with YWAM Singapore and YWAM Charlotte in missions. Sword of The LORD Ministries came from a divine encounter with The LORD when He came into her prayer room and said, “I have come to put a sword in your hand and was given special instructions on how and when to use it.” She is an author, Prophetic Intercessor and Seer, Chaplain, Teacher, Speaker and Equipper, and Blogger who has also served as a Pastor Online with Beyond the Veil Ministries.
This is sooo beautiful and potent! Thank you, Sandi!
Jeannine
Jeannine, THank you so much for your input of encouragement. Unconditional forgiveness is so potent! xoxo Sandi
Louisa, Forgive as an act of your will in obedience. Then ask the Lord to heal the hurts. Father, I pray for Louisa now that as she walks out her choice to love like you love and say, Father forgive them, they know not what they do, remove the pain of yesterday. Father, please erase the hurtful damaging words from her memory bank. Today, I apply the blood of Jesus for healing of her memory. Where there has been a wound, fill it with your love in Jesus name. Blessings to you, Sandi Holman
Dear Sandi,
This word is so powerful and timely for me. I have been devastated by life choices and long years of unforgiveness and bitterness. God is showing me my heart and motives. I am seeing some fruit, choosing to forgive or be willing to forgive those who have hurt me the most. And doors that seemed forever shut are starting to open to allow me to tell them I forgive them and ask their forgiveness. How do I get healing in my heart for all the guilt, feelings of worthlessness, rejection and failure? This is a hard thing to find when I don’t know the way forward. But I believe as I am willing and obedient, God will show me somehow and find a way to restore. Thank you for these words.
Mark, that is so good. It is first an act of obedience. It is then walking it out I will be praying for you for inner healing. You must as an act of your will forgive yourself and apply the blood of Jesus to yourself for healing. Also let go of the past and do not look back because the Lord wiped the slate clean and the going forward, choose to embrace Calvary forgiveness. If you would like to send me your email address to journeyofaheart@outlook.com, I will be glad to send you something I believe will help you. He is rejoicing with you and will restore what the enemy has stolen. You are so welcome. Thank you for your poured out heart of repentance. It is so encouraging. Many blessings, Sandi Holman
Amen!
Many thanks 黄怡静 for those amens of agreement. Blessings to you, Sandi
YES, Amen.
Sandi, I have been and continue to be, abused. This is a good word.
Dear Sally, It brings joy to my heart that you received this word. I will be praying for you for healing and deliverance from all abuse. Sincerely, Sandi Holman
A most powerful Word Sandi! Your heart is sure sharing some deep treasures of the Father’s heart.
Got some things to catch up with you later on… we need a time to talk.
I love you much my friend and sister. Praying many blessings from the throne room. Joyce
Thanks so much dear Joyce. Talk soon. Love you! Sandi
Hello my friend, Joyce. I have been digging deep in my own lessons learned as I write my book and of course, FORGIVENESS..true Calvary forgiveness is right at the top of the list. I appreciate your deep encouragement. We will talk soon. So much love to you, Sandi
After forgiveness do we keep putting our self in the way of the abuser? Or do we avoid the abuser? If we avoid the abuser, does this mean we have not forgiven?
This question has caused me so much confusion! The abusers that I face are not believers. Do I keep putting myself in their way for more abuse? or do I just forgive from my heart? I want to do this right.
Good question. I believe I can help you. See above. Send me your email address or contact #. Blessings, Sandi
Rl, I would like to pray with you and help you as you walk it out. Do you have an email address you could give me so I can send you something helpful? if so, please, answer here and I will contact you soon. Sandi
I am uncomfortable giving my email for everyone to see. I’m not sure what else I can do.
RL..send me a private email and I will be glad to help you with deeper understanding. My email is journeyofaheart@outlook.com. I will not pass your information to anyone. Blessings Sandi.
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for the word. How do we know we have really forgiven someone if the hurts and pain are still there. If we remember the hurtful words…How to put an end to it?
Thanks
Good morning Louisa, You are so welcome. If you have an email address, please send it to me and I will contact you to pray and I would like to send you something. Blessings, Sandi Holman
是的,求主怜悯,我相信你是我信实的天父上帝。我乐意让我生命倾倒予你耶稣。阿们。
[ HKP : Google Translate : “Yes, please have mercy, I believe you are my faithful Father God. I am happy to pour my life out on you Jesus. Amen.” ]
Thank you 黄怡静 for your input, Your humble heart is so pleasing to the Father, Many blessings, Sandi