Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to forgive like God forgives us

Grace Even When We’re Rotten or Mean
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”—Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Have you ever done something rotten, mean, or insulting to someone else and you felt certain they would never speak to you again?

Recently, we put claw caps on all three of our cats. They have been clawing our furniture to shreds in spite of the many cat scratching posts and catnip we provide. Nothing worked. Finally, I asked the vet what we should do, and she suggested claw caps, which are caps that you put on your cat’s claws to prevent them from scratching. This sounds like a great idea in theory, but our cats already despise having their nails clipped. We knew this would be a stressful situation.

So, on Saturday we all sat down to do this as a team effort—me, my husband, and two of our kids. We got it done, but it was a grueling ordeal, one I hope never to deal with again … except we’re supposed to do this every month from here on out. Our cats were so upset over what they endured that they all ran off to hide somewhere in our home, and I didn’t see them for a couple of hours.

Later that afternoon, when I saw them sleeping on the screened-in patio, I decided to approach them. Carefully I stepped outside and bid them hello, gently holding out my hand. And what do you know? They all came right over and rubbed up against me! All was forgiven, and we were back to normal. I was pleasantly surprised and frankly really touched that they didn’t seem to hold a grudge.

As I walked back into the house, it occurred to me that this is exactly the way God treats us. We mess up, fall out of alignment with him, sin in big ways and small, and sometimes without ever meaning to. We create trauma and strife on a spiritual level. And yet God forgives us … over and over again. No matter what.

It’s astounding! Sometimes we do really rotten things, too—things that hurt God, things that hurt other people or ourselves (which, make no mistake, also hurts God). Yet when we repent, it’s all instantly washed away. We are forgiven. It doesn’t stop there, of course. We’re supposed to pass that same forgiveness on. Just as we have been forgiven, we’re supposed to forgive others. We’re not supposed to hold grudges or put up walls but instead offer perfect forgiveness in the spirit of agape love, just as God has done to us.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean someone in an abused relationship is supposed to go back to their abuser. Boundaries and self-protection are important, and we are beloved by God. But in our hearts, we can forgive wrongs that were done to us. We can move on and not hold things against that person forever and ever.

Just as my cats endured at my hands what they felt was probably wrong, they forgave me and moved on. That’s what God, our Heavenly Father, does for us. What a beautiful gift that is! What a joy that our past and our wrongdoings no longer define us.

If you are holding a grudge against someone else, set it down. Forgive and move on. It’s not optional—Jesus Christ commanded us to do this. As He said in the Sermon on the Mount: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).

Likewise, if you are holding on to your own past or recent sins that you confessed and repented of, but you just can’t seem to forgive yourself … if you are still beating yourself up, certain God could never forgive of a wretch like you, that your sins and your situation are somehow “different”, take heart. Know that God extends grace, and that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus when we repent and believe (Romans 8:38-39).

Amen, and thanks be to God!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the extravagant, wildly generous, completely loving grace and mercy that you extend to me and to all of your children. We don’t deserve it, but you give it anyway. Help me have the strength to forgive myself and forgive others in that same spirit of grace and mercy. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Forgiveness (Live)” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Your Love Is Extravagant” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Her Christian contemporary novel, The Memory Garden, released this Spring 2025. Book two in the series releases this Fall 2025. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: How to know if you've truly forgiven someone

Have You Truly Forgiven?
A devotional by Joyce M. Averils

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

I truly thought I had forgiven my friend.

We had been close for over 20 years. Even though we lived in different states, we stayed connected with long phone calls, encouraging texts, and making it a point to see each other at least once a year.

But everything changed a little over a year ago. She shared a personal confidence of mine with several people—something I had trusted her to keep private. When I confronted her, trying to express how deeply betrayed I felt, she brushed it off. “It wasn’t a big deal,” she said. “You just need to get over it.”

But it was a big deal to me. And in that moment, our friendship dissolved. We stopped speaking. So, I did what I knew to do—I prayed. I asked the Lord to help me forgive her. I believed He had answered my prayer. I thought I had moved on. Then one day, I heard about a wonderful blessing she had received. And instead of feeling happy for her, my first thought was, “How could she get that after what she did to me?”

Immediately, the Holy Spirit convicted me. If I had truly forgiven her, why was I keeping score? Why was I weighing her worthiness? Who am I to decide whether someone deserves God’s goodness? The truth hit hard: I was still holding on to unforgiveness. And that is sin. Maybe you’ve been there too.

Have you ever replayed a confrontation in your mind, imagining how you’d say things differently, setting the record straight? Have you secretly felt satisfied when something negative happened to the person who wronged you? Or, like me, have you been shocked when God blessed them, wondering how He could pour out His favor on someone who hurt you?

These are the quiet, subtle signs that we haven’t extended true forgiveness. And Jesus Christ made it clear: forgiveness isn’t optional. Why do we forgive? Because God forgave us. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32 (NIV), “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” None of us stand righteous before God apart from His grace. We have been forgiven more than we could ever repay. And just as God extended mercy to us, He calls us to extend it to others. Remember: Forgiving everyone is not a suggestion, it is a command from God.

Let’s read what Jesus says about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV): Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Peter wanted a limit – a boundary where he could say, “That’s enough.” But Jesus made it clear: true forgiveness isn’t about keeping count. It’s about a heart of grace.

It’s also important to remember that carrying unforgiveness has consequences. Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV) reminds us that, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

This is one of the hardest truths in Scripture. Unforgiveness doesn’t just affect our relationships with others. It also affects our relationship with God. Holding onto bitterness blocks us from experiencing the fullness of His grace.

I’d like to address the misconception about forgiveness. Too often, we wait for an apology. We want the person who hurt us to acknowledge their wrongdoing, to understand the pain they caused, and to ask for forgiveness. But here’s the thing: God forgave us without demanding anything in return. That’s what grace is all about. Romans 5:8 (NIV) says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Before we repented. Before we asked for mercy. Before we could even see the depth of our sin, He forgave us.

So, if we require something from the person who wronged us before we forgive them, then we don’t really understand grace. But how do we truly forgive?

First, acknowledge the hurt. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t happen. Jesus never minimized sin. He acknowledged it but chose to forgive anyway.

Next, surrender it to God. Let go of the desire to see justice done your way. Trust that God is the ultimate judge.

Then, pray for them. It’s hard to stay bitter toward someone when you’re genuinely praying for their well-being. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies because prayer changes our hearts, too.

Also, release the scorecard. Stop keeping track of offenses. If you’re still tallying the wrongs, you haven’t truly let them go.

Finally, remember who you are. You are a recipient of God’s mercy. And if you’ve been forgiven, how can you not extend the same grace?

Forgiveness is not about excusing wrong behavior. It’s not about letting people continue to hurt you. But it is about freeing your heart from the weight of bitterness. That’s what the Holy Spirit reminded me about my friend. So, I confessed my sin with a heart of real forgiveness this time. My friend and I are still not besties like before, but we’re speaking again. And I can honestly say that I have forgiven her because Jesus died for her just as much as He died for me.

If you’re still holding on to unforgiveness for someone who hurt you, release it. Let it go. Walk in freedom because when we truly forgive everyone, we reflect the heart of Christ.

Let’s Pray: Lord, You have forgiven me for so much. Who am I not to forgive others? Help me to forgive those who hurt me. Help me to extend the same grace to them that You have extended to me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Joyce M. Averils is an attorney by education and a retired judge who currently works as a Life Purpose and Business Empowerment Coach. 

She attended the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and Social Sciences, with a concentration in Political Science in May 1981. Upon graduation from the University, she attended The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where she graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in June 1984. Joyce was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November of 1984.

During her legal career, she served as the legal advisor for an episode of the American television program “Designing Women”. She also successfully argued a zoning case before the Georgia Supreme Court.

Today, she is the founder of Averils Omnimedia, LLC. It includes Her RICH Coaching where she helps high-achieving women of faith create a purpose-aligned life and business through coaching programs, workshops, and retreats. She recently launched 26th & Alden Paper Design House which will release its first paper product in early 2025.

Joyce believes that God created women to accomplish the extraordinary by living their purpose, calling, and assignment. He has chosen every woman to fulfill a calling that is hers alone. And if she does not answer that calling, then that work will never be done. Joyce knows that there are people who are waiting for help that only God can give and only God can use His people to help each other. Joyce believes that we are called by God to help each other. She wants to answer that call and inspire others to answer it too so we can be of service to God.

Her life verse is John 17:4 (NIV), “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” In addition to being an entrepreneur, Joyce currently serves as the Associate Teaching Director for the Community Bible Study International class in Georgetown, SC.

Joyce makes her home on the coast of South Carolina.

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Connect with Joyce:
Website: www.herrichlife.com
Facebook Ministry: www.facebook.com/groups/thepurposealignedwoman
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/coachlabforaspiringchristianwomencoaches
Facebook: www.facebook.com/@HerRichLife
Instagram: www.instagram.com/herrichlife
Email address: joyce@herrichlife.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ paid for your sins so you can be free

Free from the Sins of my Youth
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever had a nightmare that stayed with you?

My dream that night felt like reality. In it, I came face-to-face someone from my past, someone who had deeply wronged me, though in truth, I had wronged them as well. When I awakened, I couldn’t stop thinking about that time in my life, beating myself up for all the ways I had erred and gone astray. The “if onlys” swirled … if only I had chosen this instead of that or done that instead of this.

I struggled all morning, consumed by memories. One memory edged into the next, and soon I found myself going back over my life, all the way from my childhood until now, thinking about the mistakes I’d made over the years. Shame washed over me. Stones, large and small, accumulated. I felt like a piece of garbage as one by one I owned those mistakes, many of them long forgotten. After all, I had been willful—and haven’t we all?

I squeezed my eyes shut. There was nothing I could do about any of this now, in spite of my regret. All I could do was own up, acknowledge my wrongdoing, and apologize, though I knew nothing I could say would fix anything. God, I’m sorry, my soul cried out. Truly, I’m sorry.

The balm of God’s peace blanketed me. And in a flash, I remembered that extravagant, almost unbelievable truth: I’m covered! My mistakes are forgiven! Even if I do feel like a piece of garbage for having made those mistakes, in the eyes of God, I’m redeemed. And it’s all because of Jesus Christ—only because of Jesus. Because of Jesus, I’m washed clean. There’s no regret or repentance or sacrifice I can make strong or deep enough to apologize or make right any wrongs I’ve ever done in my life. It’s only because of Jesus that these wrongs are made right, that my sin-debt is paid. What mercy.

It’s the same for all of us. Perhaps you have experienced this, too, that weight of guilt and anguish when you remember certain ways you went wrong in the past. It doesn’t matter how “bad” it was, or how it stacks up when compared to others. Lying and selfishness are every bit as awful as murder in the eyes of the Lord, and one sin is just as horrible as twenty. When we finally get to that point of owning up and realizing how wrong we were, it’s like a knife to the chest. How could I have done that? Who was that person?

Yet we know the truth: No matter how bad, how wrong, or how ugly, Jesus washes us clean. Our belief and our repentance are the first step, but he’s the real savior.

Now, my heart is settled, for I know I’m forgiven. Even if I have a bad dream every night for the rest of my life, every day I have the chance to wake up and remember that beautiful truth all believers can experience: through Jesus, we’re forgiven.

But I ask you: Where are you with the weight of your own past sins? Are you worn down by pain and regret, beating yourself up? Or are you living the liberated and joyful life God has provided, free now to do all the wonderful things God has in store for you to bring about his kingdom here on earth? I hope it’s the latter.

It is OK to experience the occasional regret when you recall way that you went astray. We’re all human. But here’s the thing—Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). Picking up our cross means embracing our struggles and temptations, our sins and our pain, and coming to Him anyway. It means walking on His path just we are at this very moment, in spite of it all, trusting He will make it right.

Just like that sinner who was crucified next to Jesus, who asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom, Jesus says the same thing to us when we repent that he did to that man: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV).

This gift is echoed in God’s words to the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 57:17-19: “‘I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will heal them.’”

We can’t comprehend the extravagant love of God. We can try to, but knowing he gives us the chance to live with him in eternity simply for following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is truly inconceivable. It’s like winning the lottery, only a billion times better. We don’t have to understand how we got to be this lucky or beloved by God. We simply have to accept this gift, and in that gratitude help spread the good news so others receive this gift, too.

If you are struggling right now with memories of days gone by, things you’ve done or things done to you, perhaps now the time to experience freedom—the freedom that comes from setting these burdens down at the foot of the only one who can do anything about them, Jesus Christ. In Jesus we have liberation now and forever.

Let’s Pray: Lord, forgive me for all the ways I’ve done wrong, all my sins and shortcomings, all the ways I’ve hurt you—the things I remember and the things buried so deep I cannot remember. Thank you for your forgiveness and your love. Help me remember the words of Jesus to the sinful woman in John 8:11, “Neither do I condemn you … Go now and leave your life of sin.” I love you, Lord. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Jesus Paid It All” by Kim Walker-Smith. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. 

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

She released an Advent devotional for those seeking true closeness with God, which you can find at https://www.jessicabrodie.com/advent. Learn more about Jessica’s fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. 

You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: Why God wants you to confess your sins

The Healing After Confession
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”—James 5:16 (KJV)

Have you ever been hurt so deeply, yet you didn’t want the person who hurt you to know the depths of your pain?

Do you remember putting on a brave face or mustering up an, “I’m okay”, while simultaneously fighting back tears, shame, or embarrassment? Do you remember giving yourself a good “talkin’ to” about how you shouldn’t feel this way or perhaps you told yourself to never let them see you sweat?

Today I want to challenge the notion of faking it until you make it. Wipe off that fake smile that you’ve plastered on your face. Let that cry out—scream if you have to—and let’s get REAL! Confession is good for the mind, body, and soul. It brings healing. In James 5:16, the Apostle James speaks about the importance of confession of our faults. As the brother of Jesus Christ, he had experience with confession. He didn’t believe Christ’s ministry at the onset. He grew up with Jesus and saw him as his older brother. He was converted after Christ’s resurrection and became the presiding elder of the Jerusalem church. Later in his lifetime, he realized his error of unbelief he had when he was younger and converted to follow Christ as a disciple. From experience, he explains the healing power of the combination of prayer and confession. He charged the believers of Christ to confess their faults to each other.

In so saying he admonishes them to create a safe space for each other, to be vulnerable, and to share their shortcomings, if you will. This safe place is a no-judgment zone of love and discipline. He didn’t simply say for us to confess, but he also said to pray. Pray with that brother or sister—stand with them in faith that they might overcome that fault. The Apostle John, whom Jesus loved, also declares that when we confess, God springs into action to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

Confession opens the door for repair because when we can be vulnerable and admit that something is wrong or we have made a mistake, God is there to meet the need. When we have sinned, God is faithful and ready to forgive. When you are hurting, God is ready to heal you. When you are brokenhearted, God is ready to mend your heart and help you put your life back together again. Confession brings repentance.

Confession with another believer forms agreement. We know that according to Scripture, where there is agreement that:

1. God will be there (Matthew 18:20).

2. God will do whatever you ask (Matthew 18:19).

Call to Action:

1. Acknowledge the healing power of confession.

2. Be honest with yourself about your shortcomings.

3. Confess your faults in safe spaces and open the door to your healing.

4. Welcome the prayers of your safe community and partner with them as you heal.

5. Remember, healing belongs to God’s children (Mark 7:27).

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, You are our God who understands our pain and brokenness. You see our hurt and tears. You long to heal us and repair all that was destroyed in our lives. Help us to find safe spaces where we can confess and find prayers of agreement. Help us to partner with our brothers and sisters so our wounds can be healed. Demonstrate by your power the healing virtue found in confession. May we confess and find forgiveness and restoration. May we confess and move toward actions that will change toxic behavior and thought patterns. Help us to do this by granting us the resources, knowledge, and discipline to seek Your presence. As we do this, please heal us. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Broken, But I’m Healed” by Byron Cage. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Faye Taylor is a woman of faith. She’s a bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter. 

Essie is the author of the “Finding the Love You Deserve” series for women and teens. She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to heal themselves, love and accept themselves, and pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path.

Essie is a Chicago native where she lives with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Essie%20Faye%20Taylor/author/B09XF3TC22
Listen to Essie’s music at https://on.soundcloud.com/X6DeoRXra7YoKcC2A.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/ on Instagram
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esther.tate.39
Read Essie’s YouVersion Devotion Plan here: http://bible.us/r/Abn

Devotionals for the Heart: God doesn't remember our sins after He forgives us

No Condemnation
A devotional by Aubrey Taylor

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”—Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

The Scripture above is a favorite verse for many Christians, yet how often do we struggle to walk in its truth? We may not even realize that we are living in constant condemnation, as if the devil himself is walking alongside us, whispering in our ear, nitpicking about every possible thing!

Have you ever taken the opportunity to read an account of a historical event from a different perspective than you are used to? It is amazing how different two accounts of the same event can be. Stories told about the same individual can take on totally different tones depending on whether the writer saw them as a villain or a hero. One author’s goal is to catalogue a person’s sins; the other’s goal is to remember this person with respect, admiration, and even love. They may still address shortcomings and sins, but they are able to see the individual as more than the sum of their iniquities.

Satan’s goal is to weigh us down with guilt. He would like to drag up as much condemnation as possible, framing things in a way that makes us look wicked and unforgiveable. He would like to see us live in shame for the rest of our lives. He knows that a constant awareness of our sin and unworthiness will hinder us from living the full life God has for us, and silence our witness among the lost.

Too often, I have walked through life burdened by a sense of condemnation, as if there is something hanging in my past from which I cannot escape. Or, I am afraid that I am teetering on the edge of sin, even though I’m not! Unfortunately, a lot of Christian teaching echoes these sentiments, leading us to believe that we truly can’t do anything good.

Taken outside of the context of the entire Bible, Romans 3:10 (NKJV) seems to corroborate that: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Thank God, there are many other places in the Bible that speak of new life, walking in freedom, and how we no longer need to walk in the sin that used to entangle us. Clearly, God does not want us to keep operating as though we are sinful and unable to do anything good. He wants us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14 NKJV) and “walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6 NKJV).

God knows us intimately, yet because of the blood of Jesus, God has chosen not to remember the sins of our past. He can also see when we are honestly struggling to overcome sins that we no longer want in our lives. He looks at us with the eyes of love and affection and has cast our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

There will be things throughout our lives that need to change, but “condemned” is not our status before God. Our status is beloved and forgiven. Unless God is truly pointing out something that needs to change, believe today that He is pleased with you. Extend this message of love and grace to others in your life who still seem to be walking under the weight of condemnation.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, thank You that there is no condemnation for those who are in You. Thank You that You enable me to walk in newness of life, and that by Your power I can overcome my sinful nature. My former sins have been erased and I no longer need to walk around with a burden of shame. Please help me remember that today as I walk more confidently in You. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “East to West” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

The only child of a single parent, Aubrey Taylor filled her younger years by creating characters and writing stories. This ended around age sixteen when music, friends and part-time jobs began to fill her time. After that came college, work, marriage, and children. 

It wasn’t until the world was beginning to come out of the COVID pandemic that God led her back to her love for writing, coupled with a passion she’d always had for history. It was time to start a new adventure!

Along with writing devotionals, Aubrey is the author of the German-perspective 20th Century Fiction series, Gott Mit Uns. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. When she’s not writing or taking care of her home and family, she enjoys singing and dancing with friends from a German choir and a Bavarian folk dancing group. She is also a lover of Jesus Christ, The Holy Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats!

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Connect with Aubrey:
Website: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aubtaybooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846520.Aubrey_Taylor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/aubrey-taylor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8

Devotionals for the Heart: Why God wants us to practice forgiveness

Forgiveness: A Gift from God
A devotional by Joy Beless

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

—Luke 23:34 (NIV)

On a rainy day in Dublin, I knew where I wanted to be. I said goodbye to my husband and we separately made our way through the winding streets to see the last stop on our “must-see” lists before leaving Ireland. We later met up to share our experiences over dinner.

It’s hard to explain the “pull” of the Holy Spirit but it was unmistakable: I needed to have space to reflect on my time in Ireland and listen to God’s quiet whisper.

I yearned to sit in a quiet chapel and soak in the ancient story of Saint Patrick at his namesake cathedral. As I approached, I joined the other tourists who for whatever reasons, also made their way through the magnificent stone doors into a dimly lit gothic style cathedral. It was beautiful and intriguing but not quiet. I made my way to the end of the building to the Lady Chapel where few people were sitting and they, like me, yearned for a quiet worshipful experience. As I sat there, still and breathing in the damp air, the word “forgiveness” surfaced in my soul.

Forgiveness is a major theme in St. Patrick’s story and, if we are truthful, in all our stories. Saint Patrick lived in Britain and as a teen was taken captive to work as a slave in Ireland, turning to God through prayer for his strength. After six years he escaped and returned to his family. While home, he dreamt the Irish people were begging him to return. After becoming a priest, he returned to the island of his slavery and preached the gospel for another forty years until his death.

If we unwrap our culture’s version of St. Patrick’s Day—celebrating by wearing green color apparel, focusing on four-leaf clovers, shamrocks and fables—we discover a remarkable story of the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see how it gives us strength to untwist the complicated stories of our lives and empowers us to forgive others.

Throughout the New Testament, forgiveness is an important theme. So much so, Jesus Christ spoke of it in The Lord’s Prayer, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12 NIV). The Apostle Paul also emphasized forgiveness in his letters to the early church. He wrote in Ephesians 4:32 NIV: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Paul was keenly aware of the power of forgiveness after he received forgiveness for the relentless persecution he led against the early church before he met Jesus. He was also thankful, by God’s grace, to forgive those who persecuted him as a Christian.

As I sat in the small room hidden at the end of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, I had no agenda other than to be present with God and to listen to Him. An undeniable quiet voice spoke, “Love others. And to love others is to forgive.” I continued to sit quietly and pondered who and what is tucked away like a rock in my soul, waiting for forgiveness. Shortly, thereafter, I stepped back through the thick stone doorway out into the cool rain of the afternoon, knowing to love Jesus Christ is to follow Him in forgiving others.

There is much to be said about the subject of forgiveness. It does not necessarily mean “forgetfulness” or to pretend the words or action never happened. Rather, it is a journey God desires to walk with us, understanding the complexity and difficulty of releasing the person and the hurtful act or words into His hands. Forgiveness is freeing ourselves from the power of the unjust act. This creates space in our heart to receive the intimate redeeming love of Jesus Christ.

Is there a name, a relationship or experience that is rising in your soul as you read this? Perhaps emotions of grief, anger or anxiety? Talk with God about it. Ask Him to show you the first step and identify someone who is safe you can trust to walk this journey of healing with.

St. Patrick knew the power and necessity of practicing forgiveness every day. Jesus Christ demonstrated to us how to forgive people, and I desire to live a lifestyle of forgiveness.

Let’s Pray:
Thank You, Jesus, for teaching and demonstrating for us the importance of living out the forgiveness we receive from You and extend to others—especially when it is undeserved and difficult to give. Thank you for the life of St. Patrick who, through forgiveness, brought Christianity to a nation. Help me to forgive. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Joy Beless is a worshipper of God and lover of people. 

A practicing Spiritual Director, she is a speaker for retreats and conferences and facilitates guided solitude retreats at the family ranch in North Texas.

A seasoned worship leader and songwriter, she frequently weaves worship, God’s Word and spiritual practices together. She is a chapel provider for a shelter for the houseless and a certified Grief and Trauma Healing Facilitator. Serving at global retreats for Kingdom-minded women delights her soul.

She has written for Global Trellis and Missio Nexus. She connects God’s Word with the reality of our daily in all the ups and downs.

Joy is married to Roger. They live in Coppell (Texas). Joy is called "JoJo" by her nine adorable grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors and encourages flowers to grow in the Texas heat.

~*~
Connect with Joy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.beless
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joy.beless/
Website: www.joybeless.org

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to learn how to forgive others

A Promise of Forgiveness
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” –Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

Many people advise married couples not to go to bed angry with one another. I understand the concept, but I wholeheartedly disagree.

Every bit of that disagreeable disposition could be seen as I rolled out of bed, cranky and sour-faced. I was angry with my husband, yet again. We had a disagreement the previous night. It wasn’t exactly his words that angered me, but it was his tone that had rubbed me the wrong way. I was angry. I hadn’t yet figured out how to move past my anger or even where it was coming from.

Not many people talk about the essentiality of forgiveness in our relationships. Marriage in particular requires a forgiving heart and cultivating the art of forgiveness. We have this promise from God: If we forgive others, He will forgive us. We all have experienced anger. We’ve all found ourselves in a place of hurt due to someone’s actions or words. We’ve felt the reality of the injustice we’ve experienced. We didn’t deserve to be hurt or mistreated, yet we were. Our feelings are real and valid. The situation is unfair and sometimes unwarranted. Yet, we must forgive. To forgive is to grant pardon or a remission of an offense. It is to cancel a debt or to cease to feel resentment against someone.

Forgiveness is not easy, yet God requires it of believers. Forgiveness can be challenging, yet it is possible. To forgive in a world that promotes revenge requires a paradigm shift. We must begin to think like our Heavenly Father (God). He has forgiven us for offending Him and He continues to do so because of His great love for us. He forgave us for living a life without Him, although He created us and provides for us daily. He granted us salvation upon request (John 3:16) and gave us access to Him by faith in the name of His Son who is our Savior (Jesus Christ). He has gone farther and has given us a new beginning by tossing our sins into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be remembered. What an incredible demonstration of His love!

In our text above, the disciple Matthew writes about God’s command to forgive.

I’m sure Matthew was speaking from experience as he was forgiven much. Before deciding to follow Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector who was known to cheat others out of their funds. Yet, Jesus chose him as a disciple when he was hated and rejected by others. He was forgiven and accepted, as are we when we are born into the family of God. As believers in God who follow Jesus Christ, we are required to forgive others because God forgave us. We are called to extend grace to others as God has extended grace toward us. If we forgive others, we will be forgiven by God. If we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven by God. I don’t know about you, but to me, those consequences are pretty hefty. Choosing to forgive others is a no-brainer because I desperately need God’s forgiveness in my life. I’m imperfect and flawed. Many times I just don’t get things right and I value the promise of God’s forgiveness daily.

In letters to the church of Ephesus and Colossae, the Apostle Paul admonishes followers of Christ to forgive. He says, “And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV). Paul encourages us with these words: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13 KJV). Forgiveness causes us to be tenderhearted and kind. We must remember that we make mistakes and at one time we needed forgiveness. Admitting that we will need forgiveness in the future also helps. Empathy and compassion helps along this journey to forgive. When you are hurt or angry, it is difficult to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but practicing empathy can soften our hearts so that we can forgive.

God teaches several lessons regarding forgiveness. Forgiving others frees you from the burden of anger and resentment. It releases the debtor and the one to whom the debt is owed. Forgiveness doesn’t have to be earned; it is freely given. Learning to forgive is a skill that must be practiced. All have fallen short of God’s requirements. Therefore, we all need to be forgiven at one time or another.

God grants forgiveness as a promise. He says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). No matter the sin–great or small–God is willing and ready to forgive, if we confess it.

Call to Action:

1. Check yourself. When you harbor unforgiveness, search yourself to discover what is at the root of your feelings and actions.

2. Practice empathy. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see things his or her way.

3. Practice forgiveness daily in your relationships. Learn to forgive quickly, even when it’s not the easiest. Free others of their debt and free yourself of anger, resentment, bitterness and hurt. Remember, the Bible says if we forgive others, God will forgive us.

4. Be conscious of your mortality. Realize that as humans, we make mistakes. This means that you and I will inevitably make a mistake and we will need to be forgiven.

5. Remember, our God is faithful to forgive us. Let us be faithful to forgive others.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for your gift of forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving my sins and embracing me with great love. Thank You for loving me despite my flaws and shortcomings. Thank You for your love that covers a multitude of faults. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me deeply. Help me to practice empathy and have compassion so that I can forgive the hard things. Lord, heal my heart, my mind, and my memory from the words and actions that hurt me so deeply. Give us the strength to forgive as you command. Thank You, Father, for hearing and answering me. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College. 

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

~*~
Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to forgive everyone who hurt us

Why We Need to Forgive
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

Have you ever been hurt?

If you’ve lived on this Earth for any amount of time, then you’ve probably been wounded in some way. Maybe you’ve been hurt by the words of a friend or their inconsiderate actions. Maybe you were hurt physically. Maybe they meant to hurt you.

Maybe they didn’t.

Either way, you know what I’m talking about. Pain is not fun, especially when it’s caused by another person. Maybe we feel like we were in the right, and they’re the ones who need to apologize. Maybe that’s true. Maybe we did nothing wrong. Maybe, in cases such as abuse, we are the victim. Or maybe we’re seeing the speck in their eye while completely avoiding the log in our own (Matthew 7:3-5). God calls us to forgive one another as Jesus Christ forgave us.

Gulp.

When we really think about it, we have no right to withhold forgiveness from someone. No matter how wronged we’ve been, no one could ever hurt us as deeply as our sins have hurt Jesus. He suffered in every way we do (I would say even more so) and never sinned.

Jesus was unjustly accused. He was beaten. His flesh was torn, and they crucified Him for a crime that He didn’t commit. Even when He was unjustly treated, He did not defend Himself, but He stayed silent. And He forgave them.

Even if we weren’t there physically spitting in Jesus’s face or mocking Him, we have still sinned, and our sins hurt Him. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 (ESV), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But Jesus still chose to die for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV) says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Even when we were at our worst, Jesus loved us. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, chose to die for us even though we didn’t deserve it.

Why then would we withhold that same forgiveness from others?

Forgiveness is hard. And what do we do if the other person doesn’t even ask for it? It is a truly humbling experience to forgive when the other person doesn’t ask. Maybe they were right to begin with and we must humbly realize our error. Or maybe they are truly wrong, but they still think they’re right. It’s not about right or wrong anymore, is it?

I heard once that we don’t forgive for their sake. We forgive for our own. It’s true because holding on to bitterness and anger will only serve to make us bitter and angry. We should not want that to happen to us! As difficult as it is to forgive, we must. Not simply for the sake of the other person, but so that we may find freedom. Sometimes, we also must forgive ourselves. Is there something that you are angry at yourself for? Do you blame yourself for something that happened this morning? A long time ago?

Dear friend, choose to forgive yourself. Jesus forgave you. He proved it when He shed His blood for you on the Cross as stated in John 3:16 and Ephesians 1:7. Therefore, you must also choose to forgive yourself. Jesus didn’t die so you would live enslaved by unforgiveness, bitterness and anger. He wants you to live in freedom!

Do you think that choosing to forgive the other person and yourself will bring about the freedom your heart longs for? I believe it will because the Bible says so, and forgivness has set me free too!

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, I know that You forgive me for all my sins. You proved it when You sent Your Son to die on that cross for me. Please forgive me for withholding forgiveness from others. They are sinners, as am I. You have died for them, as You have me. You love us all. Please help me to forgive others and even myself as You have forgiven me. Thank You for giving me freedom. Please help me learn to walk in it. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to seriously follow God’s calling to write a novel. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has at least four novels in the works. For the past five years, she has been involved with her local Biblical theater company. She wants to show others the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

When she’s not acting or working on her upcoming novel, you can find Hannah laughing with her siblings, cuddling her little fluffy dog, or reading books (usually historical fiction or fantasy stories). You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

~*~
Connect with Hannah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlynnauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Blog: www.loveunconditional.blog

My Review of "Eleanor's Bench" (NEW series available on Pure Flix)

My Review of "Eleanor’s Bench" (NEW series on Pure Flix):

Today, I have another review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! In case you didn’t know, Pure Flix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way the difference is in the content that points you back to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me to review Episode 5 of the “Eleanor’s Bench” series. Here’s the main idea for this series, according to PureFlix: “Eleanor Thomas’s success as a Washington DC juvenile court judge is challenged when her inner-city past comes to court and demands more than judgment, prompting her to return to her impoverished neighborhood of youth. Will her renewed sense of purpose reinvigorate her faith?”

“We Can’t Change the Past” was the title of Episode 5. According to PureFlix, this is the summary of that episode: “Eleanor is crushed by the weight of what’s currently happening with Jewels and how she feels personally responsible. She begins to have nightmares and episodes of panic and anxiety that cripple her. Racked with guilt, Eleanor doesn’t know if she can forgive herself for the missed time she didn’t spend taking care of Jewels. In moving forward and healing from past wounds, we must accept that we cannot change the actions and decisions we made in the past. It’s easy to let our minds endlessly replay what happened and all the ways we would change it. But, we can’t do that. Replaying the past over again in our minds isn’t healthy—spiritually or mentally. God doesn’t want us to be stuck on one thing we cannot change. He wants to help us learn how to accept it, ask for forgiveness and be renewed by His mercy and grace.”

Now for my review: 

I watched this riveting episode before it was made available for viewing on Pure Flix. It compelled me to care so much about the characters and be invested in the storyline. The acting captivated my attention to the point where I wasn’t ready for the cliffhanger at the end. I thought it would go on for another hour. All of this made me eager to know how the story ends.

Promotional copy from PureFlix says: “Eleanor’s Bench” is full of important lessons about following God’s calling, practicing self-control, learning from your past and discovering that we are enough and deserving of God’s love.

I completely agree. There are so many powerful life lessons packed into this episode and I’d say every episode in this series. It’s like PureFlix put you in a classroom to learn about life, faith, hope, forgiveness and God. This series doesn’t shy away from tackling tough topics that many people have faced or will face in life. I like how they used faith in God as the Guiding Light that points people to True North and leads them home. This world may not be safe but we are always safe in the arms of God who created this world. Ultimately, I’d say this series is about growing closer to God and helping Him help you navigate the twists and turns of life on Earth.

Karen Abercrombie played the starring role as Judge Eleanor. Abercrombie’s light as a believer in Jesus Christ, and her skills as an actress who fully immerses herself in a character, shone bright as the sun through this entire series! I was delighted to see that the casting director chose Cameron Arnett to be Abercrombie’s co-star! I remember his role in another series on PureFlix called “Saved by Grace” where he played the angel Jeremiah. However, in “Eleanor’s Bench” he played Reginald (her old friend from the old neighborhood). Arnett’s acting skills are superb!

Themes of this episode included:
· We are forgiven and need to forgive others
· It’s never too late to make a change or follow through on a commitment

"Eleanor’s Bench" is a series that will introduce you to Pure Flix, prompt you to join and watch it again and again! And once you’re a member of Pure Flix, you’ll find more content to view that will encourage your heart. So don’t delay, join today!

Watch the official trailer for Eleanor’s Bench on Pure Flix:
https://youtu.be/sJ84Ol7P-gA

Jean Thomason of Momentum Influencers sat down with the stars of “Eleanor's Bench”, Karen Abercrombie and Cameron Arnett to talk! Watch the interview here.

Visit Eleanor’s Bench series page on Pure Flix for more wonderful features:
https://www.pureflix.com/movie/eleanors-bench

Recommended Reading from Pure Flix that’s inspired by the series:

“10 Bible Verses About Family”
https://www.pureflix.com/insider/bible-verses-about-family

“5 Healing Prayers for Forgiveness”
https://www.pureflix.com/insider/5-healing-prayers-for-forgiveness

“Six Powerful Prayers for God’s Protection and Safekeeping”
https://www.pureflix.com/insider/7-powerful-prayers-for-gods-protection-and-safekeeping

Before you go, enter this contest for your chance to WIN a FREE 3-month Pure Flix subscription! Note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. The giveaway starts today and ends on July 20, 2023. If you're participating in the giveaway for "Eleanor’s Bench", please note that we cannot accept winners that have won a Pure Flix subscription in the last six months.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c459/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#EleanorsBenchMIN #PureFlix #PureFlixVIPAmbassador #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: God's love, grace and mercy for humankind

A Promise of Mercy
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” –Lamentations 3:22-24 (CSB)

I remember my unforgettable encounter with God.

It was the moment that I realized that I was a sinner. I was at odds with a Holy God because of my sinful nature and my thinking, practices, and habits. While my sin meant that I deserved to die, mercy declared that I would not receive what I deserved. Instead, I received compassion and kindness. I received forgiveness and remission of my sins by salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s important to note a few things about mercy. Mercy is extended to the offender. The innocent don’t need mercy. Mercy exonerates the guilty party. Mercy is unmerited. It is not something that can be earned. The offender deserves judgment but instead, mercy is given. Mercy is a gift born from the character of the giver. Mercy is compassionate or kind forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or another person in one's power; it is the demonstration of compassion, pity, or benevolence. Because mercy is undeserved and unmerited, when extended, it truly is an act of God.

Lamentations 3:22-24 was penned by the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah, who declares that God’s love preserves us. His unfailing love guards us and keeps us safe in the face of danger and uncertainty. God demonstrates his love toward us through His actions. Mercy is an essential element of our God. Scripture says that our High Priest Jesus is touched by our infirmities. He is moved emotionally by our human experience because Jesus is God incarnate. He lived, breathed, and walked on this Earth as a human. Therefore, He understands what we experience.

Jesus extends empathy and compassion and His mercies toward us never end. The mercy door is always open. When we have fallen into sin, mercy is there. God's Word (The Holy Bible) says we can boldly approach His throne to obtain mercy when we need it.

His mercies are renewed every morning. This means that each day we are forgiven, we get a brand new start. God extends mercy to us and forgives our sins, mistakes, errors, mishaps, and shortcomings. Our God is the God of second chances. He is compassionate and understanding with His children. He deals with us lovingly and compassionately.

Call to Action:

1. Believe that mercy is always near. It’s okay if you fall. Look to God and get up again. You can begin again. There is no sin too great to be forgiven.

2. Embrace God’s mercy daily. It is renewed each day. If you fall into sin today, God’s forgiveness and mercy areavailable. Tomorrow you have a fresh start. Receive it. It’s yours, no questions asked.

3. Know that God is a kind and compassionate Heavenly Father. He knows exactly what you are experiencing and He can help you like nobody else can.

4. Remember, God extends mercy to us daily because of His unfailing love for us. Be merciful to others. We all need mercy and grace.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithful and unfailing love toward me that keeps me safe and protected. Thank you, Lord, that Your mercies do not end. You are always near, ready to extend mercy, ready to give me forgiveness when I don’t deserve it. I thank You that Your mercies are renewed every morning. You understand I am flawed and imperfect, yet You love me unconditionally. You understand that I am prone to make mistakes, so You make provision for me with renewed mercies. Help me to be merciful to others, as You are merciful to me. Thank You, Father, for hearing and answering my prayers. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Great is Your Mercy” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College.

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

~*~
Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to forgive people who hurt us

Forgiveness
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

–Matthew 6:12 (KJV)

One of the last phrases Jesus Christ said before dying on the cross was “…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34 KJV). The magnitude of this act of grace is often overlooked and taken for granted.

We are living in a time where forgiveness is not very popular. There is such a great demand for justice in this society. We naturally want to see people pay for their sins or wrongful acts. Nowadays, grace is considered odd and when it is extended by others, it’s noteworthy and shocking.

Yet God calls us to forgive each other when we have been wronged simply because God forgives us every day of our lives when we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. It is the least we can do considering the great sacrifice that was made on our behalf. Furthermore, we are warned of the consequences if we do not forgive. In Matthew 6:15, the Bible makes it very clear that if we do not forgive others of their trespasses, then our Father also will not forgive us of our trespasses.

Still, many struggle with extending grace to others. It is quite possible that people do not know how to forgive because they have not allowed themselves to receive forgiveness from God. They have not yet experienced the power of that type of love from our Heavenly Father. And it’s that type of love that God expects us to give to others.

But how can we possibly forgive others? Just like Jesus surrendered His life on the cross, we must first surrender to God’s mercy and love and allow it to fill us. Once we have truly experienced it for ourselves, we become transformed by its ability to free us from feelings of animosity and ill will toward others.

God’s love accepts us as we are but does not leave us that way. We become restored and elevated into a right relationship with God. That is when He can use us and that’s when we are able to share His love, mercy, and grace. That is when we are able to freely forgive.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, We are so thankful for Your grace. May we never forget Your sacrifice and the blood that was shed to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Please forgive us for our sins and help us to forgive those who have sinned against us. We know that we cannot do this without You. Give us the strength to love others as You love us. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When your idea of "family" is complicated

When the Idea of Christian Family is Complicated
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

We hear it all the time—“Father” God. My “brother” or “sister” in Christ.

Likening our relationships with the divine and each other to family members is a common thing. Jesus used familial terms, as did the apostles Peter and Paul.

For some of us, myself included, this analogy works well. I love the idea that I am a “child of God”, that God is my divine parent, and that in Jesus Christ, because of the power of the Holy Spirit that connects us all, I have Christian brothers and sisters across the globe. It makes me feel valuable and reminds me the connection between us is intimate and personal. Just as if we were one big body, if one of us hurts, we all hurt.

But what if the concept of family is painful for us? What if we had an awful, dysfunctional relationship with our earthly father? What if we experienced abuse at his hands, or if he abandoned the family and we never knew him? How would calling God our “father” feel if this is the case for us?

Or the concept of Christian siblings—what if we have a poor relationship with our family? What if we are estranged from a brother or sister, or they harmed us in some devastating way that we are still struggling to forgive?

Recently on Twitter, a Christian woman commented about how she unfollows anyone who calls her “sister in Christ” because she feels it is inappropriate and harmful. Yet my experience is so different. I genuinely am heartened when someone calls me sister. I have a handful of close Christian male friends, friends I have done ministry and mission work with alongside my husband, who I regularly and joyfully call my “brothers.” Feeling like someone is my sister or my brother is helpful for me because it tears down unhealthy human divisions such as racial, age, or cultural barriers. I know in heaven we’ll all be united, and this is my way of helping “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

And it’s the same with God as father, for me. While I personally think God is so incomprehensible and all-powerful that even ascribing something as basic as gender is a bit like putting God in a box, I still like to think of God as my father. Yes, it’s a human way of looking at it, but Jesus called God his father, and I find it helps me feel closer to God when I call him my father, too.

I loved my earthly father, but I had a complicated relationship with him. He struggled with mental illness and alcoholism, and though he died a Christian, his issues created much pain in our family. Yet when I think of God as “father,” it’s healing for me. God is perfect, the ideal representation of what “father” should represent. He’s the father who never lets us down, never causes pain.

But note one important thing here: all of this is “for me.” See, for me it is healing and helpful to consider God my father and other Christians my brothers and sisters. Yet I know it’s not that way for everyone.

We live in an imperfect world, and other people do let us down, sometimes in horrible, evil ways. When it’s our family, this can have devastating reverberations, sometimes for generations.

Some of us eventually get to the point where we can push aside pain about human family and come to understand and fully appreciate the heavenly family we have instead. But for some of us, that pain is just too raw. We don’t get to that point of acceptance until much, much later in life.

And that’s OK—because God understands.

It’s important to realize our kinship as Christians is far deeper than family ties or family names and roles. Father, brother, sister, mother… those are just titles. The reality is the connection we have through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of each of us who believes in and follows Christ. As we’re told in Romans 8:9, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

It doesn’t matter what label we ascribe to that connection, whether brother or sister or friend, or no word at all. The label doesn’t change the truth, and the truth is that the Holy Spirit lives in and connects each of us to one another, with Christ as our head.

If you are one who has complicated family dynamics and struggles with the concept of God as father or fellow Christians as brothers and sisters, take heart. God knows you and knows why you feel this way. God understands. Perhaps in time, your heart will come to understand the concept of family in a new light.

If you are one who doesn’t have these issues and struggles to understand those who do, I pray you are filled with compassion over the pain some of us have had to experience. We don’t have to understand to love each other and respect each other.

Whether we call ourselves family or not, the reality is that we are one—no matter what label we use.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for all the ways You love us. Help us heal and grow in spite of the issues we face here on earth, and help us love each other well. Enable us to remember the words of Romans 8:28, “That in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In Your holy name we pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “God’s Family” by Tommy Walker. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, editor, writing coach, and devotional writer with thousands of articles to her name. 

Since 2010, she has served as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 123 journalism awards during her tenure. She is the author of Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry (2019) and More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and the editor of a number of other books from her newspaper’s Advocate Press, which she helped found in 2017.

She has won more than 100 writing awards and is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, and BibleStudyTools.com, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries, with her work included in many of their devotionals and Bible studies.

Brodie holds a Master of Arts in English, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in communications/print journalism from Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Brodie now lives in Lexington, South Carolina, just outside Columbia. She has also lived in Ohio and in the mountains of western North Carolina. She and her husband, Matt Brodie, have a blended family of four teenage children and stepchildren.

Brodie has written several novels and is actively seeking publication through her agent Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Tangled Roots won a third place Foundation Award in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019. She is finishing the third in the series, Hidden Seeds, now. 

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