the sermon at my chuch today was on forgiveness and restoring relationships. he made a lot of good points and i guess kinda convicted me in some areas...then i got pissy. and right now, i'm crabby. why do i get so crabby?? i'm a christian right so Jesus is suppossed to make me joyful, right? but (and this was an item in the sermon) i think i've been supressing bitterness and it is infriging on my joy. the thing about forgiveness pastor john was saying is when you have fully released the offender, when you think about them it doesn't hurt anymore. matt 18:22, everytime the offense comes to mind, you forgive and release it. "love is not having a reserve in your heart towards someone." Forgiving them releases the power they have over you.
The application of this stuff is hard. it makes me crabby cos i am always saying "yeah God that makes sense, but i don't know how to do this. how does it 'just happen?' I know i can do all things through you who strengthens me, but how? Ask? Trust? Believe? Is it really that simple?"