Forgiveness is a choice, not an emotion. Forgiveness is not natural. It is supernatural and we need to understand the grace and mercy of God to totally forgive.

We have to look at ourselves and remember the crucifixion of Jesus was for us.

During the events leading up to and including the crucifixion, Jesus suffered nearly every offense that we have dealt with. He was betrayed, mocked, bullied, beaten and scorned. And yet, his response to it all was to graciously forgive.

Forgiveness is a choice, not an emotion. Forgiveness is not natural. It is supernatural and we need to understand the grace and mercy of God to totally forgive.

We have to look at ourselves and remember the crucifixion of Jesus was for us.

During the events leading up to and including the crucifixion, Jesus suffered nearly every offense that we have dealt with. He was betrayed, mocked, bullied, beaten and scorned. And yet, his response to it all was to graciously forgive.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (everything is to be done in the name of our Lord, irrespective of what it is) giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (If properly obeyed, everything we do will take on a brand new complexion).

We must do everything as unto the Lord. We do not belong to ourselves any more, so whatever we do, we do it for God and avoid self-pity.

Many times Christians can be conflicted because our nature is to give to the needy. We need to understand true need and have the discernment to know when God says to help and when He directs us to say no.

Pity: Sympathetic grief or sorrow excited by the suffering or misfortune of another, often leading one to give and to show mercy. A purely emotional response. For example, we see commercials on tv that show us pictures of abused animals or sick children asking us for money to help them. We can respond out of our emotions of guilt and compulsion.

Compassion: Feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another’s suffering or misfortune, accompanying with love and a desire to alleviate the pain and suffering. We see the same commercial but give out of true compassion. Spiritual response- Emotions plus grace.

Pity and compassion are very similar, but one is destructive and one is productive.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (everything is to be done in the name of our Lord, irrespective of what it is) giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (If properly obeyed, everything we do will take on a brand new complexion).

We must do everything as unto the Lord. We do not belong to ourselves any more, so whatever we do, we do it for God and avoid self-pity.

Many times Christians can be conflicted because our nature is to give to the needy. We need to understand true need and have the discernment to know when God says to help and when He directs us to say no.

Pity: Sympathetic grief or sorrow excited by the suffering or misfortune of another, often leading one to give and to show mercy. A purely emotional response. For example, we see commercials on tv that show us pictures of abused animals or sick children asking us for money to help them. We can respond out of our emotions of guilt and compulsion.

Compassion: Feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another’s suffering or misfortune, accompanying with love and a desire to alleviate the pain and suffering. We see the same commercial but give out of true compassion. Spiritual response- Emotions plus grace.

Pity and compassion are very similar, but one is destructive and one is productive.

The area of the brain where imagination operates is also where dreams and visions originate, so it is important to clean out our imaginations and not let them be filled with the wrong thoughts.

We always must be building our thoughts and not live in delusion, or false belief. The mind can be misled and deceived. We are not dealing with things from the past that you have repressed and not dealt with, but today we are dealing with thoughts that must be cast out so we can reclaim our health.

MIND [THOUGHTS] ------------EMOTIONS [HOW WE FEEL] -------------BODY [ACTIONS]

Our emotions are the connection between our mind and our body. Our emotions weigh in on things that happen to us. If for example, someone says something offensive to us, our emotions may kick in and we may react by raging at them. Instead of obeying God and forgiving, we may listen to our emotions and begin to hold a grudge.

The area of the brain where imagination operates is also where dreams and visions originate, so it is important to clean out our imaginations and not let them be filled with the wrong thoughts.

We always must be building our thoughts and not live in delusion, or false belief. The mind can be misled and deceived. We are not dealing with things from the past that you have repressed and not dealt with, but today we are dealing with thoughts that must be cast out so we can reclaim our health.

MIND [THOUGHTS] ------------EMOTIONS [HOW WE FEEL] -------------BODY [ACTIONS]

Our emotions are the connection between our mind and our body. Our emotions weigh in on things that happen to us. If for example, someone says something offensive to us, our emotions may kick in and we may react by raging at them. Instead of obeying God and forgiving, we may listen to our emotions and begin to hold a grudge.

Living Victorious in Christ requires us to recognize the lies that we live with in our minds and breaking the power of those lies with the truth of the Word of God. If a lie is told long enough and often enough, it becomes engrained in our thinking and becomes truth in our minds if we are not careful to reject it.

Living Victorious in Christ requires us to recognize the lies that we live with in our minds and breaking the power of those lies with the truth of the Word of God. If a lie is told long enough and often enough, it becomes engrained in our thinking and becomes truth in our minds if we are not careful to reject it.

Have you discovered yet that being saved does not insulate nor isolate you from the problems of this sin cursed world? “My Lord knows the way thru the wilderness...all I have to do is follow!”

No one can go back and change the past, not even God. But God can take the sting out of painful memories of mistakes made, words spoken in anger, actions done in selfishness. He can also restore relationships and restore things in our lives that were ruined or lost.