Go, Be Free

“Go, be free”. Those words have hit me hard this morning.  Words spoken to me by someone not understanding what they were saying.  It's amazing how God can use things like that to bring a release into our lives.

Almost six months ago I became aware of how my life was repeating the same cycles of dysfunction.  I've written about this process before so I  won't go into all the details in this post.  
One day, a few weeks ago after reading my daily devotions, I began thinking of specific people from my past who I had issues with. People I offended and hurt or who had offended and hurt me.  I would think of their name and my next thought was “call them and ask them to forgive you”.  My thoughts were not about the situations, circumstances, or details.  Just, “call them and ask them to forgive you”.  
To me, It didn't matter if they had done something to me first. It didn't matter if their offense towards me was worse than mine towards them.  It didn't matter if I thought I was justified.  So I started with the first person.  I didn't call them and say, ’I want you to forgive me and I also forgive you’.  I didn't find a script to follow of what to say in these situations.   What I say changes each time.  It usually goes something like, “I have been noticing things in my life I want to change with God.  The other day you came to my mind and I just wanted to apologize and ask you to forgive me for hurting you and handling things wrong”. 
I notice that I am feeling happier, more relaxed, and literally lighter. I feel like pressure is being lifted off of my heart.  It has been a slow progression and today feels better than yesterday.  This process has gone from people that I've hurt recently to people from years ago.  
This morning I called one such person.  Someone I have not spoken with or seen in over three years.  After I nervously stumbled through my apology, The words spoken to me where “Go, be free”. That just about knocked me over.  I haven't thought about it like that.  I know this process is freeing me from my past and aligning me with the plan God has for my life, but those words cleared everything up for me.  Like a spotlight turned on in a dark room. There it was. Simple. “Go, be free”.

Here is what the bible says about forgiveness.
“Be gentle  and  forbearing with on another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]”. (Colossians 3:13 AMP)

“Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him  and  let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?  Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21, 22 AMP)
(I have heard it said that the “seventy times seven” actually means forever, or always.  To forgive always.)

“And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled).” (Luke 17:4 AMP)

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him  and  let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings  and  shortcomings  and  let them drop.” (Mark 11:25 AMP)

I prayed many times before this all began and told God that I forgive the people that hurt me.  I told God that I forgive myself for holding bitterness and resentment against those people.  I never asked God to forgive me for handling situations wrong, or hurting those people. I thought because I told God I forgive them I was clear of all hurt.  I thought that was it.  I was free from that person and that pain. I was wrong.

I am not trying to make this post a single source for teaching, understanding, or training on forgiveness.  
The words “Go, be free” hit me to the core.  I simply wanted to share my thoughts and feelings on the event.

I Pray you feel the love The Father has for you. I pray you reach out to those people who need to tell you “Go, be free”.