PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I woke up this morning with a grudge. And since I never preplan my blog posts, but just write about whatever is on my mind, my knee jerk idea this morning was to write a Biblical perspective on presumption. Because that’s what my grudge was about (okay, fine— is. But I’m trying to make it past tense… this is one of those blogs that I am writing for myself more than anyone else). Yesterday, on the heels of my father-in-law’s death, I witnessed one of the most presumptuous and insensitive things I’ve ever seen. And frankly, I’m still mad about it because it hurt my husband when he is already hurting over the death of his dad.
Without getting into the details about what happened, I began researching Bible verses on presumption when this one came up: “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25 ESV).
Insert the sound of crickets followed by a balloon slurpily deflating.
Then, drop the mic.
Okay. So that didn’t go as planned. I want to be mad. I’m justified in being mad. But God reminded me of some of my own presumptuous moments when I started to mentally whine, “But God…” And I know I have to forgive and move on.
Sigh. This is why He gave me the word “forgive” this year. I’ve spent a lot of time this year meditating on it. Reading about it. Learning how to apply it. And literally, just a few weeks ago, was smug enough to think I’ve got a pretty good grasp on it now.
But I am a work-in-progress and always will be. Forgiveness isn’t easy for most of us. We want grace. Expect grace. Sometimes we demand it and think it’s owed to us when we mess up. But giving it? Not so much. Many of us are grace-hoarders more than we are grace-givers.
And it’s that self-revelation that turns my frustration inward and I realize how these are the moments that I need to shut up and listen to God more than I need to listen to my own self-righteous indignation.
So this morning, I don’t have a huge insight to share. This is a humble, tail-between-my-legs admission that I don’t have the right to stay angry at someone for their insensitive actions. Because God has forgiven me for all of mine.
Today, as you pray, thank God for the gift of grace and forgiveness. Thank Him that He lovingly and gently reminds of His gifts and our need to share them and offer them to others. Thank Him that His grace and forgiveness don’t need to be hoarded because there’s plenty to be shared. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be willing to forgive, even when you don’t want to.
