How to handle people who have mishandled you.

SPOILER: You won't like this...

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The picture says it all, I know the feeling, girl...

Do you remember failing a class and epically bombing a really important test?

Your teacher would say "in order to pass this class I’ll give you another chance and all you have to do is extra credit work?"

You were relieved and fine until you found out exactly what the "extra credit" would be.

Some times it seemed the extra credit was more challenging than the original assignment.

Well, often times ---- let's be real, a lot of times, God does the same thing.

Frequently, it seems as though He’s giving you extra credit stuff pertaining to your "self-proclaimed" enemies; those people who have mistreated, overlooked or mishandled you in some way.

Like, they hurt your feelings --- or more than likely, just your pride, and He wants YOU to FORGIVE !

Yeah, YOU--

the one who was about to close this post.

Go on... be obedient and forgive them.

(FREE GAME: There's something for you on the other side of your humility that He's trying to get to you.)

I promise this extra credit assignment is gonna be so worth it!

Just ask a Job, Joseph and Jesus.

• Job praying for his friends after they accused him doing something wrong was his extra credit. God gave him back EVERYTHING --he'd lost --and then some, because he was obedient and prayed for them!

  [HINT: Read the whole book of Job.]

• Joseph's extra credit was him getting his family out of poverty after his brothers planned to kill him but changed their minds and threw him in a pit instead and sold him into slavery! Whew! Talk about sibling rivalry!

  [Genesis chapter 37]

• And Jesus showing mercy and grace WHILE ON THE CROSS.....well what can you say -- He's the KING of extra credit.

  {Luke 23:24}

  { #TeachersPet }

  TIP : BE LIKE HIM & COPY HIS NOTES!

THE ANSWER KEY:

Before you can truly pray for someone and prosper; YOU'VE GOT TO FORGIVE!

WHHHHAAA!?

I know what you're thinking :

"So you mean to tell me I'M THE ONE offended, abused, kicked while down, harassed, talked about, lied on AND lied to, etc --- AND I HAVE to FORGIVE?!"

(I said you wouldn't like it. I said it.)

Hey--I don't make the rules, Ma'am and Sir.

I just work here.

Take it up with THE BIG GUY.

He's been waiting to hear from you anyway...

Those were just a few examples.

But that Bible sitting on the table, covered in bills and dust, is chock full of REAL people who had an encounter with THE REAL GOD who personally walked them through how to REALLY forgive.

HERE'S THE CHEAT CODE:

You've got to WANT TO go to Him for His help.

Lastly,

Forgiveness and it's BENEFITS are for you!

Now, If they don't forgive you or accept yours, honey, that's on them and they'll have to go to God on their own behalf.

Moving forward, let me tell you a few of the things that forgiveness IS NOT :

• It's not ALWAYS making up to be besties again.

• It's not continuing to allow the wrong behavior.

• It's not continuing to talk about them behind their backs.

The list could wrap around the solar system thousands of times but I'll stop with those.

BUT

I'll share with you what I've learned forgiveness IS --IT'S FREEDOM!

Freedom that's connected to renewed joy, love and PEACE!

ALL BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD!

[Proverbs 30:5]

Well Class, that's it for today.

Make sure you review "The Book" because you never know when there will be a pop quiz!

HINT: THERE'S ALWAYS A POP QUIZ!

*PS-- This is LIFE, class is never dismissed.