May 30: Forgive and Forget? IMPOSSIBLE!

Eccl. 12:9-10, 7:7-26, 10:1-11:6, 12:11-12, 7:1-6, 7:15-18, 7:27-29, 8:1

Ecclesiastes 7:19-26

Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 [True] wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers or valiant generals who are in the city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and never sins.

21 Do not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you—

22 For often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others.

I have lost much sleep in times past because of words spoken against me. I have learned to ignore most of what I hear that is said against me. If the person truly wants to work it out, they will come to me directly. 

These words in verse 22 are so true! I have rolled my eyes or sneered inwardly many times when I was annoyed by someone. I'm ashamed to admit this. But I am comforted to know I'm not alone. 

No one is perfect. All we are required to do is keep doing the right thing to the best of our ability and with God's help. And cleanse our hearts. Repeatedly. 

And remember, when you feel overwhelming guilt time and time again even after you have asked forgiveness and cleansed your heart, that is NOT God dealing with you. It's satan. He is the accuser of the brethren.

"God is well able to deal with our sins, but He cannot deal with a man under accusation because such a man is not trusting in the blood. The blood speaks in his favor, but he is listening instead to satan. Christ is our advocate, but we, the accused, side with the accuser. We have not recognized that we are unworthy of anything but death. That as we shall shortly see, we are only fit to be crucified anyway. We have not recognized that it is God alone that can answer the accuser, that in the precious blood He has already done so. Never should we try to answer satan with our good conduct, but always with the blood. Yes, we are sinful, but praise God, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." 

I couldnt find the author of that paragraph but isnt it good? So when you've sinned, and have asked God's forgiveness, and have asked others' forgiveness, but still feel awful, it's time to tell satan he's a liar, and rejoice, because your sin is under the blood of Jesus. And if you feel others still remember your sin and are not acting like they've forgiven you, pray for them and be kind to them. Humans aren't as forgiving as God. It may take some time. Sometimes a LOT of time. Continue to pray for them and let go because you cant MAKE someone forgive and forget. Only God can change a human heart. 

23 All this have I tried and proved by wisdom. I said, I will be wise [independently of God]—but it was far from me.

24 That which is is far off, and that which is deep is very deep—who can find it out [true wisdom independent of the fear of God]?

25 I turned about [penitent] and my heart was set to know and to search out and to seek [true] wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [and what had led me into such wickedness and madness].

26 And I found that [of all sinful follies none has been so ruinous in seducing one away from God as idolatrous women] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are bands. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth andsensual joy.

5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

"Dear God, grant us wisdom today. Wisdom to know when we are supposed to take action concerning a matter, and wisdom to know when to be still and let You work. Help us to let go of others' attitudes toward us. Some people will hate us seemingly without a cause. We may NEVER know why they act the way they do. But it's okay! We can look them in the eye, smile, and love with Your perfect love. It's exciting and empowering to be able to love like You love. And it's entirely possible! With Your love working in us, we can love the unlovely. We give You ALL the glory that belongs to You. And ALL the credit for loving. In Your name, the name of Jesus, AMEN."