Seeing God’s Heart

I love it when God shows me a glimpse of his heart and teaches me a lesson. I received an email from someone today who apologized for something and said he hopes that I will forgive him. As I thought of this message my heart softened and grew in love. I had forgiven the offense a long time ago, but because my friend has been unwilling to have relationship with me he has been unable to see that. I am thankful that he is growing and opening up, and I hope that he will one day understand my forgiveness and choose to walk in it.

This is just like my relationship with God. I mess up daily, and it can take me a long time to recognize that and go to God to admit my faults. In the meantime God is waiting, offering me forgiveness if I will just receive it. Instead, I tend to avoid him, keep my distance, or keep him at arms length. All the time he is just waiting for me to come forward. He wants me to choose the relationship again instead of choosing to live in my own broken ways. When I do finally come to him all he wants to do is embrace me and love me, leaving the past and the pain behind. He wants me to understand that the forgiveness has always been there, and it always will be there, I just have to choose to walk in it.

Do you understand that God is offering you forgiveness every day? Are you choosing to walk in it, or are you avoiding the relationship? Forgiveness is a gift that God has promised us. Choose that gift and let him express his tremendous love for you. It will change you and your life.

Restoring the damage done

My church is doing a series on relationships and I am preparing a lesson for next Sunday on restoration, the act of bringing something back to a former, original, or normal state. When I teach it must come from my heart so I am thinking a lot about what it means to restore a relationship, and about God’s heart for us and his role in that restoration.

On Sunday I heard a lesson on living honestly with others where we were challenged to daily ask if we had made bad decisions today and to recognize the impact those had on others. On the way home I heard a song in a new light. Here are the words to Damage Done by Shaun Groves.

Have you made decisions that impacted others, even if it was unintentional, where you need restoration? Have you struck the match and burned a bridge? Have you drawn your sword when you should have opened up your heart and shown love instead? What can you do to find restoration in your relationships? Maybe it starts with three little words. I am sorry.

Damage Done by Shaun Groves
Yesterday, once again
I fell down and broke a friend
Words were said, out of place
I hope that it’s not too late
To right this wrong
Cause I was wrong

I struck the match
I burned the bridge
I’m to blame for all of it
I lost your trust
When I drew my sword
This distance is my just reward
Can I undo the damage done?

Couldn’t sleep, part of me
Was crying out from hurting you
So afraid, you would say
There is nothing I can do
To right this wrong
I was wrong
(Chorus)
Listen friend, I must confess
You deserved more
I gave you less
It tears me up that I let you down
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
(Chorus)
The damage done
I’m sorry