Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them. Provers 24: 17-18
Our heart attitude can be entirely different from the attitude we portray on the outside. I know, I am speaking from my own past experiences and having a not so great heart attitude because I let my hurt run my heart. But my outward appearance would say otherwise, it would seem like I was so happy. It’s so easy to put on a smile and act like we are happy for someone, when inside we are so angry they seem to be getting blessed and we know what they have done to us (or even others). It’s also easy to act like we are hurting along with someone, but inside be thinking they got exactly what they deserved, when they have hurt us or treated us badly.
Oh, friends, that is not the kind of heart attitude we should have. Not only does it hurt us, but it also hinders the works God wants to do in our lives. God always sees our heart attitudes. I don’t know about you, but I think the world would be a much better place if we could see one another’s heart attitudes. If we knew everyone could see the real way we are feeling in the moment, I bet it would allow us to really work internally and forgive, so that the heart attitude we have ALL THE TIME (vs just some of the time) would be coming from a place of love.
I know, in the past I’ve said “How exciting” when someone who has hurt myself or others has something wonderful happen for them, but then turn and grumble to God “Why is that happening for them after what they did.”
Friends, we are not to hold on to offenses. When we hold onto them, we are blocking the blessings of God in our own lives and sometimes even a restoration that God wants to happen. We may be beautiful on the outside, but is that a true reflection of what is going on inside?
In the past (and sometimes I have to really pray, to this day, when it comes to certain situations), I have had a horrible heart attitude. I got hurt by someone and then would allow that hurt to take over, when I saw said person have wonderful things happen for them and get bitter. It didn’t seem fair! What I have learned as I press into God, every day, is that having a wrong heart attitude made me miserable. So, now, I try so hard to go straight to God when I am hurt by another and just ask God to help me forgive them and move on. Sometimes it takes many prayers asking God to help me and sometimes I get that peace in the moment.
Thankfully, God opened my eyes (figuratively speaking), and was reminded that God can’t bless bitter people because they are not fully allowing Him to move in their heart. Oh, friend, how much do we want God to move in our hearts…to make us more like him! Bitterness is the perfect tool for Satan to use to hold us back, in our walk with God, and ultimately keeping us from the blessings He wants to give us.
There are so many verses on forgiving (and yes even praying for) your enemy (I translate that to mean someone who has hurt you in whatever way that is causing you to have any sort of anger or bitterness in your heart) in the bible. That’s not a coincidence. There’s a reason God wants us to forgive those who hurt us and not rejoice in their suffering or be upset when good things to them.
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy and harboring a bad heart-a-tude is definitely one thing we can change. As I grow in my walk with God I realize how much happier and at peace I am, when I am truly happy for people, even the ones who hurt me. It’s amazing what living in peace does for us.
Today, take a heart check, do you have a good or bad heart attitude when it comes to past hurts? If there is someone who has hurt you take a moment to pray for them, thank God for blessing them and see just what it does for you!
Toni Patton
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Loved this post.
Thanks mom!!