Today’s blog post is a guest post from my friend and fellow Rainer Publishing author: Mark Riggins. Check this out:
I’m embarrassed every time I admit this but I’m a pastor who carried a grudge for three years.
My best friend (and fellow pastor) and I had ended our friendship over a significant disagreement. I needed to move on. I needed to forgive. But I couldn’t.
Being a pastor who can’t forgive is a little tricky.
A Christian who doesn’t forgive is a like a gifted violinist who refuses to play. Musicians play. Christians forgive.
As a Christian pastor who couldn’t forgive, I felt like a conductor who suddenly couldn’t read music. I was standing in front of the orchestra waving my arms hoping no one would notice I was off the beat.
I desperately wanted to lay it down at Jesus’ feet. I knew that would honor Jesus, His Kingdom, and would free me too. But I couldn’t let it go.
Eventually, I got honest. I got desperate.
I no longer wanted to be right, repaid, or vindicated. I just wanted to let it go.
I approached God with naked surrender. I had nothing left and was desperate.
That’s when God spoke. Slowly, he revealed steps for me to take. That’s when I began to experience refreshing relief. Over time, I discovered the freedom of total forgiveness.
Nothing feels better than a heart freed from a gigantic grudge!
I felt called to write a short book outlining the steps that freed me. If you want to forgive but don’t know how, this book is for you.
Pick up a copy of STUCK When You Want to Forgive but Don’t Know How on Amazon. Click HERE to learn how you can receive a bunch of additional FREE resources to help you completely forgive.
*** Mark Riggins is the Community Life Pastor at ENCOUNTER | Bible Fellowship Church in Ventura, CA. His new book STUCK When You Want to Forgive but Don’t Know How is available now on Amazon. Sign-up HERE for a FREE 30-Day Online Forgiveness Devotional. You can follow Mark on his blog: www.markriggins.org.