The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "FORGIVENESS" for Wednesday, 11 May 2016 with Scripture: Luke 6:35-38

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "FORGIVENESS" for Wednesday, 11 May 2016 with Scripture: Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing back! Your reward will be great, and you will be children of Ha‘Elyon; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Show compassion, just as your Father shows compassion.
37 “Don’t judge,
    and you won’t be judged.
Don’t condemn,
    and you won’t be condemned.
“Forgive,
    and you will be forgiven.
38 Give,
    and you will receive gifts —
the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”
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Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.[Colossians 3:13 (CEB)]
Ten years ago in Baudó, Colombia, a family friend took the life of my father. My family had helped this person along with some of his other family members. After a falling out with my brother, this person sought revenge by killing my father. His senseless act filled me with unbelievable hatred for him.
Later, I went to the city of Cali where my aunt lived and she invited me to her church. My faith increased as I learned more about Jesus Christ and accepted him as my Savior. In addition, I attended regular prayer meetings held at my aunt’s house. At one such meeting, the leader began to lead us in prayer based on the theme of forgiveness. At that moment I sensed a very real presence persuading me that in order to seek forgiveness from God, I first had to forgive my father’s killer.
When we finished praying, the leader asked each person to share any comments about our prayer time. When it was my turn, I opened my mouth but could not speak. I wept as I was overcome by the marvelous transformation I had just experienced. Since then, I have gained inner peace and am at peace with other people. I have learned to pray for the person who caused my family harm. We can all experience the salvation and the forgiveness God offers.
The Author: Sindy Yuliana Granja (Cali, Colombia)
Thought for the Day: With God’s help I can forgive and love anyone.
Prayer: Loving God, help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us. Amen.
Prayer focus: FOR THE COURAGE TO FORGIVE---------------------