“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
C.S. Lewis
Today I walked into a cute coffee shop on 1st street called “GIANT CAFE.” When I meet people I like to be there early. Today I got there specifically SUPER early so I could sit, be, focus and be present. It had been a long time since I had seen the person I was specifically meeting. The last time I saw him it had been in confusion, anger and a lot of unforgiveness. I walked up to the counter ordered my drink (Iced almond milk chai) and sat quietly. I opened my Bible and was asking God for clarity. I had thought I had let go, I thought I had forgiven- but this meeting would be clarity to see if I had truly forgiven.
Flash back to a couple weeks before at training camp.
We were having a time of worship. It was intense and the last night of seeking God with our squads. I just remember saying out loud everything I knew I needed to let go of, that’s when one of my awesome squad mates (slash fellow team SOZO member) Rachel came up and prayed for me. She saw this picture of me pushing a mountain- like hard core cross fit status pushing this mountain- THEN Freedom. In the midst of those things I needed to let go of, a piece of that mountain, was the unforgiveness I was holding towards this individual. God in that moment spoke to me about meeting the object of my unforgiveness head on with forgiveness.
Flash back to the present story.
I sat sipping my chai at the coffee shop. Not sure how to feel or how I would respond. I didn’t even know what to pray. I just opened the Bible to where I had been chewing on, 1 Timothy. There in the midst of wisdom written thousands of years ago, Holy Spirit made it clear to me:
“Pursue a righteous life- a life of wonder, faith, Love, Steadiness & Courtesy. RUN HARD AND FAST in THE FAITH. Seize the eternal life, the life YOU were called to, the life YOU embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.”
-1 Timothy 6:11-12 (THE MESSAGE)
As I was chewing on this scripture the object of my unforgiveness walked into the cafe and tapped me on my shoulder, I turned around and was smacked with forgiveness. It was crazy. As I walked around to give him a hug, I had peace. I felt freedom. That mountain began to move. I fully let go and was surrendered to all that Jesus wanted to do.
Its crazy to know how long I had been walking in unforgiveness. It’s crazy how much freedom forgiveness brings. But why am I so surprised? Jesus forgave me & forgives me daily.
The world race hasn’t even officially begun, and yet my life is already being changed in dynamic ways. If God has already done all that HE has thus far, in and through my life, what will this year bring?
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Mahatma Gandhi, All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections
What mountains do you need Jesus to move in your life?
Who do you need to forgive?
What do you need to let go of?
<3
Ash
#TeamAsh
#Yearoftheninja
P.S. This has been my Jam lately. I encourage you to listen to this song and pray about what Jesus wants to do in and through your life today.
