Thanksgiving Challenge: Thanking God For Sins Against Me
When someone sins against me, I own an arsenal of responses. Bitterness. Retribution. Anger. Revenge. (Just to name a few.)
If a driver cuts me off on the road, I can honk and yell.
If someone speaks unkindly, I can return cutting sarcasm and evidence of their own wrong.
When rudeness, neglect, hurt, cheating, or any other of the plethora of offenses I encounter daily come my way, I can take it up a notch and give back better than I received.
But….
That doesn’t sound anything like Jesus.
... Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. …When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:21, 23 ESV)
Well then, looks like I need a new pattern, and thanksgiving will change me.
Thanksgiving Challenge
Last week we thanked the Lord for our sorrows. If you participated in that challenge, and you’re anything like me, I bet you found it difficult. Thanking Jesus for griefs contradicts my normal response. But, because He bore our griefs on the cross, thanking Him for the sorrows spiritually transforms them from burdens we bear to garlands of praise.
This week's challenge: THANKING GOD for sins others have committed against us. Sound even crazier than last week?
Maybe so. It’s definitely opposite to the desire of my flesh. I don’t want anyone to get away with something for which they should pay, or, at the very least, regret. What would be the justice in that?
And is it just me that struggles with forgiving someone of something, but still struggling with anger when the memory of the hurt returns? It looks like this:
An old memory taunts me and accuses the perpetrator
Hurt rises
I recall I’ve forgiven that person
The memory pokes again and demands resolution
I want to forgive but I desire justice at the same time
Cue the frustration.
But, if, when the old hurt comes calling, I thank God FOR the pain, its power flees. Thanking the Lord removes the thorn. It turns the table on the hurt. It reverses the pain. This counter-intuitive act of thanking God releases a new level of forgiveness in me.
I trust the Lord with the need for justice.
I place my faith in the Righteous Judge.
I thank Him for the pain.
And then? FREEDOM! Like the William Wallace screaming, “Freedom!” in Braveheart kind of freedom.
Give Hurts To Jesus
This week, Your challenge is to THANK GOD FOR THE SINS AGAINST YOU.
As you thank the Lord for other’s hurts against you, let your mind wander back. What old issues evaded resolution? Those easily develop into roots of bitterness, which spring up as thorns in places we least expect them. They muddy our responses to others, and pollute our thinking.
Ask the Lord to bring back every memory and when He does, THANK HIM FOR IT.
Warning: at first, every impulse may protest. You might not feel ANY gratitude as you say, “Thank You.” That’s okay. We don’t have to feel good about obeying in order to obey.
Then wait for Jesus to meet YOU. He always does, and He transforms reluctance into joy.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! (Psalm 107:21-22 ESV)
Write It Down
Just like last week, I suggest you either draw a cross on a sheet, or print out the one I provide (sign up below). Write on there everything you remember. And THANK JESUS for it. And then the next time the memory calls your name, recalling your hurt, you can point to that picture and say, “No thank you. I’ve chosen thankfulness over bitterness."
Hint: as you use the printed cross and write these down, you might want to use code words for the sins of people in your home. This exercise is between you and Jesus, not a passive aggressive way to bring up past garbage.
Remember, it’s a challenge and therefore difficult. But the fruit and joy it will bring is transformative.
Let’s Give Thanks!
Thanksgiving is hard but so worth it! If you haven’t thanked God for your sorrows yet, check out last week’s blog and give it a go at the same time you thank Him for other’s sins. Think of all the time you’ll spend with Jesus!
Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving,
and the voices of those who celebrate.
I will multiply them, and they shall not be few;
I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
(Jeremiah 30:19 ESV)
Sign Up Below!
When you sign up below you’ll receive an email to your inbox. Please press the confirm button and then you will receive an email with the page and password to the printable. There are other prayer helps there so check them out and feel free to use them all!