In recent issues of “Barnabas Bulletin” I have been sharing on the importance of vision and the need to guard it against negative criticism and attacks from others. It is a fact of life that when we do God’s will, many do not understand why we do what we do. Jesus also warned us that it would be impossible to go through life without causing and/or picking up offences. It is at those times that we need to “take heed to ourselves”, otherwise we can take on board things into our spirit, heart and attitudes that will work against us ~ even though we may have been the innocent party in the offence. So often in life it is not how we act, but how we re-act to things that are spoken negatively to us. It is what we do once the offence has taken place. I have learned that the sooner one can place the offence on to God’s altar and leave it with Him, the sooner we can get it put behind us so we can get on with that which God has called us to do. Keeping short accounts is the best way I know how to release these things to God. Secondly, we are told to pray for those who “say all kinds of evil against us falsely” ~ this is so important because if we do not “let go” of these things they will rob us of a fruitful and fulfilling life. We are not made to carry offences, unforgiveness and grudges! Yet, tragically, today there are scores of professing Christians who are “wounded warriors” because of things others have said or done to them. We find this especially so in the prophetic realm. Many have been “put down” for prophesying or exercising other Spiritual Gifts. If we do not deal with these offences, and we continue to minister, then we will soon be “inflicting” upon others the very things we carry in our spirit.

The Lord taught me a good lesson a number of years ago. A Christian minister tried to accuse me of things that were not true. My first natural re-action was to re-act negatively back against him. However the Lord told me to pray aloud for him each day, asking Jesus to bless him. I well remember the first day trying to pray for the man. The prayer did not want to come out freely. I started with a “B-B-B-bless him, Lord . . .” but I did not really mean it. My thoughts were, “Why should God bless him after what he accused me of?” And so it was difficult to start with. But as I prayed blessing on him day after day, it became easier until I could pray and really mean it from my heart. At that point I knew I had forgiven him and released him to Jesus. I was then free to move on and put the whole matter behind me. Tragically for the man concerned, what he tried to put on me backfired on him and he went into a spiritual wilderness a short time later, and it has cost him years of effective service for Jesus. Over the years I have had to pray blessings on those who cursed me, and I have found that the shorter account I can keep with God over these negative happenings, the quicker I can get on and fulfil the purposes of God in my life. The truth is we just cannot afford to hold grudges against others. If we do, then we will finish up “angry, bitter and twisted” people ~ we finish up the losers!

Right now, if you are battling issues of unforgiveness toward someone else who has offended you, take it to JESUS right now. Place that person on God’s altar and start asking God to bless that person. Keep praying until you know in your heart that you genuinely desire God to bless that person. Know today that what has happened has happened ~ you cannot change that ~ but you can change the way it is affecting you, and you do not need to let it continue affecting you in a negative way. Life is too short to spend it negatively because of what someone else has said or done to you. I know it is easier said than done, but we Christians have no other choice. God does not bless any unforgiveness or grudges we carry against others. We will always finish up the losers!

Right now make that decision to do something about any offences you carry. Take them to the Lord Jesus in prayer and consciously release them to Him. Pray blessing on those you need to. Be released of the pain and bondage of it all, and then rise up again and serve the Lord like He called you to. Forgive your husband, wife, children, father, mother, employer, fellow- Christian(s), those who may have abused you verbally, physically or spiritually. Give them all to JESUS! He is your burden-bearer! You will never regret it! ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  

Luke 17:1-4; Matthew 5:11-12, 38-48; Matthew 6:14-15; Romans 12:9-21.

Please Pray This Prayer:

“Dear God, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I ask You to help me to be really serious about forgiving those who have criticized, hurt and offended me. I bring them to You right now. I place them on Your altar. I release them to You and I forgive them. Help me to leave them there with You. Bless them I pray! I ask You to help me to keep a right attitude and a good spirit toward those who have spoken negatively against me and/or the vision You have given me. I really do want to be an effective and fruitful minister of Your Supernatural Gospel in my day and generation. I desire to fulfil Your vision for my life! Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray these things. Amen." 

The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry,  New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.