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You Make the First Move

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison."
Matthew 5:25

You will never get ahead as long as you are trying to get even. Never! Jesus said, "Make the first move; make things right," because grudges will hold you back. When you have been wounded by a friend's betrayal, a partner's unfaithfulness, a boss's unfair treatment, or a parent's hurtful words, unforgiveness will cost you more than just your temper. It will damage your relationships, kill your productivity, accelerate the ageing process, cause anxiety and depression, contribute to heart disease and arthritis, and rob your life of its zest. Forgiveness, on the other hand, wipes the slate clean and reverses much of the damage that has already been done. People who forgive, experience increased self-esteem and reduced anxiety. Check out these two Scriptures:

1. 'Don't laugh when your enemy falls. Don't crow over his collapse' (Proverbs 24:17).
2. '...if you see your enemy hungry...buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink.Your generosity will surprise him...' (Romans 12:20).

Do you remember as a child when a friend took your toy and you thought you would always hate them? Yet minutes later you were back playing together like nothing ever happened. Well, Jesus said that unless you learn to think like a child, you will not enjoy the benefits of His kingdom. Children do not dwell on the past, they live in the present, never worry about the future, and forgive quickly. That is a great strategy for life! So, ask yourself today, 'Who do I need to forgive?' Then do it as quickly as possible!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me forgive that person today who I have been unforgiving to for way too long. In Jesus' Name, Amen