Two plans facing us every day

There are two plans facing us every day. One leads to life, the other leads to destruction. Jesus said, “The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy…I have come that you may have life…abundantly! (John 10:10).” How do we fall into the enemy’s trap that leads to destroying us? By not forgiving from the heart.

The bible says, “As believers in Christ: we must know the schemes of the enemy that will destroy us. I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes (II Cor. 2:10b-11).” Unforgiveness is a scheme of the enemy that will destroy us. Unforgiveness comes from the disappointment of unmet expectations. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick. (Prov. 13:12).” Unmet expectations can choke the life out of us—a wife that expected Prince Charming and got a man that hasn’t grown up yet, or the hard-working employee who was overlooked for a promotion.

Heb. 12:15 warns us, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Disappointments come from unmet expectations; expectations of what we felt God would do for us, expectations of our spouse, our church, our children, or from Christian leaders. It could even be expectations we have had of ourselves. Forgiving from the heart releases us and the one we forgive to experience the grace and favor of God. Forgiving does not mean what the person did was right. It may have been very wrong. But forgiving sets us free. Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34).” This releases us to experience God’s plan…living life abundantly!