Word of the Day
Let go of all things from your past. Forgive your mother and father…forgive anyone who has been in a position to mother, father or mentor you in any way if they have hurt you or you have been offended. No matter if the person is living or not…forgiveness and honor must be given.
Honor is to reverence, show respect, admire, esteem, and appreciate, to prize, to praise, to be devoted to and to deeply care about. The time has come to reflect on where the enemy has used the past against you in relation to dishonor. Honoring does not mean doing as an adult what your parents say. However, it is listening with respect and then making your own decisions based on My direction.
Even as adults, though you may not live with your parents, they deserve the honor and respect I have commanded. Remember, you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-9). Sow good seeds into the lives of your parents and reap a bountiful harvest. I know some cannot have contact with parents for many reasons. However, this does not keep you from thinking and speaking in a lovely and upright way. Sometimes silence is golden.
Words, thoughts and deeds directed at your parents in past days can affect your life today. Just because you have forgotten doesn’t mean they can’t affect you. My principles never change. They are set in motion by what you sow or don’t sow. Either you swim upstream or flow in the river of My life. Choose life (Deuteronomy 30:18-20, Proverbs 18:21). Take time to think on this. I am right beside you.
Remember this, I never commanded for you to honor them if they filled some kind of criteria. I simply said honor without qualification as long as it doesn’t cause you to violate My word. To whatever degree of dishonoring you have done or continue to do, the time has come to confess and take the appropriate action. If necessary, go to your loved ones and confess, asking forgiveness. If they are no longer here, find a friend and confess your dishonor (James 5:16). This will build an altar…a memorial to use against the enemy’s wiles in this area of your life. When he comes to accuse you can point this altar out. Now that you have had time to think, confess, and repent, it is time to receive the blessing My child. It is time to receive the blessing of one who has honored.
In the midst of this, remember to forgive as I have forgiven you. Do not nullify the work of the cross. My grace is sufficient and My love boundless. I have already given you everything necessary to accomplish this and to overcome, My loved one.
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you (Deuteronomy 5:16 Amplified)
Prayer
Search my heart Lord. Show me the pathway to freedom. I put down my own search light and release all areas of my life to You. Forgive me for judging my parents and not walking according to Your words. I ask You to bring every wrong or negative word, thoughts and action to my remembrance. As You remind me, I will lay them down at your feet, Jesus. I will choose mercy and grace. I choose to forgive and honor. To do so, does not mean I should put myself in harm’s way. It does mean I should not hate and let a root of bitterness grown in my heart. Even the most subtle things can make way for wrong roots to grow into an unwanted harvest.
Therefore, I choose to plow up the fallow ground of my heart in response to the conviction of Holy Spirit and not guilt. I will only respond as I am prompted and will not dig up things You are not working on. Reveal to me all I need to forgive line upon line until I am completely free of all resentment, bitterness, anger, guilt and shame.
Even if I experienced hurt or trauma from those who were supposed to love me, You were always aware of my suffering and longed to hold me close. You wanted those around me to demonstrate Your heart; but, some of them were wounded themselves and could not do so. It is not Your desire or heart for anyone to suffer; but, people have a free will which is often not submitted to You. When this happens, there is more death than life.
Lord, I give all my struggles physical, emotional and relational into Your hands. I trust in Your goodness and faithfulness. Surrendering my heart enables me to hear Your voice. I open up the well of my heart. Come, sweet Holy Spirit. I am here. Amen.
Reflect and Journal
- In what areas do you need to ask for forgiveness in relation to your parents, those who have been like parents toward you, those who have shepherded you, or functioned as your employer when you consider some of the definitions of honor?
- If you have made any judgments against them, release them from them and any words you may have spoken. It helps to write the words down so you can have a visual representation of what you are confessing. Confess, repent and tear up the paper, flush the paper or burn it.
- Consider My mercy and grace. Contemplate My faithfulness and goodness toward you this day. Record My instructions to you, that you might not forget and be found lacking.
- Now, take the time to forgive yourself for we are told to love others as we love ourselves. How can you love yourself if you haven’t forgiven yourself? How can you love God if you have blamed Him and not forgiven Him as well? Forgive God? Yes! Remember, it is about your perception and blame, not God’s character and person.