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The Power of Forgiveness + 15 Bible Verses about forgiveness

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The Power of Forgiveness + 15 Bible Verses about forgiveness

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The Power of Forgiveness + 15 Bible Verses about forgiveness

The Power of Forgiveness

Life is made up of seasons. The power of forgiveness is one that carries us through a lot of these. People will be people, and we will be wronged. No matter how well you start a race, the grandest significance is placed on how you finish it.

As we finish one season, let us finish it stronger than we started. We are going to be dealing with issues. This season is just one stage of this race, a new one is coming.

However, before we move into the next chapter, we ought to close some pages in order to make way for new adventures in the next chapter. This is what we will be doing in this series leading to the end of this year. As always we intend to make each day’s teaching and prayer short and precise.

power of forgives


Forgiveness

You may have been hurt in this year or in years before, but do not carry that hurt into your future. Your future will have its own challenges and pains and tears and joy, do not let the past hold you back from thrusting forward into a greater future.

A Practical Path to forgiveness

Let us make this practical, get a paper and pen right now. Write down every single person or situation that has hurt you this year. Take your time, do not leave anything or anyone out. Once you have them down, it is time to let it go! It is great that you have acknowledged the source of your pain, that’s a great step in healing.

No matter how strong or weak you maybe, what you carry will always determine the speed at which you will travel. The only time heavy weights will help you go faster is when you are going down!

You are rising in the coming season, let go of anything that will weigh you down. It may be pain and heartache from the past, it has slowed you down long enough.

It may be the company you keep around you, take a moment to write down individuals who are not pushing you forward or pulling you up. I have learned in this year, to keep around me only two kinds of people. Those who inspire me and those who I inspire. Anyone else is surplus.

You are on this earth for a limited time, do not waste any precious moment on anyone who is not contributing to your growth!

Some people and past situations and hurt work like a leash. You can only move further when you are off the leash. The leash will always set a limitation on how far forward you can go as long as you are attached to it.

You have no business being attached to anyone and anything that will be a leash to you! You are called to move forward and upwards, you are not called to stagnancy and limitations. Some stagnancy in life is because of the company or the pain we hold on to.

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Now get that paper you wrote on. Let us pray:

Prayer

Father, I thank you for this wonderful teaching. I thank you for wanting me to move forward and up in all I do. From this moment on I ask that you cut ties that I have with anyone and anything that is holding me back from moving ahead.

Father, prune me of all stagnancy and leashes in my life. In the coming season, I will move forward! I will move at top speed with nothing slowing me down! All secret sin, all hurt, all grudges, all pain I give them to you Lord. I am weary from carrying them, father. Take them all. I will soar like an eagle in this year in the mighty name of Jesus.

Amen

Now I want you to call each thing or person on your list by name, and say I release you or I forgive you, whichever applies. Tear the paper. In the name of Jesus, I declare you free, and whoever the son of man sets free is free indeed, Thank you, Jesus, for setting us free.

Bible Verses About Forgiveness

The Bible is filled with examples and teaching about forgiveness. As a child, I remember reading that you had to forgive 77 times. This made me start counting how many times people would mess up.

It sort of starts to drive you crazy after a while. The goal is not to keep a record of wrongs. Neither is it to let people take advantage of you. Over the years my yardstick has become Christ himself. How many times have I messed up? How many times has he forgiven me?

Colossians 1:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 in whom we have redemption [a]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 25:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness

A Psalm of David.

25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

Psalm 32:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Joy of Forgiveness

A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.

32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered.

Psalm 39:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will guard my ways,

Lest I sin with my tongue;

I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,

While the wicked are before me.”

Psalm 106:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Joy in Forgiveness of Israel’s Sins

106 Praise the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 130:4 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 But there is forgiveness with You,That You may be feared.

Daniel 9:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.

Mark 3:29 New King James Version (NKJV)

29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—

Mark 11:25 New King James Version (NKJV)

Forgiveness and Prayer

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

Acts 5:31 New King James Version (NKJV)

31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:38 New King James Version (NKJV)

38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;

Acts 26:18 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified[a] by faith in Me.’

2 Corinthians 2:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Paul Urges Forgiveness

2 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

Ephesians 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Colossians 1:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 in whom we have redemption [a]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The Power of Forgiveness + 15 Bible Verses about forgiveness 1

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Originally posted 2014-12-22 01:12:39.

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Wonderful Story of Ruth and Boaz: Ultimate Guide to Singleness

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Wonderful Story of Ruth and Boaz: Ultimate Guide to Singleness

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Ruth and Boaz

RUTH AND BOAZ

I am sure you have heard of Ruth and Boaz? Relationships are incredibly complex. Being single also comes with its own issues, with increasing pressure as well as you grow older. There is a wonderful story in scripture that we can all learn from as we meander through the complexity of being single, and wait on the Lord to give us a spouse to marry. This is the story of Ruth and Boaz.

Who are Ruth, Naomi and Boaz?

Naomi was the Elimelek’s wife. Elimelek and Naomi had two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. They all lived in Moab. Their sons were married to Ruth and Orpah, who were Moabites.

Prior to their sons marrying Ruth and Orpah, Elimelek passed away. Their sons were married for 10 years to Ruth and Orpah, then died as well. Naomi was left with neither husband nor child. Her two daughters in law were still young, so they could still remarry and have a life of their own. Ruth 1:11

Naomi set off back to her own people, with her Ruth and Orpah. Orpah heeded to her mother in law’s plea to remain in Moab, and returned to her people, BUT, Ruth wouldn’t have it. There was an eternal loyalty in Ruth that refused to break away from her mother in law.

15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realised that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

With Ruth’s insistence, Naomi finally accepted. What we ought to recognise is that she tied herself to Naomi, and committed to the God of Abraham and Isaac! There are some allegiances that will alter the course of your life, may God guide you into these, in Jesus’ name!

The key issue here would have been a willingness to put her loyalty and faith ahead of certainty and security. There was security in remaining with her own people in Moab. There was some form of certainty to be found in returning to be with her own family.

There was uncertainty in going to a land she had never been to.

The story Ruth and Boaz

Who is Boaz?

We are introduced to Boaz in Ruth 2. Boaz was Naomi’s relative on her husband’s side. He was described as a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek. Standing in this context would have been in reference to how he was regarded within the community. He was a wealthy man, but a generous one. Boaz cared for the poor in his community.

Ruth meets Boaz: Story of Boaz

  1. Ruth was very enterprising. She did not wait for a man to care for her. She did not wait for her mother in law to make a way for the two of them to be fed. Even in a foreign land, she sought ways to put food on the table. She was the ultimate example of a proverbs 31 woman.

2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”

When you place yourself in a place to work, you give God a way to bless you. We find that God led Ruth to the field of Boaz.

3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

Naomi’s hard work put her in a place for Boaz to notice her. It was not intentional on her part, she was simply going about her way. He, in turn, extended kindness to her.

8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me.9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

We also find out that Boaz extended this kindness because of what he had heard that Ruth had done for her mother in law after the passing of her husband. Ruth had no obligation to Naomi, yet she had stood by her side.

Boaz made sure that Ruth was fed and had food to drink while she worked, throughout the day.

Ruth 2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”

We also find that Boaz went out of his way to make things as easy as possible for Ruth while she gleaned. He even instructed his workers to leave some stalks for her to gather. His way was not for her to have crumbs off the table, but to eat from his table. That is grace from the Lord above!

15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

When Ruth returned and related to her mother in law what had happened she explained the relationship that the family already had with Boaz

20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”

In his field, Boaz had offered the security that Naomi had left behind in Moab. When you place your trust in God, and not in your own wisdom, he shows up for you. He shows you favour in every place where you set your foot. Let this be your testimony!

Naomi Sets Ruth Up The Threshing Floor

Ruth 3 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.

We find that Naomi felt responsible for her daughter in law, so wanted to make sure that she was catered for even after she passed on. Seeing as Ruth had already found favour in the eyes of Boaz and that Boaz was not married, it made sense.  

  1. Ruth was obedient to her mother in law. We know that when she was instructed to head to the threshing floor to meet Boaz.

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

As a guardian-redeemer, Boaz could have taken Ruth as his wife, but there was another guardian-redeemer who was closer to the family than Boaz was.

Ruth 3:14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

Boaz protected Naomi’s honour, as shown above. Had she been seen on the threshing floor, her statue in society would have been ruined. Boaz showed himself to be a man of great integrity. He sent Ruth back to her mother in law with barley.

  1. Waiting is always key to allowing God to do his will. Ruth was more than willing to wait. She was willing to follow her mother in law with no prospects of marriage. She was then asked to wait again!

Ruth 3:18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

We find that Boaz followed through on his word as recorded in Ruth 4. He met with the other guardian-redeemer to speak on the matter of the land. Whoever would buy the land that belonged to Elimelek would also marry Ruth.

Ruth married Boaz! She was younger and could have chosen to do things differently, but she was prudent. May the Lord give you prudence!

Boaz in the bible: Ruth, Naomi and Boaz lineage

To sum it up: Lessons for single men and women

  1. Ruth was loyal.
  2. Ruth was very enterprising.
  3. Ruth was obedient.
  4. Ruth was patient.
  5. Boaz was honourable.
  6. Boaz was generous.

Originally posted 2018-12-21 03:24:40.

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3 Powerful Wedding Prayers and 18 Marriage Prayer Points for Singles

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3 Powerful Wedding Prayers and 18 Marriage Prayer Points for Singles

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Marriage Prayer Points for singles

Most girls dream and long for the day that they walk down the altar. Their wedding prayer is one for the best ideal venue, the ideal man, the best possible weather and location. Apostle Paul urges those that can to stay unmarried, because of what potentially comes after the beautiful day. 1 Corinthians 7

Marriage is a commitment that lasts a lifetime. One day for the wedding, and the rest of the life to experience marriage. As the church, we ought to place more emphasis and impression upon our boys and girls the significance of what is to come after the wedding. 

The bible says that the Lord gives the desires of the heart, to those that delight in him. The late, Dr Myles Munroe has incredible teaching about the subject of preparation for marriage. It is called, The Myth of Singleness. I have placed the video below.

Add value to yourself, so that you bring more value to your spouse’s life as well. Your singleness is the most significant part of getting your marriage right. That is the period you get yourself ready, there is no transformation at the altar.

More than anything, our prayer is that the Lord would give you a spouse who will propel your destiny to greater heights, as you do the same for them! God forbid that your marriage would derail your destiny! We have created marriage prayer points for singles. It is the best time to sow into your marriage in prayer.

Lord prepare me: Marriage prayer points for singles

While it is great to find the right person to marry, it is more important to be the right person for someone else. Our prayer today is, Lord, make me the right person for my spouse. 

  1. Father make my days of being single count. Prepare me to be the best spouse that I can be.
  2. Open my eyes to my own flaws while I am still alone. Give me the humility to acknowledge where I am wrong, and to want to be better.
  3. Teach me to build someone up, while I am still alone, that I may be a worthy co-pilot when I marry.

Lord protect my spouse

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. – Frederick Douglass

MARRIAGE PRAYER POINTS FOR SINGLES

This world is a cold place. People usually come into marriages carrying baggage from their childhood, from their single life. The quote by Mr Douglass rings true for both male and female spouses. We bring our brokenness into our relationships.

Our prayer is that God would begin to mend marriages and relationships, such that children are raised free of the baggage that our brokenness pushes onto them. Lord, teach us to build strong children. 

  • Lord, I speak your covering over my spouse, even if I have yet to meet him/her. Protect them, in their coming and going out.
  • Grant them wisdom to grow into the man/woman that you have intended for them to become.
  • Just as you are preparing me to be a worthy companion and partner, raise him/her to be the same for me. Where I fall short, may they become a covering. Where he/she falls short, prepare me to be a covering.

Teach me to wait on you

We are often under pressure to be married by a certain age. This is a phenomenon that is common in the church. One could even argue that perhaps the pressure is one of the reasons why divorce rates have been rising even within the church. The bible tells us that there is grace for those who wait on the Lord.  Isaiah 40:31

The bible tells us of the pressure that Job was under due to people not seeing the hand of God in his life. We also know of the reward that was at the end of his faithful wait! Though it hurt, he waited!

  • Father teach me to wait on you. That I would not fall into the arms of the wrong person to appease family, friends or the church. A good wife and husband come from you, so I will wait for you. 

Proverbs 19:14 “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.”

  • Lord your time is perfect. May I not be swayed by earthly wisdom, rather, trust in your will and your process.

Proverbs 14:12 “12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Surround me with the right mentors

Wherever greatness is, there has always been a great mentor to foster it. Think of anyone who you think has achieved a great marriage. They had their grandparents to look at and think, “Lord, that is the sort marriage that I want.”

The disciples who went on to turn the world upside down had been mentored by Christ. The bible tells us that when they spoke, people recognised whom they had spent time with. 

Acts 4:13 says the following, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took note concerning them that they had been with Jesus.”

It didn’t matter how messed up or dysfunctional where these men had come from. It no longer mattered that they were unlearned and ignorant! They had been mentored well. Our prayer is that God would bring such people into your life, such that when people see where you end up, they will see the hand of the Lord! 

  • Lord make me coachable at every turn. Give me the grace to love correction, humility to accept my fault and bravery to make changes where I can. Proverbs 12:1
  • Lord as you raised Elizabeth in Mary’s time of need, raise someone to stand with me. Raise someone to speak life into me, to help me believe when I cannot see. Luke 1:39-45
  • Father give me the gift of discernment, to pick out the good voices from a crowd that will speak to me or over me! 

My marriage will be sweet

Great marriages are a bedrock for generations to come. This is why it is important for the enemy to fight our marriages. Our prayer is “Lord my marriage will not be a statistic for failure!” 

  • Father raise my marriage as a beacon of your grace! 
  • Father may we build it all on you! If we build without you we build in vain! Psalm 127.
  • You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. Grant me a sweet and wondrous marriage oh God.

Make me the best wife/husband I can possibly be

Men are raised to want the perfect woman for a wife. Women are raised to want the perfect man for a husband. There is little or no emphasis on being the perfect man or woman.

If we all want and no one focuses on being, we are setting ourselves up to fail. Our prayer today is that the Lord would deal with you as you wait for your intended. 

  • Search my heart oh Lord. If there is anything in me that will stand in the way of the marriage that you intend for me, rid me of it Lord!
  • Show me my brokenness, oh Lord. Where my shortcomings are, those that I may be blind to. 
  • Mend my brokenness. Father, whatever is broken in me, from my childhood, from previous relationships. Whatever baggage I am carrying forward, Lord heal me of it.

Prayers for Wedding Day

Downloadable Wedding Prayers

1 Samuel 7:12

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[a] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

You know how far the Lord has pulled you to get to this day. You know the pain he has had to pull you past. Today, we say Ebenezer, you have brought me to my wedding day oh Lord!

WEDDING PRAYER 1

Dear Heavenly Father,

Bless this, our wonderful day. Bless this, our marriage. Bless our wedding. We speak grace into everything that is planned out for the day. May it all be smooth. Grant us the grace to be at peace through it all. Most of all, I am grateful for my spouse! Bless him/her on this day! We thank you for keeping us thus far. Ebenezer! You have brought us thus far! Carry us forevermore! Amen.

WEDDING PRAYER

WEDDING PRAYER-PDF

 

WEDDING PRAYER 2

Father, I bless your name for my spouse. I thank you for carrying me and him/her through to this day. Bless this union oh God! Let this be a day that starts a wonderful marriage. We thank you for everyone in attendance! Thank you for the gifts, even the gift of life today. All glory returns to you oh God! Amen.

WEDDING PRAYER-2

WEDDING PRAYER pdf

WEDDING PRAYER 3

Oh God of wonders,

How marvellous are your works! How gracious you are to have brought us to the day of our wedding. We speak a blessing over this day! Over every guest, overall well-wishers, even those who could not be here to celebrate with us! May your glory be seen on this day! May your glory be evident in our marriage, forevermore. In Jesus’ name! Amen.

WEDDING PRAYER-3

WEDDING PRAYER-pdf download

Originally posted 2018-12-20 20:11:51.

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