by, Pat Whitney

I KNOW that true forgiveness is like breathing - it is one of the "essentials" of life - TRUE, VICTORIOUS LIFE. Our God has given us physical life, in which, one part is inhaling and exhaling...something we don't even think about or realize...until this one "essential" of life is interrupted. Maybe through sickness, asthma, or whatever it may be, our breathing sometimes gets interrupted. It's not as natural and easy as it once was, and we are VERY aware of it! It is the one thing that if not received or given out moment by moment, day by day, year by year, on a constant basis ultimately destroys us...actually in a very short amount of time.

Breathe in, breathe out. Go ahead do that right now. Forgiveness in, forgiveness out. Can you do that just as easily? Do you truly know how much and how often you have been forgiven in Christ? Can you recall a time when you weren't able to breathe so easily or deeply, but today you can? Can you recall KNOWING the blessedness of being forgiven? Forgiveness in. And just like our physical bodies need to exhale in order to take our next breath, our soul need to "exhale" forgiveness in order to have that abundant life. Who or what do you need to "exhale" forgiveness to? Maybe the person who sits in front of you at church, or maybe on the other side of the church because you've been avoiding him or her. Maybe someone who offended you. Maybe someone who has hurt you...deeply.

Forgiveness in. Forgiveness out.