ABUNDANCE (part 3)

The final stronghold that keeps us from abundance is a lack of trust from an actual or perceived betrayal. Before you think I do not have conflict with anyone, the lack of trust from what feels like betrayal can be rooted in a feeling of self-judgement or even disappointment (in God) that things did not work out the way you wanted. Relational conflict or being disappointed in our past actions, results, or circumstances can create a feeling of betrayal and lack of trust. Bitterness grows from the feeling of betrayal and unforgiveness. The only answer is forgiveness.

Matthew 18: 21-22 says, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘LORD, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven time.’”

Essentially, Jesus is telling us to lose track of how many times we forgive. He warns us not to get stuck in unforgiveness.

A common anecdote about unforgiveness is drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. I like a different picture… When we are stuck in the bitterness of actual and perceived betrayal, it is like we are standing on a chair and cannot get down. We can see all kinds of things (true and good things) from the chair, but we cannot move because we are trapped on a chair. When bitterness is a stronghold, the chair becomes the place where we operate from. We are stuck and forward progress is stopped.

We hold back when we are bitter. Forgiveness moves us to a place of abundance because we are able to give ourselves again. Forgiveness is not about the other person, but about allowing us to move into the abundance of possibility and the future. It does not necessarily mean reconciliation, but it allows us to move from that place, so we do not operate from the place of bitterness.

Is there someone you need to forgive? Yourself? God?

I hope you take the time this holiday season to reflect on the opportunity for abundance in your life. Where are you stuck in strongholds of scarcity? What steps can you take right now to move toward the abundance God has designed for your life?