Daily Devotionals by Ardith Keef

Forgiveness does not occur when the feelings change. Forgiveness occurs at the moment of obedience.

For the one belonging to the Lord, real forgiveness happens in prayer. Even if the sting of bitterness remains, the act is done by faith, and one who tells his Father he yields his grievance and position to Him has obeyed.

We are accustomed to evaluating ourselves by our feelings, and often when we have talked to the Lord about the things that seem sticky, they linger like a ringing in our ears. But unless we deliberately reach out and adopt thoughts that review the situation or person negatively, we can know that there is release to the One who prays according to the will of God.

Many, many times, behavior come first, and then the healing experience will follow.