“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32

During more than ten years Esperanza’s marriage went through serious conflicts. She put up with all kinds of mistreatment from her husband. However, she later came to understand the root of everything that she had gone through. It was her own mother, who had confessed words over her life and her marriage that had marked her and laid out the path that would be her future. She said, “With that man you will never have to go through financial difficulties, however, he is going to mistreat you so much that your life is going to be a misery.” Even though, at the time, she paid no attention to what her mother had told her, those words became a reality in her life. This went on, until one day the couple went to church together as a last resort before filing for divorce. As the invitation to receive Jesus was made from the platform, her husband was the first to raise his hand. She thought to herself, “What a hypocrite, he can’t be sincere, he thinks that through this he is going to convince me that he is changing so I will not file for divorce.” However, she decided to give it a try and see whether he was being genuine so they both went forward and accepted Jesus into their lives. They postponed the divorce, and waited to see what would happen. The greatest desire the wife had was for her husband to recognize all the pain that he had made her go through and to ask her for forgiveness. However, time went on and none of this happened.

Finally, they both signed up for a Marriage Encounter and in one of the messages about asking for forgiveness, she began thinking to herself, “Finally, he will have to recognize everything that he has done to me. Surely, he is going to have to do what he has not wanted to do all these years and ask me for forgiveness.” The husband turned and looking her in the eyes began to say, “My love, I forgive you for everything you have done to me.” She almost fainted because of what she heard. She thought he had not only failed to recognize his own error, but he also had the nerve to say, “I forgive you.” She left the Marriage Encounter totally disillusioned. Later on, God stirred her heart to attend a Women’s Encounter. In a time of ministry regarding forgiveness they asked everyone to find a substitute who could take the place of the person they were trying to forgive. Next to her was a close friend who knew exactly what she was going through, because she had been her husband’s secretary. She knew about the beatings, and how this man had mistreated her. This woman approached her and told her, “Will you allow me to take the place of your husband?” She nodded and this lady began to say, “Please forgive me for all the times I mistreated you, for humiliating you. I was so harsh to you. Forgive me for the times that I ignored you and despised you.” The wife began to cry and responded, “I forgive you with all my heart for what you did.” That day the woman was free, she understood that even though she was looking for her husband to come and ask for forgiveness, in reality, it was she who had the bondage of resentment in her heart.

At the end of the encounter, her husband came to receive her. When she saw him she threw herself in his arms and said, “My love, I want you to forgive me for being so harsh with you, I have been indifferent and very contemptuous.” When she said these words, the husband broke down and started to cry. He began to say almost the same words that her friend had said at the encounter. They hugged for a long time. They cried and continued to ask for forgiveness. The curse of resentment was finally broken.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
This woman was waiting for her husband to say, “Forgive me.” However, she was the one who had first needed to remove the resentment from her heart. When she finally did this, she was able to receive divine mercy and blessing. Today they are both Pastors, leaders of many cell groups and they help couples who have struggled with different marital conflicts.

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“The love of God freed me from all affliction and gave me faith to live, strength to forgive and grace to advance.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume One.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

• Old Testament: Leviticus 26-27; Psalms 47
• New Testament: Matthew 21:12-22; Acts 28:17-31