How did you know I needed this devotion this morning? God is at work already! Still hurting, but I feel in my heart I have forgiven. Just need to heal I guess and some time away from that person to focus and love.Thanks again. - julie

This is definitely a lesson I don't mind learning or hearing over and over again. We can't be reminded enough to fogive people, and love them despite what they've done. Not only does God ask us to forgive those who sin against us, but He also tells us not to judge others. So even if they haven't sinned against us, we have no right to judge what they have done. Only God is able to judge us.

One of my biggest things this past year was learning how to forgive an old friend that had said really hurtful things to me, and attacked my faith. He also ended up refusing to continue the friendship at all, and wouldn't contact me, even if it was just a friendly hello and how are you. But with God I've been able to work through it and realize that I'm okay with everything that has happened, and if he ever wants to talk things out, I will be willing. I know God has the situation under control. - Kelsey

This is definitely a lesson I don't mind learning or hearing over and over again. We can't be reminded enough to fogive people, and love them despite what they've done. Not only does God ask us to forgive those who sin against us, but He also tells us not to judge others. So even if they haven't sinned against us, we have no right to judge what they have done. Only God is able to judge us.

One of my biggest things this past year was learning how to forgive an old friend that had said really hurtful things to me, and attacked my faith. He also ended up refusing to continue the friendship at all, and wouldn't contact me, even if it was just a friendly hello and how are you. But with God I've been able to work through it and realize that I'm okay with everything that has happened, and if he ever wants to talk things out, I will be willing. I know God has the situation under control. - Kelsey

Isn't it amazing (God at work) how a one minute devotion can get to the heart of a problem? I did stop and pray as the devotion suggests. Maybe someone can help me with this. What does one do when it is a whole industry that has caused such pain and loss to individuals and families? Personally, it was pornography that wrecked our family, caused loss of job and brought income level for the family down to poverty level. I have forgiven the family member involved (it was downloading, not production) but I still feel so angry at the industry. How does one forgive when they do not even know the people involved? For other hurt persons this could relate to the alcoholic beverage industry, the dope dealers, the gambling industry, etc. I have prayed that God would help me to forgive these unknown individuals. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? - Janice

So often in the porn industry the women and sometimes men involved have been abused sexually as children and then given drugs to be more apt to go along with what they are about to do, so I guess in a way a lot of them are victims also. Alot of the women start out thinking they are going to do regular photos and it just gradually becomes more. They are often given the drugs being told they are a little overweight and it will help. So I don't know if it helps Janice to think of those that you feel may have hurt you as also being some type of victim? I'm really sorry to hear about your circumstance and I would have to say I would have the same feelings also I'm sure. Bless you. - christ follower

One thing I am not clear on is whether we are called to forgive, or to be willing to forgive. God is willing to forgive our sins if we repent and accept his grace. If someone wrongs me, I should be willing to forgive, but do I really need to forgive that person if they are unwilling to ask for my forgiveness? If someone terribly harms my family, do I need to forgive them? If I feel they are truly repentant, and ask for forgiveness, absolutely yes, but if they are unrepentant, I don't know if I feel that is required. I'm not saying that I should hold a grudge, and like God, we should still love those who sin against us. But, I don't know if I would be moved to forgive that person. It seems like to truly forgive a sin, it is a two-way street, and the person who sinned against me must want to be forgiven. Of course, this could be me talking as a mere human, and perhaps God does expect more of us if we are living in His strength. - RickY

Here are some thoughts I heard a while back.
We are all children of the same creator god. We are all just as corrupt as each other. In that sense we are all the same.
Treat that other person as you would like to be treated, for that other person is you.
Forgive others as you want to be forgiven, for those other people are you. - Hal

Here are some thoughts I heard a while back.
We are all children of the same creator god. We are all just as corrupt as each other. In that sense we are all the same.
Treat that other person as you would like to be treated, for that other person is you.
Forgive others as you want to be forgiven, for those other people are you. - Hal

Janice: it wasn't the porn that wrecked your family, it was the one what downloaded it. That's the one that needs forgiveness.

- Erik

Janice,
You are not dealing with just a forgiveness situation but you are dealing with people who are very deep in sin and surrounded by deamons. Satan is using these people to destroy the weak christians and the lost. This is not to say that stronger christians won't fall into this trap but they are not as likely to do so. We have to pray for salvation and deliverence for these who are living in this condition. We want to be mad at them and put them down, this is human feelings but we are to love their souls and pray for them. Remember Mary Magdelene who Christ cast seven devils out of, she was in this same type of situation, not the pornography but the same type sexual sins. Christ loved her and she became a wonderful follower of him, these people could also, if they would just get saved. Pray for their salvation, God will help you with your forgiveness situation. God bless all and have a blessed day - Jerry

Janice. I agree with Jerry, his advice is good as usual.Satan is using porn to wreck our families, same as drinking or whatever. Forgive the person and pray for them, we ALL need it. I think to on a simpler note and maybe it doesn't have anything to do with it, but in response to Erik as well, if it wasn't there, we wouldn't have to worry about it. I am talking about food. I am overweight and struggle with it, it is a sin to to overeat. It is the food that is wrecking me , just like porn in your instance. I know these are different, but you can compare. Yes, it is my responsibility not to put it in my mouth, same as it was up to the person in your situation not to give in to it. It is choice.All these things about obesity, and porn etc, why don't they just get rid of it and we won't be affected with it? Satan has control of the world, but God gives us the strength to fight it. Please forgive, and pray for the salvation of those involved, everyone. They obviously need help. - julie

Julie- I'm sympathetic to your situation and to Janice's, but really as long as you continue to blame the food (or porn or alcohol or whatever) you give your power away to those things. The only person you can control is yourself. Reclaim that power and you can begin to break the hold that food (or other people) have on you. Good luck. - Erik

Through the years you often hear the phrase forgive and forget. The bible says nothing about you having to forget. I look at it this way. If say someone is raped. Of course they are never going to forget it. Forgiving to me only means releasing the anger for your own good, not the sinners' necessarily. Someone raped or whatever doesn't have to feel the need to socialize or see the rapist in order to forgive. They just need to not want revenge or evil toward the person and to desire that the person may eventually turn their life around for everyone's good. Anyway to me it's just releasing the anger and not wishing bad things(other than legal justice) to happen to the person. Anyway that's how I've been able to deal with situations when I've been wronged. - christ follower

Thank you all for taking the time to comment in hopes of helping me. I have cried a few tears this morning and I don't usually cry much but this devotion really touched a nerve and brought to light this issue that has festered for too long. I have felt that forgiveness is called for but I know it will only be one-sided because I think those who produce porn could care less about how it has affected my family and others. But it would be of benefit to me to forgive. Jerry is right that we need to pray for all who are caught up in the industry for they are all people created in God's image and can potentially be saved. Christ Follower, you had some good points about how many women and children are victimized by porn producers. It is not a victimless crime. Those persons need our prayers definitely. Julie, I can relate to what you said about being overweight: if only the food industry didn't make all those tempting foods! It really all comes down to greed. Those who do not follow God's way will seemingly do anything to make money off of other's vices. Erik, you probably learned a long time ago that two wrongs don't make a right. In my case, take away the falling of the one who was tempted and you still have the industry that is producing immoral material and hurting people in the production and distribution. I have just felt frustrated for a long time with the anger and not knowing to whom to direct it or what to do with it. This devotion guides me to forgive even though I do not know the people. It is God's way. I just don't want others to be hurt as we have been hurt. - Janice

Janice-In life we are tempted by so many things placed in our way, HOWEVER, it is our choice to fall into it or ask God for the strength to run away. Porn is a very destructive sin, and in no way do I condone anyone in this field, but when we chose to sin it is our choice, we decide, we do it to ourselves and it always hurts others. Forgive the one that sinned and seek help for them, they need counciling as encouragement. Then look for ways tofight against prono in your neighborhood, city.
Get involved and help put a stop to this sin in your community. - Jan-Mexico

Erik, I am not blaming the "food", it is my choice to eat it, therefore I need God's strength to say no. Only He can give me that strength. - julie

Thank you, Jan-Mexico, for your valid comment. We who have God in our lives have support for our choice not to sin but I think about all those people who do not have God in their vision. So many in our culture just think porn is a part of life and don't realize the road it is taking them down. I think it can be compared to quick sand that once in it people just sink deeper and deeper until they are no longer a person but have transformed into a beast. I guess that is a bit dramatic but in some cases that is reality. Anyway, do you know of any community actions that have been effective against porn? - Janice

Today, my wife visited with two friends about my stressful relationship with my two brothers. My mother recently passed away and they have really upset my feelings over the rude and selfish way they have handled her estate. When I have protested, the response has been "you go to church, you can get pass this!" My wife's friends have given us the same message as RFTH. I need to pray very hard to get this evil out of my system and forgive my brothers. We may only have 15 to 20 years left on this earth together.-Bob - Bob

We can only control what we do and try to do what is right and part of that is forgiving others even when they don't ask for it or deserve it,but hopefully when we do what is right it will eventually influence them to do likewise. - Christ follower

Forgiveness allows us all to live in his joy and peace that he gives us. Without forgiveness we are never happy. I praise God today for leading me through total forgiveness of all that have hurt me and sinned against me. I praise God to Forgive me and I know he does. I pray for all today who carry the burden of unforgiveness in their hearts and are able to release it completely to God and love again. AMEN - Prissy

I think that, true forgiveness is very very hard to accomplish and yet, very often asked from God among us. And it is one of the reasons that we as Christians are called hypocrites. As we all individually came from different backgrounds and have different view of points, we are destined to misunderstand one another and, make judgement very quickly about the other person without all the facts and variations due to our own pride, ignorance, and lack of patience. But, as we are forgiven each and every single day from our sins, we often find it very hard to forgive people's mistakes that involve us on the receiving side of the spectrum, and find ourselves not so forgiving. It is something that I personally have to work on, and I greatly thank God for awakening me to not use all the wrong-doings of others as an excuse to be angry, to not forgive. It's hard, but, I will try.

- Frank Si

Janice, In my home town there was a adult book store and video business coming in, a group of us got together and petition the commission and ask it not be allowed, we went out and got signatures, talked to the press, did all we could do and it was not allowed to come. It took us a lot of hard hours and walking time, but we did it, A small victory to be sure, but a victory none the less, check in your community, ask area pastors they should be able to tell you. Go on line and search out orgs that fight against pron legally. They are out there and you can win little battles to be sure, This is a sin I am afraid that will always be here, but we can win small victories until Christ comes and win the total victory. Take care and know that I am praying for you. - Jan- Mexico

wow!!!! these devotiobs really help!!! my relationship with god has really improved because of these....thanks... - molly

I have found this to be the most difficult thing to do as a Christian. Even though I know intlectually that anger and bitterness hurt only me, there is always the desire for "revenge", or at least justice. There is an old saying; "no one ever forgets where they buried the hatchet!"
I probably spend more time praying for the strength to forgive than I do for just about anything. I suspect that most of us struggle with this one. It is particularly hard when the person who hurt you or your family is unrepentant. I have almost no problem forgiving someone who apologizes. Am I unusual in this struggle to "let go"? Oh yes, I see this unrepentant person often. They are in our church. - G-man