Under Water

This is the Truth Network. The Truth Network Podcast, Running with Horses, is devoted to the way God intervenes in the lives of people, the whole point, of course, to show his love, to pour out his love, to reveal himself more, and so we look for and expect those instances to occur in our lives and in the lives of other people.

We pray that way, think that way, believe that way, so the podcast is devoted that way, and today we need to look at and talk about something that can stand in the way of all of that. And I want to get into our subject today just by telling this story because it is a great example. During World War II, my father served in the United States Navy aboard an American aircraft carrier, and he was in the Pacific Ocean for long periods of time during that conflict. And he would tell stories. When I was young, one of the things I loved was that he would tell us stories, things that happened on board the ship, sometimes when they were off the ship for some R&R, whatever, because that was another world, right? That was so different from the world, fast forward, that we were living in by the time I was born and was growing up. So back to my father.

So he's telling us these stories, and they have life lessons. They contain nuggets that are just imprinted on my memory, one of which, which I want to share with you today, is an event that took place one day during a routine aircraft landing. This pilot was coming in with his plane to land on the deck of the aircraft carrier. Something failed. I don't know if it was the arresting cables or a landing error of some other kind. Maybe the plane had been damaged in battle. So I'm not sure what caused the problem, but the end result, the plane with the pilot inside ditched off to the side and into the water right beside the ship itself. And the sailors on deck, of course, went to see what had happened, and daddy said that they could stand on the deck, look down into the ocean surface below, and the plane was still there. The aircraft was still there with the pilot still in the aircraft, I would assume, strapped in with the canopy closed. And daddy said, this is what my father said, he said that watching the pilot struggle, get that word struggle, to free himself, all they could do was wait on deck to see if that would actually happen.

And when I even tell you the story, it just impacts me so much, that thought. You know, in wartime, difficult things are happening daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes by the minute. So these things stand out so large, and in this case, the man's life is at stake, and his struggle is to escape the aircraft, I would say before it sinks or the air supply is exhausted inside the capsule where he is. So with that example, daddy said, finally, it seemed like forever, but finally, this pilot popped to the surface. I can only imagine, like, first of all, his relief, but also what a blessing that had to be to the rest of the crew who were watching from the deck of the carrier. And you know, probably for that pilot, he was free now, what, to fly another mission, right?

You know, business as usual. Well, that same kind of struggle exists, what the pilot experienced, that struggle exists when you are trapped in unforgiveness. Unforgiveness is the very same way, because raw emotion has the same effect that the straps and harnesses and the closed canopy, all of that, holding that pilot in, the raw emotion of unforgiveness acts the very same way, cutting off your normal function, even though when we are living in unforgiveness, we think no one else knows it but us.

Truthfully, others can observe our awkward behavior because you just cannot be normal, you cannot act like yourself, like everything is okay when it's so not okay, because that's what bondage does. In the misery of unforgiveness, we struggle, because we're trying to break through somehow, you want some relief somehow, and the best part is that when that breakthrough comes and forgiveness floods where unforgiveness was, it is as if it never happened. Whatever the egregious situation was, or the hurtful person instance, whatever, whatever that was, it's just like it never happened, because see, that's how freedom is. Raw emotion is how bondage is, but real freedom is as if it never happened, and until that occurs, until you get that breakthrough, you can do it by faith. You know, until you really have that knowing on the inside of you, inside and outside of you, that you have broken through, you can walk in forgiveness, and you do it with your words, you do it by faith, and I promise you, if you can do that, if you can continue with your words, releasing words of forgiveness every time you think of the harm done, every time you think of the pain that you're feeling, you will get your miracle.

I promise you, you will. Here's how it works. Your words go first before you feel it, before it's true, and then your heart will follow until ultimately you get the prize. You walk in unforgiveness, and all that guilt that was associated with it turns into right standing with God. It places you on solid ground so that you can stand against all that guilt and guilt's connection represented. So when you have this kind of freedom, you have also this release from guilt, and any time you find yourself in that place of guilt, of sensing guilt, you just ask God for forgiveness anyway, any occasion, you know, daily if you need to, and when you've done that, when you've asked God for forgiveness, settle it in your mind that from now on, you give guilt no place. Do not let guilt dictate to you ever for any reason. Also another fruit of forgiveness is the power of prayer, because as you pray, you know, you just have to forgive anyone or anything that you hold responsible for any situation, either present or past, because that's how prayer works.

Well, prayer doesn't work any other way, and you know, here's the thing. Forgiveness doesn't mean that those you forgive become your closest friends, nor do you have to agree with the way that they think or live. You don't even have to agree that they didn't hurt you. You know, they probably did, but forgiveness reverses wrong forces that are associated with unforgiveness.

It stops those forces dead in the tracks. Forgiving others draws a line of protection between you and anything that's not right. See, that's how it works.

That's why you need to do this. That's why you need to leave a lifestyle of unforgiveness and walk in forgiveness. Forgiveness means that we disconnect from the negative influences that are involved, that are connecting us to guilt and a weakened prayer life, and as we said, the inability to believe God in miraculous ways for his supernatural touch on our lives. You know, God knew.

He actually foreknew about this situation that is causing unforgiveness, that is dogging you, stalking you, binding you. And while we're not predestined in the sense of being prejudged automatically good or bad as though we're unable to live any other way than how we are ascribed to behave, but actually all of humanity is judged guilty. The guilt of sin exists as an obstacle for all of us, but we are also judged eligible for God's forgiveness.

Let me say that again. All of humanity is judged guilty because the guilt of sin exists as an obstacle for all, but all are also judged eligible for God's forgiveness. Jesus did that for us. His redemption, his atonement, because he is a perfect savior, we are delivered from judgment and into God's forgiveness. And you know, because I'm forgiven, I can forgive you. Because you are forgiven, you can forgive me. And this walk of unforgiveness that is such a travesty, is so counter to what such a, well, it just plays havoc with your DNA actually. I mean, I don't know all of the science behind it, but I've heard some really interesting things about what hate and bitterness and unforgiveness do to the human psyche.

And as I said earlier, we think that nobody knows about it but us, but the body language, the tone of voice, and the attitude that we just develop as a defense mechanism really becomes so obviously not right to those around us, maybe even to the casual observer. So, like this pilot that crash landed off the deck of the aircraft carrier and into the ocean beneath, but then escaped and was able, you know, to recover and move on to the next day, the mission at hand. And you know what really matters?

He was saved from that underwater death trap. And God saves you, saves me, saves us every day from being underwater and a certain death on a level, a certain level of really dying to all that God has for us because of the bond of unforgiveness, the cords, the bondage of unforgiveness. And instead, we throw all that off and do it God's way and choose to live a life of forgiveness and hey, just go on, do it every day. You know, just forgive every day. You might as well.

It benefits you more than anyone and it's so simple. Just in prayer say, Lord, I release this person. I release this situation. I release these relationships. I release whatever the situation is and I choose right now to forgive. I ask you, Father, to forgive them. And I believe for your mercy to flood my life, cleanse me, deliver me for what's really important today.

In the powerful, all powerful mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Just plan to do it. That's a good plan right there. This email list. Download the ministry app and purchase your very own copy of Shirley's 365 day devotional, Running with Horses. Thanks again and we'll see you next time. Thank you.