The Hitching Post

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!  

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

It’s a new day and a new year.  Hallelujah!  We praise You, Father, for Your Word that proclaims Your mercy.  Like the aroma of freshly baked muffins from the ovens of Heaven, Your mercy and forgiveness arrive faithfully on our doorstep every morning.  We take You at Your Word, that by the gift of Your only begotten son, our every fault and frailty have been forever erased.  They are as if they never happened.

Lord, we have stepped into a new year saturated with hope.  Father, we leave behind our mistakes from the past to move into Your newness.  Show us where we are being held back and restrained from moving forward.  Reveal to us our errant beliefs, truths that we have taken out of context, lack of faith and habits and mindsets that keep us from fulfilling our destiny.  Reveal the ought we have against others that keeps us burdened down and tied to the same hitching post we have been tied to for years, so that every step forward merely leads us in a circle.  Round and around we go, never making progress, yet exhausted from the effort.  

Father, Your Word says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” - Mark 11:25.  Father, we have been forgiven of so much, yet we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts toward others.  We have sin, but somehow look down our noses at the sins of others.  You remind me of James 2:10 - “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”  “Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” - Acts 3:19.  

Lord, I lift my dear friend.  These are hard words to say amen to, but show them where they are holding others to a higher standard than they themselves can meet.  This is so hard.  It’s painful, but together with them, we choose to forgive those who have wronged us, that Your refreshing might come and we might be released from the weighty burden of unforgiveness that we carry.  In our choice to forgive, cut the ropes that tie is to the hurts of our past and that keep us exhausted and striving, but without realizing meaningful progress.

Lord, in this first day of a new year we ask You to reveal to us our full list of debtors, both the living and the dead - those whose wounds against us leave them in our debt.  We declare a year of jubilee - a year of freedom.  With or without the agreement of our unsanctified emotions, we choose, as the people of God, to forgive and declare them free.  Help us to rubber stamp their bill as “Paid In Full.”  In so doing, we release ourselves from the bonds that restrain us, to be free to walk forward into a new year unburdened, unshackled, light and free.  We declare that this year will be different and Your hands are free to move, lead and bless us, because we are walking in the fullness of Your grace and mercy, so much so, that our fullness splashes onto those around us.  

Father, even now their flesh is fighting.  Lord, like the Hound of Heaven*, pursue them with love and freedom (Psalm 119:65-72).  Chase them until they can run no more.  Overcome them with wave after wave of Your love.  Exhaust their fight.  Answer their every argument with the truth of Your Word.  Help them to let go and fall back into Your arms of mercy.  Let the cleansing tears of surrender flow.  Father, I contend for their freedom and blessing.  May their year ahead be different than all the years of the past, because they made a different choice and took a different path.  May the year ahead be one of breakthrough, freedom, peace and deliverance, and marked by divine mercy - both given and received.  In Jesus Name ❤️

Dear friend, do you carry a list of debts and debtors that in your heart you know you need to forgive?  I encourage you to ask the Lord for a brave and willing heart of forgiveness, that breakthrough and joy would be your companions in the year ahead.  You can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you!  (Philippians 4:13). I’m contending for your freedom!