As I poked around in the garage for another extension cord, I saw the stack of fishing rods and my mind drifted off to fishing. I love to fish but the past few years simply haven't had the opportunity to get out.

Before we sold the old house and moved to our condo, we had a small boat. When we had the boat I could count on a least a few days every season of sitting on the water and fishing. There was no place to store it at the condo so we sold the boat. So much for getting out.

Back to the fishing rods ... nearby were my tackle boxes. I'm sure fishing tackle is designed to catch fishermen not fish. I have my favorite lures but there's always something new to try. With the tackle boxes is my box of reels. That reminded me that one of the reels had been put away with a serious line tangle that needed to be sorted out. A

Fishing line, like rope and extension cord seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to being tangled. It just seems to decide to get tangled and then ends up in knots.

Like fishing line, rope and cords, we too can end up all tied up in knots. Perhaps not physically (unless you're a lot more flexible than I am), but certainly emotionally and spiritually.

One of the biggest causes of the knots in our lives is unforgiveness. When we walk in unforgiveness we end up in bondage. The longer we walk that way the more tied up we become.

We're commanded to forgive.

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

Wait a minute! What if they are at fault? What if they really wronged us in some serious way? Are we supposed to forgive them?

ABSOLUTELY! If there was no wrong done there would be nothing to forgive would there? That doesn't mean that we have to place ourselves in a position where than they can harm us again, but it does mean we must make a conscious, obedient decision to forgive.

What if you don't want to forgive? Too bad! Jesus tells us to forgive. It's not a matter of whether you want to or not. It's a matter of obeying the Lord of your life. He knows you can't do it on your own, but if you go to Him in prayer and ask, He will help you to forgive.

If you choose to walk in unforgiveness, it is you who loses. Often the person we're holding in unforgiveness neither knows nor cares if we have forgiven them or not.

Until next time, forgive, just as you have been forgiven.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin