Forgiveness and Priorities

This past Sunday, we had a "Healing Service" at church. I don't know about you, but when I think of a healing service, I think of the crazy tele-evangelists that smack someone on the head and say "You're healed!" Luckily, this was not how it was at the church. We were to not only pray for physical healing, but for that one thing that is keeping us from God. Those of us who wanted to were invited to come up and have the "laying on of hands" to pray for whatever healing they wished. We could say what we were praying for to the pastor or the nurse-- or not, it was the person's choice. I had never had an experience like this, so I was hesitant to go up at first. I did, however, finally go up.

I had expected to not discuss what I wanted to pray for, but when I got up there I found myself saying out loud what was keeping me from God: "I want to be more forgiving." I surprised myself; this wasn't what I expected to say-- but as soon as I said it I knew it was true. I had been harboring dislike for those who had hurt me deeply, and I needed to let go so that I could further my relationship with God. Forgiveness, I now know, does not mean that you approve of the action. It just means that I am unwilling to hold in that pain anymore. And so I prayed that I would be able to forgive.

Later, I had a funny conversation with the Pastor and his wife. Somehow we got on the subject of priorities, and the conversation went something like:

Me: Well, now you know where [the pastor's] priorities lie.

Wife: Let me tell you a story about priorities! When he proposed to me, he said "Now, I want you to know that my priorities are God, church, and you-- in that order."

Pastor: I said that?!

Wife: Um, yeah you did.

Pastor: Well, I must have, because it's true. I just wanted her to know where I was coming from before she made her decision!

...That conversation made me feel tons better. I'm not some crazy person with weird priorities-- people in ministry feel the same way I do!!!