Knock, knock…

In my previous post I shared about Michael, and the immediate freedom he experienced once he chose to forgive. A major part of our ministry is dedicated exactly to that: equipping people with powerful tools, that can transform their lives. We constantly witness immediate changes. It has to do with listening to God′s Hand knocking on various doors in our hearts, mostly through our pain, struggles and suffering.

Most of us tend to look at hardships as a punishment, as a proof that God is hiding His Face from us, or the fault of someone else who misbehaved and thus causing us to pay the price. So in face of suffering, we usually try to find a way out.

But after ministering to many people through the years, many of them with devastating

stories, and based on what I find in the Bible, I can say that the main reason for our suffering is connected to something inside us God wants to touch and change, and not to something external.

Hardships can either destroy us or transform us. The key is to find out which door God is knocking on, and than open and invite Him in (see Rev. 3:19-20). You can read more about how to utilize this amazing tool of forgiveness in my booklet Who is knocking on your door?

In the past year we offered this kind of training in Israel and abroad; to small groups, and to large audiences; one on one, and mostly – applied it ourselves. For us on the team, these tools are our routine, our immediate reaction to anything that goes wrong, to any hardship. I cannot even begin to tell you how this simplifies life in the complicated and sinful world we live in.

When will Israel forgive?

I am reading the book of Jeremiah these days, and sometimes just want to weep with Him. From the beginning God was so clear with my people. We had no reason to question Him, or look for comfort and adrenaline rushes elsewhere. But we sure did. And so He brought some drought, and than hunger, and a plague, and small enemies, and eventually bigger ones, and than took us out of the land He gave us, and no need to even mention all the suffering inflicted upon us in the diaspora.

Did we finally get it? Did we turn to Him? Not yet, but we are getting there.

While we minister to groups and individuals through their suffering, teaching them to listen to God specifically when it hurts, we are praying for our beloved nation: that the hardships and battles we go through will soften her heart, and cause us all to turn back into His outstretched arms. Will you join us in this prayer?

This article originally appeared on Ot OoMofet Ministries, August 11, 2016, and reposted with permission.