“Go Vertical!”

In relationships and in life, there are occasions for all of us when we get hurt, offended, or experience a loss. When this happens in your life, you might ask, “where do I begin in resolving a hurt, offense, or loss, and how do I restore relationship with the other person?”

I believe the real answer to that question is always the same:
“GO VERTICAL!”

What does this mean? In essence, it means making your heart (Proverbs 4:23) and your part, your number one priority – for the sake of your relationship with Jesus Christ!

In practical application, “GO VERTICAL!” includes three R’s:

REPENTANCE

Between you and Jesus, take responsibility for your attitudes and actions in response to the offense, hurt, or loss.  Humble yourself. Ask Jesus to forgive you for any way you have “missed the mark” in thought, word, or deed.  Forgive (Ephesians 4:32) the one who has hurt or offended you.  Submit to God’s Sovereignty and give thanks for what God has allowed in your life.  Ask Him to use it for your good and His Glory, and for the benefit of others.

RECONCILIATION

Not only forgive the person who hurt or offended you, but be willing to reconcile too.  Your part is to forgive and seek the other person’s forgiveness (Matthew 5:23-24) for any offenses they have with you. Or, to ask his/her forgiveness based on the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your heart—even if the other person wasn’t offended or hurt by you in that instance.  If, both you and other person fully participate in forgiving one another and seeking forgiveness from one another, the outcome will be reconciliation.  In other words, if you both GO VERTICAL, the result will be reconciliation!

RESTORATION

A key perspective with this part of the process is for you to simply be willing to experience restoration in a relationship where there has been hurt, offense, or loss.  But, realize this:  restoration includes the process of rebuilding mutual trust—through truth and relational integrity—in the relationship.  In some situations (example: when truth and integrity are lacking) it is not wise, advisable, or even possible for the relationship to progress beyond reconciliation and become fully restored. You, however, can still be at peace in your heart, if you have made your heart, and your part your number one priority – for the sake of our relationship with Jesus!

Finally, as both you and the other person GO VERTICAL by PROCESSING THE ISSUES OF YOUR HEART, it will be for your mutual blessing and benefit, and for the Glory of His Name!

Pastor Steve Peterson
Fresh Start For All Nations