It seems forgiveness is a gift I love to receive, yet I struggle to give.
I was raised by good parents who taught good things, but I never remember being taught how to forgive.
When that moment came in my adult life, that moment I recognized I was a sinner, forgiveness was the sweetest experience of all.
Recently, my mind has been replaying hurts –not a good thing. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we go back over and over to those painful places that hurt us? There’s nothing good that comes from that…nothing.
Forgiveness is not an elective in the curriculum of servanthood. It is a required course, and the exams are always tough to pass. – Charles Swindoll
How about you join me today in breaking free from bitterness and unforgiveness?
Let’s begin with baby steps.
- Dont use memories as weapons. Stop reruns of painful memories. Don’t play them over and over in your mind. Those thoughts are seeds that only grow bitterness and regret, resentment and selfishness.
- Do think about the person that hurt us in good ways. Example: God loves them. God wants a relationship with them.
- Don’t think too much of yourself. All this time you’re thinking about an offense and the offender–guess what? They probably aren’t thinking about the situation much at all. Don’t waste time. God only gives us so much.
- Turn thoughts into prayers. Take each negative thought captive and twist them into a prayer of healing.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
Stop by tomorrow and I’ll show you a little exercise I’m doing to help me forgive. I think you’re really going to like it!
Boy that’s a toughie alright! I, too, tend to dredge up offenses of “yor” and the pain often strikes me anew. Often, I thought I’ve forgiven the offender, and allow God to wash over me with cleansing balm, but then somehow I own it again. That hurt, that pain, then the indifference. Is it fleshly? How I fall short of letting it go completely! I understand that we will remember the offense, but dealing with the wound is hard. Can’t wait for your post tomorrow…let me know how to let this go once and for all! XO
Katie
Oh this is a wonderful exercise! helping to remember all we have been forgiven for helps, but the enemy will always tempt you to go back there. I was taught in another program to remember God gave you these people in order for you to grow into Jesus’ likeness. As painful as that can be it is always in our best interests. I just can’t imagine how very painful it was for Jesus when all his friends and companions turned their backs on Him especially when He needed them the most. An Paul being left alone many times in His trials. How about Daniel and his friends. I mean really, my hurts count so little in comparison. That is why I just love the Bible, it gets my mind thinking in the right direction and knowing the person I am now is because of the painful things that were committed against me . I am glad I don’t have to be bitter I can be better Thank you for your encouraging post….Leslie