).png)
5. Choose to respond with kindness. Anyone can respond to evil with evil. But only the strong can respond with good. Kindness breaks the cycle of unforgiveness. It can bring freedom to your soul and release your life from the never-ending, downward cycle of responding to evil with evil. “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with” Romans 12:17–19 (NKJV).
6. Repeat the process as needed. As long as you live your life in relationship with others, you are going to be wronged. Accept the fact that nobody is perfect and be prepared to repeat the process above as needed. Forgiveness is not just about saying the words. As long as you live your life in relationship with others, you are going to be wronged. Accept the fact that nobody is perfect and be prepared to repeat the process above as needed. “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him “Luke 17:3–4 (NKJV).
Studies have found that some people are just naturally more forgiving, however, are more likely to experience severe depression and post–traumatic stress disorder, as well as other health conditions. God's love and forgiveness is seen in our ability to love and forgive. Forgiveness does not mean that you close your eyes to moral atrocity and pretend that it didn’t hurt or that it really doesn’t matter whether or not the offending person is called to account for his/her offense. Neither are you being asked to diminish the gravity of the offense, or to tell others, “Oh, think nothing of it; it really wasn’t that big of a deal after all.” Forgiveness simply means that you determine in your heart to let God be the avenger. He is the judge, not you. The word "forgiveness" carries such deep meaning that it is more useful to reframe it as just one aspect of anger processing. Forgiveness specifically addresses input into your nervous system that results in a heightened state of alert (output). “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:1–3 (NKJV).
When we experience forgiveness of sins, we become a new creation. We can know the fullness of relationship with God because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. The parable of the prodigal son is one of Jesus’ most famous teachings. It shows us that God’s forgiveness is always available to us. There is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from God’s lavish grace. Lastly, forgiveness is the foundation of gospel-centered love. We can not love like Christ without forgiveness being active in our lives. Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, we are forever on the receiving end of God’s amazing grace through is unconditional love and forgiveness. If God’s grace were ever to expire, and the gift of His forgiveness be revoked, we would be left without hope and always striving to earn what we do not deserve nor entitle too, while always falling short and never experiencing the fullness of life in Christ. In which forgiveness is as essential for us as it is for our neighbors, since our redemption doesn’t happen, and love cannot be express without forgiveness. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence” Ephesians 1:7 –8(NKJV).
Comments