Forgiveness?
In my weekly Heartlight.org article, I begin a 7 week series on the 7 sayings of Jesus on the Cross. The first saying is, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Click for the fuller audio version of this message.) It is a strong reminder about how important it is to God that we are a people a of forgiveness — that I am a person of forgiveness.
What makes it hard for your to forgive others?
Why is it so easy to want to get even or hold onto bitterness?
What are steps you’ve taken to forgive others just as “God in Christ has forgiven you”?
What a Great question. I am so glad you asked. At the beginning of my relationship with God, after He washed me clean and forgave me of all my sins, and made me a New Creation, i still had to deal with all my relationships, which i had given God permission to show me how to be a daughter, wife, mom, sister, friend. I didnt know His ways and i saw that all my ways were hopeless so i asked Him to teach me His ways.
Although i was forgiven i didn’t know how to forgive the 2 people i hated. Short story is that one day the Lord said to me i couldn’t walk with Him and hold onto the hate i held in my heart and mind towards my father and brother-in-law. I said You know what they did, as i argued with the Lord, He said yes I do .He told me just to give HIm all my hate and when i did i was flooded with love towards them . I was set free, but better than being set free, my prayers were set for their salvation. It took some time for them to come to Know the Lord, but they did and i had a part in it. My brother-in law called one day and said i want what you have , the peace and love that God gave me, he drove miles to hear all about Him. He received Him that day and went home with a bible. My dad took longer but i knew he was in the Kingdom already. God restored those 2 relationships, but i had to do it His way.
Not renewing my mind made it hard for me to let go and forgive. Trying to figure out why should i , instead of obeying what the Word says to do , was the reason it was hard to forgive for me. I got understanding after i forgave, not before, and i saw that i cant depend on feeling like forgiveing, for me obeying brings the correct feelings. God’s ways arent my ways , but i like His results better than mine. Doing it His way brings freedom, love,healing and restoration. My way gave me hurt, anger, hate, rage, and ready to kill. His way gave me and others Life! To me is all comes down to a choice, His way, my way, Life or death. Some may say His way is hard, but so isnt our way, His way is hard but He gives us the strength and the ability to do it, He equips those whom He calls, and He works in us to will and do of His good pleasure. He gets all the Glory too. Also it is hard living under anger and hate so doing it His way even thought it is hard brings Joy and Peace, a good result of obedience. Give God all you are holding against another and walk with Him in Peace and Joy and Freedom and Love towards everyone. As the Word says , he who has been forgiven much loves much, Thank You God for forgiving me much…
Jo-Ann
7 Jul 08 at 10:30 am
Forgiveness is a mind thing for me. I make a conscious decision, then it is done. The feelings of forgiveness come after that; if I waited for them to come first, it would never happen.
The fact that I am forgiven, that I died when the Spirit of God came in to live in this “vessel,” changes everything. Personally, I cannot refuse to forgive anyone, becuase God forgave me.
“Forgiveness” has occasionally been a problem, but I only have to remind myself how much has been forgiven me, and that I no longer live in this “vessel;” the Spirit of God lives there now. That pretty well settles it, and I just do it.
One thing, unforgivenss for the same person sometimes comes up again, perhaps with flashbacks, etc., but the process has to be repeated. At least that is my experience.
a friend
7 Jul 08 at 2:43 pm