FORGIVENESS IS POWERFUL. 2 Cor. 2.5-11

Good Day!

Yesterday we spoke of Paul’s desire to forgive a man who had hurt him deeply . . . forgiveness is immense. It breaks down walls, frees hearts, mends
countries, restores families, and draws out the best in us. It can turn
hatred into tenderness and the desire to destroy into a passion to
protect. It is more powerful than any weapon, government, or wealth.
Nothing else can bring such profound healing. Forgiveness forms the
foundation of our relationship
with God and sustains our relationships with each other. When
we unleash this gift, by receiving it in humble trust that God can
actually free our heart and heal our relationships, then the miraculous
can happen.1

Forgiveness is vertical - whether it is seeking forgiveness for our own sins...or endeavoring to forgive another for what we have ought against them...we go to God first. ‘Forgiveness is God's invention
for coming to terms
with a world in which people are unfair to each other and hurt each
other deeply. He began by forgiving us. And he invites us all to forgive
each other.’2

Forgive - pardon; excuse for a fault or offense; renounce anger or resentment against; absolve from payment for a debt

Who do you need to forgive? _______________________________________

What did they do? _______________________________________________

Consider what Jesus had to say: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6.14-15

Paul said, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians
3.13

Still not convinced you should forgive? You might wish to look at this 2007 LA Times article called "Forgive and Be Well". . . it cites research that forgiveness can
improve cardiovascular function, diminish chronic pain, relieve
depression and boost quality of life. . . while failure to forgive may,
over a lifetime, boost a person's risk for heart disease, mental illness
and other ills. . . Forgiveness is a skill that can be learned. Hmmm.
. .3

I asked my friend, 'Why is it difficult to forgive?' because what he (his boss) did was unjust, and I feel a need for justice; it
feels like if I forgive him, I am denying justice.'

'Why do you want to forgive him then?' for the healing process--to get rid of the bad feelings, anger, frustration, which decrease my energy level, and
damage my spirit, and. . . well, hurt me spiritually, and because I am
not following my Lord’s teachings. Forgiveness is divine. It is what
our Lord teaches us. . . Forgiving a person causes them to inspect their own
behavior. I
consider it a failure when I don't forgive; a success, when I do.

So you realize you need to forgive someone, but how do you do it? Are there any steps to be taken? I think there are--

1. Recognize that you need to forgive the person who injured you (whether or not they know it--whether or not he seeks forgiveness)

2. Commit to forgiveness. Come on, make a commitment to forgive him. Don't just decide... commit.

3. Ask God to help you forgive, to release the bitter or hurt feeling you have, and give it to Him.

4. Pray for the person, for his well-being.

One of my favorite teachers is Dr. James MacDonald, and he talked about one tool he has used to forgive people who have hurt him: I wrote down the
names of six particular people. I remember very clearly getting on my
knees and envisioning a little leather pouch and, after writing out the
people’s names on little pieces of paper, I put them in the bag and
tightened it up. I wrote the word Forgiveness on the outside. In
my mind’s eye, I knelt down and laid that bag at the cross, saying,
“God, in view of all that You’ve forgiven me, I’m letting this go. I’m
leaving it behind. I’m releasing them from the obligation that resulted
when they injured me.”

Forgiveness is powerful . . . don’t you see? Choosing unforgiveness is paralyzing.

Christine