THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS – STEP ONE
LOVE YOURSELF
We live in a world that is full of hate, deceit, lies, and unforgiveness. But I’d like to talk about the latter…unforgiveness. We’ve all done some really stupid things in our lives. That’s just who we are. I, myself, have done some pretty shameful things that I’m not proud of. I carried the burdens for many years. Although I think I hid them pretty well from my family, it affected my health. I felt depressed with no self-worth. I hated and lied to myself. I couldn’t forgive myself for what I’ve done in the past. But a few years ago it hit me. I fell to my knees and cried out to my Father above. I begged for forgiveness and I know my Father in Heaven wrapped His loving arms around me that day. If my Father in Heaven can forgive me for the shameful things I have done, I can surely forgive myself. That’s what I did. I forgave myself. Of course, this doesn’t mean that I will forget what I have done and everything in life will be rosie. But I ask myself what have I learned from this and how can I be of help to someone else?
Forgiving yourself is simply letting go of what you are holding against yourself so that you can move on with God. If God has moved on, shouldn’t we do the same?
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Jeremiah 31:34
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS – STEP TWO
LOVE OTHERS
What about forgiving others who wronged you? Oh if I held grudges and didn’t forgive others who have done me wrong, I would be a very miserable person. I’ve had parents that didn’t protect me, family members that went against me, friends that betrayed me, children that lied to me. Being miserable is no way to live. We all make mistakes. No parents, family members, friends, or children are perfect. Forgive others as God has forgiven us.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:13-14
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS – STEP THREE
MOVE FORWARD
There is no way to move forward unless you let go of the past. People make mistakes. Forgive them. Is it easy? A lot of times it isn’t. Possible? Absolutely.
Forgive for you – This is peace of mind, an inner peace, that you’ll have. Even if this forgiveness pertains to someone you can’t have a relationship with, forgive them for you. If you don’t, it eats away at you and takes away energy that enables you to move forward.
Forgive for someone else – Tomorrow isn’t promised. If someone has hurt you and has asked for forgiveness, forgive them so you can continue to have a relationship with them. Nothing can be worse than the words “I should have…”.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
Everyone has a story. If you ask anyone about their lives, you can 100% bet they all had struggles and successes. Most of the time, we can’t have success without struggles or failures. God has a plan for every single one of His children. He didn’t put us here on earth to wander aimlessly, living day to day, then to die and be forgotten. He put us here for a reason. Every one of us, not some of us, has a purpose.
Take a look at Joseph’s life in Genesis. His own brothers, filled with jealousy, hated him and plotted to kill him. They decided to sell him into slavery instead. Joseph was only 17 years old. Later, he was accused of adultery and thrown in prison. He was then called to Pharoh to interpret his dreams and was put in charge of all of Egypt. He was 30 years old by this time. When his brothers went to Egypt to buy some grain, Joseph recognized them and after some time he made himself known to his brothers and said (Genesis 45:5-8)…
I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.
Joseph is saying two things here…
- “do not be angry with yourselves” or forgive yourselves
- “so then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Joseph forgave them.
When others intend evil toward you, remember that they are only God’s tools. Joseph also reassured his brothers in Genesis 50:20…
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
