6 - Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a key to breaking through problems that are barriers.When you forgive your fellow man, you release yourself of anger. You become free to proceed and enjoy the life that our Father in Heaven has designed for you.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
—Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
If you have been wronged, take the first step and tell this person they are forgiven and forgive them indeed. In the same manner if you have wronged others, go and apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness. The relationship is always more important than the issue.
Dale Carnegie said, “Misunderstanding is never ended by an argument but by tact, diplomacy, conciliation, and a sympathetic desire to see the other person’s viewpoint.”
Accept people, situations, circumstances, and events as they occur. “Taking responsibility” means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation and gives you the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now.
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
—Romans 15:7 (NIV)
The favor you show to others will be returned to you, and the very situations that looked like barriers may very well open up into a wide door of opportunity.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them
without expecting to get anything back.
Then your reward will be great,
and you will be children of the Most High,
because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
—Luke 6:31–35 (NIV)
ACTION PLAN #6
Make a list of those who have wronged you. Pray for each person and forgive them. Remember, this is a decision and not a feeling. Choose to forgive them as our Lord forgives our tresspasses.
Approach the people on your list and let them know they are forgiven. You can do this in writing, with a phone call, or in person.
Make a second list of people, this time list the people in your life whom you have wronged.
Pray, approach these people, and genuinely ask them for forgiveness.
Note: Be sensitive to the Spirit of God as you approach people. Some do not even know that they wronged you, and others may not want to revisit the issues. Regardless of their responses, choose the way of peace. Stand by your forgiveness of others and the forgiveness from the Lord toward you.