Forgiveness 101:
The word "forgiveness" comes from the Greek word aphiemi and it does not mean to forget. Forgiveness sometimes leads to forgetting the event ever happened, but it is never the means by which forgiveness occurs. On the other hand, keeping a record (literal or metaphorically) is an indication that forgiveness has not been granted.
We never need to pray, “Lord, help me to forgive…” We simply declare, “Lord, I choose to forgive…” This may take some practice since most of us have been conditioned to ask God for help in this area. We do not need to ask God for help in areas that he has already empowered us to do so. God never struggles with extending forgiveness and he lives inside of us! We couldn’t ask for a better setup for a forgiveness workshop!
Like the movie, Frozen, forgiveness is to literally “let it go.” In forgiveness, you are releasing people from what they did to you. You are essentially giving up your “right” to get even. The truth is we have no “right” to get even because God forgave the person you sinned against. And since God does not hold bitterness toward them, neither can you.
I choose to forgive because I've been forgiven. Bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping someone else dies. Forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past. Bitterness is deception. Forgiveness is setting a captive free only to realize that I was the captive.
Anyone can pray the following prayer of victory over bitterness/resentment:
"Lord, I choose to forgive (name the person) for (name ONE INSTANCE of what they did/failed to do) because it made me feel (share the painful experience).
I choose not to hold on to my resentment. I thank you for setting me free from the bondage of my bitterness. I choose to “let go” of my desire to seek revenge and defend my rights and ask you to heal my damaged emotions.
Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you that bitterness no longer has control over my life because you have set me free.
Bless now, (NAME of PERSON) who hurt me.
Forgive them for they didn’t know what they were doing. Bless them and change me.
In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
-------------
#FABcast. Confessions of a restored restorer…
*The views expressed are RBAR's own and do not necessarily represent the views of his family, his Church, his neighborhood, his work, his State, the United States Government, Northern America, the Western Hemisphere, the World or the Universe. Hopefully, these views line up with the #TRUTH.
subscribe:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/forallbelievers/id1126962077?mt=2
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/I7tnwjmcptqnok4dehtjjrjwxle?t=forallbelievers
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/forallbelievers
InstaGram: instagram.com/for_all_believers
Twitter.com/forallbelievers
