What does forgiveness look like as you live it out day after day? When you say, "I forgive you" to someone who may not even care, and sometimes may not be remorseful of how they treated you or made you feel? How do yo live out your forgiveness of them? What goes through your heart, mind, soul and spirit every time you see, or think, about them? When do you arrive at true forgiveness and your heart is healed and filled with peace?
I reflected on these questions this morning and here's what came to mind... When you see or think about them and your heart, mind, soul and spirit no longer cringe or grieve. When you love them with joy and are filled with peace. When you wish only the best for them? When you truly celebrate them whenever the opportunity arises. When they don't acknowledge you and you still smile. When you can bless them in prayer. When the hurt and reminders of the pain they caused you is no longer toxic to you. When love abounds for them because Jesus died for them when He died for YOU and and forgave you both for so many things done and to be done. It's definitely not easy, but it's worth it. It's a process, it takes time, BUT it is possible to truly forgive. There are so many opportunities in life to forgive. Forgive and be free.
Remember, sometimes the one you need to forgive is YOU. Give yourself another chance, even if it's the 100th time. Forgive yourself and be free!
Definition: Forgive means to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong); to stop blaming (someone); to stop feeling anger about (something). So... work towards that freedom and peace as you "stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone/yourself) for an offense, flaw, or mistake."
Encouragement:
"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
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins [a]against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4;
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [a]clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32
