Forgiveness is an act of ceasing to feel angry or bitter towards or about somebody who has hurt you. It is an act of pardoning mistakes or wrongdoings of a person, persons or self.
Forgiveness is to show mercy and compassion. It consoles and heals not just one person but two and sometimes more. It is a choice freely made. It is a gift we can give or withhold. And we can reject it when it is offered to us. It is a decision and not a feeling. It demands great patience, self-control, forbearing, fortitude and long-suffering.
Forgiveness is pardoning the child of being awkward and letting go of judgments. It is forgetting that you should blame or punish the one who hurt you.
Forgiveness is taking a risk. Some people call it foolishness, but to renew your commitment to the friend who has betrayed your trust is to trust yourself to handle being hurt again.
The word of God made it clear to us that forgiveness has no limit. In Matthew 18:21-22 "Peter came up to Jesus and said to him, "Lord how often shall forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him" I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven". That figure is countable but no sane person will keep such records of hurts or would even think of it. From verse 23 -35, Jesus thought in parables “the unforgiving servant.”
“A king wished to settle account with his slaves. One owed him ten thousand talents (a talent was worth more than fifteen years’ wages of a labourer), was brought to him but could not pay. He ordered his wife, children and possessions be sold to pay off the debt. The slave pleaded for more time and out of pity his master forgave him all his debt. But the same slave went to his fellow slave that owed him a hundred denarii (the denarius was the usual day’s wage for a labourer) and seized him by the throat, he said “pay what you owe.” His fellow slave pleaded with him for more time. But he refused; he threw him in prison until he should pay his debt. When their master heard about this he was furious and summoned him. “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded. Should you not have mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you? In anger his master handed him over to be tortured till he pays all his debt. So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you refuse to forgive your brother.”
Also when we pray we say "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” Matthew 6:9-15, also in that chapter, verse 14 & 15 says "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will forgive you ".
We need forgiveness and we need to forgive because we all make mistakes and no one is perfect. To choose not to forgive is to choose hell.
Un-forgiveness destroys your ability to think straight and take meaningful decisions, it steals away your personal happiness, confidence, joy and sound human relationship. It retards spiritual growth, freedom and liberation because when we refuse to forgive you nurse hurts, we keep ills and grudges, we carry a load of resentment. But forgiveness heals. It keeps no score of wrongs.
No one can make you a bitter person unless you give them the power to do so. Anger and resentment hurt only you, they don't touch those you resent.
People who do not forgive live in the past. They stopped to live, to grow and they allow their offender win them twice.
You cannot be yourself unless you learn to forgive. For you to be yourself you must also learn to forgive yourself first because if you cannot forgive yourself it will be difficult for you to forgive others.
Jesus taught us that love is a matter of will and actions, not just feelings and emotions. That is why we shouldn't allow our feelings and emotions control us instead we should control them. It is obvious that forgiveness is a difficult task. But we have no choice but to forgive because the bible made it clear to us that if we let the sun set down on our anger it is a sin. And that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. Forgiveness is an expression/act of love. It is the basis of our happiness.
Sometimes, we forgive with our lips while still holding un-forgiveness within our hearts. Remember what the word of God says in Matthew 6:12. So therefore whatever you have retained in your heart until now, forgive. We can only be motivated by the love of God to forgive psychological motives alone can hardly be a success in the difficult duty of forgiving. Another motive for forgiving is to preserve your health because our own conscience will never experience complete peace and rest from guilt until we forgive.
Psalm 4:4 says "Be angry, but sin not". Anger is lust for vengeance. And hatred is persistent anger. It is anger when it is new and it becomes hatred after time has passed. Therefore we must learn to forgive always in other to make eternal life.
Man is a social being and unless he relates to others in love and forgiveness he can neither live nor develop his potential. Hence forgiveness brings freedom. When we forgive other people, even in our limited or imperfect way, we open the door for God's grace to release us from a prison of resentment and pain.
In some cases when we find it difficult to forgive we hear advice like, "Time heals all wounds". There is some truth in this, but time can only do so much, and the healing will be partial. Forgive from your heart and you will see how it will work for you.
Finally, there is a saying that goes like this "To err is human; to forgive is divine.” He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. And often as you look upon the cross, so often should you forgive with all your heart. It will be to your own interest if you learn to forgive whenever you are hurt because the forgiver is always new, Always fresh, Always healthy and always singing a new song of love and peace. Try it and you will experience a great change in your life. Be wise!!!
Forgiveness is to show mercy and compassion. It consoles and heals not just one person but two and sometimes more. It is a choice freely made. It is a gift we can give or withhold. And we can reject it when it is offered to us. It is a decision and not a feeling. It demands great patience, self-control, forbearing, fortitude and long-suffering.
Forgiveness is pardoning the child of being awkward and letting go of judgments. It is forgetting that you should blame or punish the one who hurt you.
Forgiveness is taking a risk. Some people call it foolishness, but to renew your commitment to the friend who has betrayed your trust is to trust yourself to handle being hurt again.
The word of God made it clear to us that forgiveness has no limit. In Matthew 18:21-22 "Peter came up to Jesus and said to him, "Lord how often shall forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him" I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven". That figure is countable but no sane person will keep such records of hurts or would even think of it. From verse 23 -35, Jesus thought in parables “the unforgiving servant.”
“A king wished to settle account with his slaves. One owed him ten thousand talents (a talent was worth more than fifteen years’ wages of a labourer), was brought to him but could not pay. He ordered his wife, children and possessions be sold to pay off the debt. The slave pleaded for more time and out of pity his master forgave him all his debt. But the same slave went to his fellow slave that owed him a hundred denarii (the denarius was the usual day’s wage for a labourer) and seized him by the throat, he said “pay what you owe.” His fellow slave pleaded with him for more time. But he refused; he threw him in prison until he should pay his debt. When their master heard about this he was furious and summoned him. “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded. Should you not have mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you? In anger his master handed him over to be tortured till he pays all his debt. So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you refuse to forgive your brother.”
Also when we pray we say "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” Matthew 6:9-15, also in that chapter, verse 14 & 15 says "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will forgive you ".
We need forgiveness and we need to forgive because we all make mistakes and no one is perfect. To choose not to forgive is to choose hell.
Un-forgiveness destroys your ability to think straight and take meaningful decisions, it steals away your personal happiness, confidence, joy and sound human relationship. It retards spiritual growth, freedom and liberation because when we refuse to forgive you nurse hurts, we keep ills and grudges, we carry a load of resentment. But forgiveness heals. It keeps no score of wrongs.
No one can make you a bitter person unless you give them the power to do so. Anger and resentment hurt only you, they don't touch those you resent.
People who do not forgive live in the past. They stopped to live, to grow and they allow their offender win them twice.
You cannot be yourself unless you learn to forgive. For you to be yourself you must also learn to forgive yourself first because if you cannot forgive yourself it will be difficult for you to forgive others.
Jesus taught us that love is a matter of will and actions, not just feelings and emotions. That is why we shouldn't allow our feelings and emotions control us instead we should control them. It is obvious that forgiveness is a difficult task. But we have no choice but to forgive because the bible made it clear to us that if we let the sun set down on our anger it is a sin. And that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. Forgiveness is an expression/act of love. It is the basis of our happiness.
Sometimes, we forgive with our lips while still holding un-forgiveness within our hearts. Remember what the word of God says in Matthew 6:12. So therefore whatever you have retained in your heart until now, forgive. We can only be motivated by the love of God to forgive psychological motives alone can hardly be a success in the difficult duty of forgiving. Another motive for forgiving is to preserve your health because our own conscience will never experience complete peace and rest from guilt until we forgive.
Psalm 4:4 says "Be angry, but sin not". Anger is lust for vengeance. And hatred is persistent anger. It is anger when it is new and it becomes hatred after time has passed. Therefore we must learn to forgive always in other to make eternal life.
Man is a social being and unless he relates to others in love and forgiveness he can neither live nor develop his potential. Hence forgiveness brings freedom. When we forgive other people, even in our limited or imperfect way, we open the door for God's grace to release us from a prison of resentment and pain.
In some cases when we find it difficult to forgive we hear advice like, "Time heals all wounds". There is some truth in this, but time can only do so much, and the healing will be partial. Forgive from your heart and you will see how it will work for you.
Finally, there is a saying that goes like this "To err is human; to forgive is divine.” He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. And often as you look upon the cross, so often should you forgive with all your heart. It will be to your own interest if you learn to forgive whenever you are hurt because the forgiver is always new, Always fresh, Always healthy and always singing a new song of love and peace. Try it and you will experience a great change in your life. Be wise!!!
It pays to forgive.
ReplyDeleteTruly it does. When we forgive we set ourselves free.
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