Five Steps To Forgiveness

                                             When The Door Slams

"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father" in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.              Matthew 6:9-15 NIV

            If you want to experience the happiness, relief, and well-being that come from the practice of forgiveness, remember these five steps: 

1.        Resist the temptation to be judgmental. Remember, only God knows all the circumstances. Leave the judging to Him.

2.        Learn to be compassionate. The best method is to use your imagination, put yourself in the other person's shoes, ask yourself whether the fault is entirely the other person's or whether there is some blame on your part that needs to be honestly faced. 

3.        Image the whole problem in terms of reconciliation. Visualize the broken relationship healed. See yourself free of the poisons of resentment and anger. Let your imagination suggest hopeful things you will accomplish with the increased energy that will come to you. 

4.        Pray for the person who has offended you. If this is difficult (and it will be), pray for God's grace to come into your heart to give you the strength to do it. Remind yourself that the act of forgiveness will benefit you more than the other person.

5.        End your prayer with the Lord's prayer. Give special thought and emphasis to the part that asks God to forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 

            Think about this: Do these five things and you will be amazed at the healing power of forgiveness. If you let, it can change your life.

Related Bible Texts: Matthew 5:44; 6:9-15; Luke 6:28,27; Colossians 3:12-15.

            Affirmation: Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken (Psalm 61:1-2 NIV).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                Never Rest Ministries