The Forgiveness Process – Forgiveness Part 8

Scripture: Colossians 3 (Click Link) Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13 NLT) Forgiveness is an act of obedient faith. We forgive not because we pretend it didn’t happen or didn’t hurt, not because the other person has apologized, not because the person has made restitution to us for the hurt, but because Father God, in Christ, has forgiven us. His grace forgave us, now his grace enables us to begin forgiving others. Forgive and forget. Forgiving is an act of faith. Forgetting is a gift of grace.
• Forgiveness must be initiated in my heart, mind, and will without regard to the actions and attitudes of the offender. Don’t wait for an apology!
• Forgiveness is actual pardon for actual trespasses and offences which have not been repaid through retribution or restitution.
• Forgiving and forgetting. Ask God to grace you to be able to remember the incident or behavior without a flare of anger or a twist in your gut. Then allow time and grace to erase the memory and its pain like erasing chalk from a blackboard. The Three Steps of Forgiveness:
• Forgive the Wrong. The will to forgive and the Act or Statement of Forgiveness is first and is an act of obedient faith. Feeling comes later!
• Remove the Guilt. “I don’t want them to feel as miserable as I have felt while I’ve been hurt and angry!”
• Release them from Judgment. “May God Bless You.” “Stephen fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” (Acts 7:60 NLT)

Forgiving may take some time. You may not feel forgiving and free when you first speak the words, “I forgive!” You may speak the forgiveness words once to the person, and then say them again and again, in your own heart, “I forgive!”

Remember: Faith First, then Feeling! Forgiveness First, then Forgetfulness! Prayer:

Father, I know you understand the process of forgiveness. You forgave your people again and again. You forgave us for killing your only son. You know how it feels and how hard it is for us who are not God, but human. Give us grace to forgive and faith to declare “I forgive” in every appropriate and helpful manner. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!