Forgiveness is the mercy of God for you, the power of God for others. Forgiveness reveals both strength and humility. Forgiveness removes the present pain and sometimes the past hurt. People who forgive live longer and live better. Joyce Meyers said that bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping someone else will die.
Forgiveness comes in three major steps:
God's forgiveness.
It must begin here. Forgiveness is not an issue of works but a divine work of mercy. You must believe that He does forgive and you must ask Him for it. Time heals is a farce without the forgiveness of God. When you allow God to forgive you it is easier to forgive someone else.
Forgiving others.
One of the reason it is hard to forgive others is we have been taught that we must forget. Someone said, "I can forgive but I can't forget." This is true. God asked you to forgive but didn't ask you to forget. When you forgive you will not be slapped with amnesia. You can always tell when you have forgiven someone - when their name comes up you have lost the heated passion to get even.
Forgive yourself.
Perhaps the hardest of the three. If you can't forgive yourself you will find it hard to accept God's forgivenss and definitely find it hard to forgive others. Find it within your heart to allow God's love. Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery, the theif on the cross and Saul, the murderer - He will forgive you too.
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