When a person forgives
another, he is promising to do three things about the intended wrongdoing: not
to use it against the wrongdoer in the future; not to talk about it to others;
and not to dwell on it himself. – Jay
Adams
a.
Realize you cannot forgive without God’s help.
John 15:5 I am the vine,
ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth
forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
b.
Forgive others as an act of your will, not as a reaction of your
feelings.
Three-step process:
1)
FACT – You are commanded by God to forgive. So, the question, “Should I forgive”, is irrelevant.
2)
FAITH – My faith to forgive is based on His commandment to forgive, not a feeling. God will give you the strength. Forgiveness is done as an act of your will.
3)
FEELING – Once you make the decision to forgive by faith, then your
feelings will follow.
c. Do not base your
forgiving on the attitude of the wrongdoer or offender.
d. Remind yourself of your
own need of forgiveness.
Rom 5:6-8 For when we
were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
e. Go to the Great Forgiver
and release the wrongdoer in prayer.
A Prayer To Forgive Someone Who Has Wronged You:
Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I thank you for the forgiveness you have
extended to me because of Christ’s shed blood.
I realize my continued need of forgiveness as a believer, because of my
own sin and many shortcomings. I also realize that I would
be sinning against You if I refuse to forgive others who have sinned against
me. Therefore, in obedience to You and
by an act of my own will and not my feelings, I forgive ___________ . I release them from my self-made prison. I have no right to get even; for all
vengeance belong to You. I thank you
Lord for giving me the power to forgive them in Jesus’ name, Amen.
