When you Forgive...Forgive

"Forgiveness is essential to loving and being loved."
You've probably already figured it out but today's devotional is about forgiveness. This is something that a lot of people deal with and it is one of the hardest things to do at times. Forgiveness isn't just something you say and it is "all better". Forgiveness starts in the mind and has to really be done in the heart.

The steps that forgiveness takes is more than we may think. The chapter discussed the steps to forgiveness and I think it is important to know and practice ALL of them (not just a few):

1. Recall the hurt that happened to you and recognize that you were wronged.
2. Attempt to empathize with the one who hurt you. This IS difficult but very important.
3. Offer forgiveness and tell the person you forgave them.
4. Hold on to the forgiveness! When you forgive someone you don't continuously bring up past behavior or demand multiple apologies. Put the past behind you and learn from the instance by building stronger relationships in the future.

I have never really held a bitter grudge against someone for a long time. I mean, there were the few childish instances where I said I would never forgive someone but it never affected me in a big way. As I think about it I realize that, in my case, it is the little things that get me. I have a lot of "small bitterness" harbored in my mind and heart that I need to let go of. It isn't BIG "unforgiveness" for me, but the small ones that I need to work on.

On the other side of forgiveness there is the fact that we must seek forgiveness from those that we have hurt. This is another area that I don't think I have a lot of "seeking" to do; however, I am sure that there are small things that I need to ask forgiveness from. I need to make sure that I have covered my bases and have forgiven, and been forgiven.

The last part of forgiveness is understanding and accepting God's forgiveness in my life. It is so easy to jump to the conclusion that God is still harboring bitterness against me (since I know I well deserve it) but I have to continue to remind myself that God has forgiven me. He will continue to forgive me! I want to take this gracious gift and bask in it. I want to learn from it and know that I am free from bitterness and learn that I can do the same for others!

"Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
         Luke 6:37