Forgive Well
Join me today as my friend, Joanie, shares some invaluable insights on forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a common word in the Christian’s vocabulary. We know we have received it, and we know we are asked to extend it. But forgiving is difficult, and the process of forgiveness is often confusing, multi-layered, and slow.
Our home faith community, Lake City Church, has been involved in an excellent sermon series entitled People of Peace (https://lakecity.church/latest-messages). My husband and I have been challenged by each week’s sermon. We have met with a small group on Tuesday evenings to discuss—at times grapple—with the message’s contents. Ron and I have used the devotional book, complied by members of the Lake City Church staff, in our couple devotional time. These past eight weeks have been ones of honest introspection and personal growth. We are grateful to be part of a faith community committed to promoting peace in a conflict-ridden culture.
For seven years, I served part time on Lake City’s staff, and during that time, became friends with Joanie Dwyer, a wise, devoted, and very real follower of Jesus. Joanie’s devotional contribution concerning forgiveness was excellent, and with her permission, I am sharing some of her insights today. (Note: The emphases are mine.)
“Unforgiveness leads directly to a life of repeating the pain of the offense with every thought of the offender. Unforgiveness fosters chaos in our being, causes bitterness to grow in our souls, and stunts our growth ….”
“Here’s a useful definition: Forgiveness is giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we don’t have boundaries or that we invite the person to hurt us again. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we necessarily reconcile with the offender. Forgiveness is both a decision and a process.”
“So, what’s involved in forgiveness?
1) Set your intention to forgive. (Sue’s Note: At times we may need to be honest with God, confessing, “I really don’t want to forgive this person. Please help me want to forgive and show me how to begin.”)
2) Have patience with the process.
3) Keep asking God to help you forgive.
4) Express your feelings about the offender and the offense to God.
5) Turn the offense and the offender over to God.
6) Repeat. Do this over and over until you feel like you have completed the process.”
Concluding her devotional, Joanie told readers how using this six-step process helped her. “Forgiveness allowed my broken heart to heal, freed me to love, and returned harmony to my life. It allowed me to get closer to God, enabled me to take in more of God’s love, and live in peace with myself and others.”
I loved Joanie’s summary sentence.
“Forgive well, so you can love well, so you can live well.”
Thank you, Joanie, and blessings to each of you as you choose to live a life of forgiveness!
