God’s forgiveness is not just a casual statement;
it is the complete blotting out of all dirt and
degradation of our past, present, and future.~ Billy Graham
Before we dive in deep, let’s spend the next few days exploring the definition of forgiveness, why we should forgive, what forgiveness looks like, and then we’ll talk about how we can forgive.
The word forgive is defined as a verb. The New Oxford American dictionary defines the word forgive this way, “{to} stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake.” It is also defined as, “cancel (a debt).”
The word cancel is also a verb. So in order for us to forgive and cancel, it requires an action from us. Not from the other person, but from us. These words are also used to describe cancel: decide; annul or revoke; abolish or make void.
Those definitions tell me when we decide to forgive it requires action on our part. And in my dictionary, I’d also list the caveat of “requires a lot of prayer!”
What kind of action does forgiveness require? The action of prayer; the action of ceasing our angry, bitter, or resentful feelings; and the action of canceling.
- Forgiveness is a hard thing to offer. We need to be prayerful in each situation, asking God to open and soften our hearts, seeking His heart and asking for His help. In our human power, forgiveness is often times impossible.
- Forgiveness requires that we stop feeling angry, bitter, or resentful. Through prayer and a deep belief or conviction, it truly is possible to stop these venomous feelings.
- Lastly, forgiveness requires us to cancel the debt. We need to prayerfully choose to annul, revoke, abolish, and make void whatever act requires forgiveness from us. If we cancel a debt {forgive}, we keep no record of the wrongdoing and rid ourselves of any feelings of vengeance.
Ultimately, forgiveness is grace … a free and unmerited {not deserved} favor. Often times, in our minds, forgiveness isn’t deserved. But true forgiveness, a heart forgiveness, forgives anyway.
The bottom line, and the heart behind this series, as Christians – Christ followers – we’ve been commanded to forgive others as we’ve been forgiven. More on that in the coming days, but for now let’s reflect on this question:
How can we take what’s been given to us on the Cross and keep it? Forgiveness was given to us that we might give it away.
As hard as it might be, I’ve learned I can only give what’s been given to me on the Cross. <– tweet this
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so true, my friend… “but true forgiveness, a heart forgiveness, forgives anyway.”
hard, but true. xoxo
beautiful. needed today friend.
xoxo,
stacey
I loved what you wrote “true forgiveness, a heart forgiveness, forgives anyways” – I’m often waiting for the other person to be sorry, or feel bad or something instead of giving it away as Christ has forgiven me. A hard truth!
The Lord is going to do something HUGE with this series…I just know it!
“As hard as it might be, I’ve learned I can only give what’s been given to me on the Cross. ” … yes… that. It’s hard – but what other way is there to live fully?
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