FORGIVENESS Talking Points • Accept God’s Forgiveness, Forgive Others, Forgive Ourselves • Are you feeling guilty about totally forgiving yourself? If so, this may be why: I have done this horrible thing that I do not deserve to be set free from guilt. This would be irresponsible. I’m going to pay for my failure. I must see that I get justice. The same is true in forgiving others. To forgive them sets them free and therefore means they may not get punished. Understanding what forgiveness is and what forgiveness is not provides some much needed clariEication for each of us. When we experience being forgiven and extending forgiveness we live in peace with ourselves and with one another. Experiencing and extending forgiveness is precisely what God wants us to do. What forgiveness is not: • Approval of that they did • Excusing what they did • Justifying what they did • Pardoning what they did • Reconciliation • Denying what they did • Blindness to what happened • Forgetting • Refusing to take the wrong seriously • Pretending we are not hurt
What forgiveness is: • Being aware of what someone has done & still forgiving • Choosing to keep no record of wrongs • Refusing to punish • Not telling what they did • Being merciful • Graciousness • It is an inner condition • It is the absence of bitterness • Forgiving God • Forgiving ourselves
Scripture Isaiah 55:6-‐7 Psalm 32:1-‐11 Psalm 51:1-‐17 Psalm 103:8-‐13 Psalm 86:4-‐7
Matthew 6:9-‐15 Matthew 11:28-‐30 Luke 7:36-‐50 Luke 7:47-‐50 Luke 15:11-32 Luke 18:9-14
John 4:4-‐26 John 21:15-‐16 Romans 5:1 Romans 8:1-‐4 Romans 3:21-26
Galatians 6:1 Ephesians 1:3-‐10 Ephesians 4:31-‐32 Ephesians 5:1-‐2 Philippians 3:13-‐14 1 John 1:5-‐10
Prayer Heavenly Father, Forgive me, please. Today, I choose to come before you, on bended knee to confess my sins to you. As I do, cleanse me from all unrighteousness & begin to restore a right spirit in me. Bring to mind those in my life I need to ask for forgiveness and the courage to do this. Bring to mind those in my life I need to extend forgiveness to and the courage to do this. Thank you for this time of confession and cleansing. Thank you for your faithfulness to forgive me continually. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord Savior, Amen. Suggested Reading Total Forgiveness -‐ R.T. Kendall Choosing Forgiveness -‐ Nancy Leigh Demoss The Gift of Forgiveness -‐ Charles Stanley Forgiveness, Finding Peace Through Letting Go -‐ Adam Hamilton Online Resources rightnowmedia.org -‐
[email protected] for a link to join Local Counselors Life Connections Counseling Center 813.265.3859 Katherine McKinney, Ph.D Jim Reed, Ph. D www.lifeconnectionsonline.org Van Dyke Church -‐ 17030 Lakeshore Road -‐ Lutz, FL 33558 -‐ vandyke.org
