How to Forgive and Embrace the Future

In our first article on the Power of Forgiveness, we discuss what forgiveness is and what it means to God and ourselves. Our second article further discusses how our life choices, values and priorities affect our perspective and decision about forgiveness. Finally, in the last article here, we want to show you how to forgive and to embrace the future and better things to come that God has put in your life.

How do you forgive someone who has hurt you? These are the pointers for you to follow:

1. Give up your rights to get even – Romans 12:19 says not to take revenge you’re your own hands but to leave it to God to avenge for you. God will settle the score for you for our God is a righteous and holy God. In this fallen world, we must realize that our family, friends and loved ones can never live up to your expectations. We are not perfect and will not be until the return of Jesus. However, it is the unwillingness to let go of the hurt and to forgive that destroy relationships.
2. Learn to build boundaries but not walls. There is a different between boundary and wall. A boundary is a wall with gates. The gates in the boundary allow you to let go what is bad and to let in what is good. But if you build wall without gates, then nothing bad will be thrown out and nothing good will be able to get into your life.
3. Respond to evil with good. Do good to those who hurt you. Bless that person. Do good to them. Do not return evil with evil. Watch your heart and do not respond with spite, bitterness, and angry words. Nor should you harbor any negative or evil thoughts towards the offender although you may not take any action against the person. Guard your thoughts and your heart.
4. Seek God for forgiveness if you have responded evil with evil or nursed any negative thoughts. Repent before God. When you have done that, know and remember that God forgives you of your sins when you repent. The sins are wiped out before God. You should not feel shameful or guilty further for the wrongs done. Instead, put the past behind and focus on the good things and good reports.
5. Repeat these steps as long as necessary. Forgiveness is rarely a one time event. Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother. Should it be just seven times? Jesus replied Peter that it should be seventy time seven times. Jesus didn’t mean that we note down the number of times we forgive our brothers but to keep forgiving until the pain and hurts are gone in our heart.

It is easy to list all the above pointers on how you should forgive someone but it is not possible until you see the value of doing it just as we had discussed in our second article. Until you see the values it has to offer you, the offender and the surrounding, forgiveness will mean nothing to you and it will be cheapen.

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