Forgiveness?

Question

Is being forgiving, high on your priority list?
I have been reading about how important, forgiveness, is to even establish our own inner peace.
Praying for and forgiving others can transform lives?
I believe this. Easy? Not so much.
I am praying as I type to become more compassionate. loving and forgiving. Of myself and others.
I am so glad that I know I am a work in progress.
Would love to read your thoughts on forgiveness and how you practice it in your life.
Thankyou and Blessings to all.

Thankyou Gatita_6, for sharing a personal story. You and I probably needed that. Blessings

Eric, I went to that site, awaken2life.
Thankyou.
I even printed it.

Answer 1

Forgiveness is the highest priority in the mind of God. It is the method by which Christians can demonstrate their love for others, especially towards those who have wronged them. However it can be a slow learning process because we are still human and subject to very real human frailties. Our feelings get hurt, we are misunderstood and maligned by others. In spite of all this, the Lord Jesus when asked about forgiveness told His disciples they are to forgive 70 times 7 every day. That is a total of 490 times per day.

Christ came to be the sacrificial lamb so mankind through repentance could be forgiven. God's ability to forgive is without measure. As He was dying on the cross, Jesus asked His Father to "forgive them for they know not what they do". Can we do less? Are we better or greater than God? Forgiveness provides a catharsis by which we can attain peace in our souls knowing that we have done the right thing in His sight.

I say this because in my own life it was a difficult process after losing my home because of my daughter and the deceitful way she spent the money we had borrowed. The loan was made for the specific purpose of remodeling it so she and her husband could move in. I have not heard from her since. I wanted revenge and yet the Lord dealt with my heart, I finally forgave her and yet I still have problems forgetting what she did.
She betrayed my trust and I choose not to have contact because I doubt both her sincerity and her honesty. I will not allow her to do anything like this again. My feelings are based upon the fact that this was not the FIRST time she has done this and I'm sure it won't be the last. Forgiveness is shown when one has repented and asked for forgiveness from God. It is granted when that one has repented and turned away from the deeds of the past and has made a commitment to not repeat it again.

gatita_63109

Answer 2

Whenever we miss the mark by disobeying one of God's commands, we sin against Him. Whenever we wrong another person, we not only sin against them, but also against God. When we take a look at the enormity of God's mercy to forgive us of ALL of our transgressions, we realize that we do not have the right to withhold this grace from others. We have sinned against God infinitely more than any person can sin against us. If God forgives us of so much, how can we refuse to forgive others for so little? Jesus’ parable in Matthew 18:23-35 is a powerful illustration of this truth. God promises that when we come to Him asking for forgiveness, He freely grants it (1 John 1:9). The forgiveness we extend should know no bounds, in the same way that God's forgiveness is limitless (Luke 17:3-4).

Answer 3

Forgiveness is one of the most important part of a believer's life, if you cant forgive someone, how can the father in heaven forgive you. I do believe you are a work in progress, and me too, and those who believe in God as well. if you can call me at (1203)545-2286 between 3-9 any day of the week. God Bless You.

Answer 4

Angela, the idea of forgiveness is a highly interesting one. In the Bible, it is mainly God who forgives (as opposed to us forgiving someone else). It means something like God taking away (in Hebrew, the word is: nasa) the obstacles which separates us from His presence. Without that forgiveness, we would not be acting the way we should toward other people, meaning the way He would act Himself. A good example could be the story (a mythological one of course) of Adam and Eva: in sinning (whatever it was) they were hiding from His presence (“Adam, where are you hiding?) and stopped acting in a Godlike way: actually they started saying that they were not responsible of their own actions and started accusing each other (“it’s not me, it’s the wife YOU gave me...It’s not me, it’s the serpent....). In other words, sin puts obstacles and we need forgiveness, meaning the removal of the obstacles which makes it so difficult to act the way we should in an ideal world. On the other hand, if I ever offend you, both we will need that you forgive me so that we might act the way we should toward each other. Claude.

Answer 5

I think that your right and I couldn't agree with you more on learning to forgive and leave things alone. It is better for our spirit. your right. A waste of energy to get upset over something that we cannot forgive because when we begin to forgive others then we are transformed into new spirits and it feels great@ Thanks and God Bless you.

Answer 6

Yes, forgiving is one of the secrets.

Forgiveness will most immediately change your life...and may affect others in time.

There is an article that was published a few years ago that might be of interest... http://www.awaken2life.org/art1.html

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 7

One of the best ways to forgive is to think about something else.

Answer 8

To forgive or not forgive, the diff between going to Heaven or not. Praise the LORD.

Answer 9

Jesus always says that we must forgive those who harmed us. As long they are willing to ask for it. Take for example the Parables that Jesus taught. I had many disputes with my older brother and all the bickering promised nothing but pain and misery. But eventually he and i came to our senses and reconciled with others.

Answer 10

we are all works in process some of us just don't know it yet sounds to me you are on the right path love and forgiveness go hand in hand.