Forgiveness

Day 6 & 7 of GDOP Prayer reminds us of the need to receive forgiveness as we forgive others. We all want to be forgiven by God and others when we offend others. Yet to forgive others seem like a whole lot more difficult. Yes we already know that we must forgive. Someone just talked to me about his own struggle to forgive a friend after a relationship break up. Each time he remembers or comes in contact with the person there is still the pain and wound within. He knows he has a problem with moving on and is asking for help. I believe he is not alone in this struggle. If we are honest we too sometimes struggle with this issue. The offender may have moved on or is not even bordered by the offense, leaving you still wounded! Are there people still holding you ransom when their names are mentioned or when you think or see them? Are we still living in our past?

The Lord's Prayer says, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matt. 6:12) Two verses down, Jesus says, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Forgiveness here seems to be conditional and tied to our forgiveness of others.

But how does one really forgive a person who have wounded us badly? Is it a one step process or will it take several steps to receive healing? Let me know some of your thoughts and how you may have found freedom in your own life in this area of forgiveness.