Tag: Forgiveness

FORGIVING OTHERS LIKE GOD FORGIVES YOU

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“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” – Colossians 3:12-13.

One of the reasons why the Bible is so relevant and timeless is because it gives us real-life examples and shows people who faced suffering and hard times just like we do today.  But they were not victims. They found a way to forgive others who had wronged them. In doing so, they set the standard for overcoming tough times with the right heart and the right attitude. A good example is Joseph.

Joseph understood that God’s plan was bigger than his revenge. Joseph served a God that enabled him to love those who had sinned against him. Joseph was able to do this, not because they were inherently deserving or because he was inherently righteous. He was able to forgive because he understood that God’s providential hand had guided him to this point and that God’s plan was bigger than his hurt, just as it had been bigger than the jealousy that lead to that pain.

C.S. Lewis said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” You can forgive, you must forgive, and you will forgive when you remember just as God has forgiven you, you are to forgive others. In other words, if we sometimes need to receive forgiveness then we must always be willing to give forgiveness.

How do we forgive others as God has forgiven us? First of all, we are to forgive those who don’t deserve to be forgiven. Most of us have people we are willing to forgive and people we are unwilling to forgive. In our minds, there are what we consider “unforgivable sins.” Thank God that’s not in His mind. We are to forgive those who don’t deserve to be forgiven. We need to remember that Jesus didn’t die for a select group of people. He died for everyone. That includes those who have been good to us and those who have harmed us. Understanding what God did for us is the best way to learn how to forgive.

We serve a God who enables us to love and forgive others, not of our own power, but from God’s forgiveness which has radically changed our view of the world. Because Jesus loves, we love. Because He forgave, we forgive.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is God’s reason for forgiving us in your opinion?
  2. What type of forgiveness are we to extend to others according to Colossians 3:13? Why should we give up our right to hold grudges?

The Attributes Of God – The Goodness Of God

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What are God’s attributes? Each Friday we will look at an attribute of God. This week, the goodness of God. The clear message of Scripture is that God is uniquely good and that He is the measure for everything we call good. Considered together with His wisdom and power, Christians can be assured that God not only desires to reveal His goodness but is able to accomplish His good plan in the best possible way.

“For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:6-7.

God’s goodness simply can’t be fully grasped.  How can any human being ever get their head around the awesome goodness of God? It transcends our understanding, yet we know its truth through scripture. God’s love and goodness are universal. It encompasses all people. Psalm 145:8-10 says, “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.“  

When we are saved and we love and serve God we experience the boundless riches of God’s grace and goodness toward us. We experience what David says in Psalm 23:6, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Think about that for a second: the goodness of Good follows us. 

The question is how is God’s goodness showing up in our daily lives? There is any number of ways, When we leave our lives in the hands of our good God, we will see the good things God has for us. We see the goodness of God in how He sustains us each day. He is faithful to meet our physical needs and loves us through the people He’s placed around us. Even when life is hard, we can trust God to sustain us. We can trust God’s providence even if His provision doesn’t align with our desires.

Forgiveness reveals God’s goodness, daily. Daily, we come to God for forgiveness, because we all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) In His goodness and through the sacrifice of His Son, we are able to embrace the gift of forgiveness He has given to us, and thus forgive others as He has done for us. In the greatest act of love, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, to earth. Fully God and fully man, Jesus came to earth to die a sacrificial death on the cross by crucifixion. He was innocent, yet died a criminal’s death, intentionally for us. The cross is a daily reminder of the goodness of God.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If circumstances in your life cause you to doubt God’s goodness, where in Scripture can you turn for reassurance and confidence? 
  2. Which of God’s other attributes can assure you that God is able to exercise His goodness? Can you think of more than one? 
  3. If somebody asked you about the goodness of God, what would you say? 

How Do We Respond To Critics

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“But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done.” – 2 Chronicles 36:16.

No one likes criticism, but encountering some is inevitable, so we need to learn how to respond in a godly way. Although you might be tempted to become defensive or angry, remain calm and listen. The words may hurt, but great benefits come to those who carefully consider what is said. The Bible is replete with people being criticized. 

The Bible does not say anything about people mocking Noah and his family while they were building the ark, you have to assume given the situation, that people ridiculed what they were doing.  Then there is Nehemiah. He got the king to see his point of view. He got all the materials he needed. And he inspired the people to get to work. Then came the discouraging insults: “Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:1-4)

Jesus was ridiculed by everyone present during His crucifixion. The crowds cried “Crucify Him!” before Pilate. The soldiers beat and mocked Him. People who passed by Him hanging on the cross hurled their insults at Jesus. The religious leaders mocked Him. Even the criminals who were dying beside the Lord threw in their own ridicule  Handling criticism and ridicule with grace is possible because Jesus portrayed it and He’s our example to follow.

Something wonderful happens when we take on an attitude of grace toward people who have been malicious or judgmental or spiteful toward us: their criticism can’t affect or change us. We understand that the problem is with them, and not with us. So, instead of being offended and hurt, we are free to joyfully minister forgiveness and grace into that person’s life. The result is that instead of the unfair criticism succeeding in tearing us down, it actually serves to build us up, spiritually and emotionally, as we follow in the footsteps of Christ.

Every rebuke is an opportunity from God. It’s a chance to let your Christian character shine by showing love to your critic. If he is angrily attacking you, your respect and kindness become a powerful testimony. Criticism is also an occasion to humble yourself and accept the Lord’s correction.

 Discussion Questions:

  1. How should you respond when your faith and beliefs are ridiculed?
  2. What can we do differently this week when faced with criticism?  

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

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 “A person would be insane to hear his physician diagnose his ailment as a rapidly growing tumor, and then think that just because he had talked with his doctor, the growth would suddenly disappear. No, he’s going to have to be operated on. Likewise, just being exposed to the truth won’t make us mature. Nor will it alone — without application — solve one problem.” –  Chuck Swindoll, Three Steps Forward Two Steps Back.  

Chuck Swindoll wrote a book titled, Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back. In Ezra 4 we see that idea in action. In Chapter 4, God has stirred up the heart of the pagan King Cyrus to issue a decree for the Jews to return to their land and rebuild His temple. One step forward. Thousands of Jews respond by giving up their lives in Babylon and making the long, dangerous trek back to the land. A second step forward. They rebuilt the altar, gathered in Jerusalem, and laid the foundation for the new temple. A third step forward. 

Then the enemy hit and the work on the temple stopped. One step back. The work ceased for approximately 18  years. Two steps back. They were still in the land (one step ahead), but there was no center for worship in Jerusalem. The people, intimidated by their enemies, settled into a routine of life that got along without temple worship until God stirred up the prophets to rebuild the temple.

Have you ever felt that way, that life seems like it’s one step forward and two steps back? We feel like things are really moving forward and then life happens and we find things are moving backward again.  That is both natural and frustrating. The apostle Paul had arrived in Ephesus in Acts 19. Paul starts doing what he always does, preaching in the synagogues, in the streets, and among the gentiles. Things were going so well for Paul that in verses 11-12 it says, “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.”  Can you imagine that kind of success in your life? Your marriage, work, school, or whatever is going so well that it is spilling over onto other people and the mere touch of something that has touched you is making others better. That is a tremendous step forward.  Paul ultimately had to leave Ephesus. He gathered the church encouraged them and said farewell.

But it doesn’t matter how many times we have fallen or how many steps backward we’ve taken. We need to remember that “…My grace is all you need….” (2 Corinthians 12.9)

What is often needed is a new beginning with God. New beginnings are exciting and filled with hope. By His grace, we can turn back to the Lord and start afresh. But no sooner have we started anew than we experience a setback. The spiritual high that we have enjoyed is followed by a deep spiritual low. Ask God for the grace you need and step forward … one step at a time. And when you fail … and we all do at times … we need to go back to the cross and remember that God’s grace and forgiveness are always available.

Discussion Questions: 

  1. What will be your strategy to affirm your identity in Christ when you feel like you’re losing ground after making a decision to move forward?
  2. Why do you think it’s hard to let go of control and trust God for your future?

What Might Have Been

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“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime,when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! – Job 29:1-6.

A life of regret is an “if only” life… if only I had walked closer to the Lord… if only I would have invested in my marriage more…. if only I would have spent more time with my children… if only I would have attended church more… if only I would have not wasted that money… if only… a life filled with regrets, retreats, and remorse. Author Kurt Vonnegut said, “Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “what might have been.”

What would a “no regret” life really look like? Is it even possible? There was only one person that has lived a regret free life in the literal sense and that is Jesus. The rest of us fail, we struggle, we get in our own way, and as a result constantly manufacture regret. We will fail and we will have regrets. The answer to living the “no regret” life is not found in living without failure, but more in how we deal with that failure.

What will we do with our failures? We can choose to kick ourselves to the curb because of our failures, our sins, our mistakes and let them dominate our lives and our attention or we can “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2) We can either keep our eyes focused on the past or “press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12).

It has been said many times and in many ways, but the fundamental truth is the same: We cannot change our last 5 seconds, 5 minutes, 5 years, no matter how much we want to turn the clock back. Living  a regret free life is one that is not focused and obsessed with our pasts and letting that define our lives. Our identity is found in Jesus and working out our faith day by day. In the spiritual life, direction makes all the difference. It’s not where we have been but where we’re going that matters. When we let go of the regret, God opens up opportunities for today.

This week, focus on forgetting your past and the regrets so that you can so you can live the life you were made for.  Micah 7:19 tells us, “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

C. S. Lewis reminded us that our ultimate goal is to hear God say someday, “Well done, good and faithful servant:” “Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your “what if” moments?
  2. Is it hard for you to forget your past? Why or why not?
  3. How have you been successful in dealing with your past regrets?
  4. What difference does Jesus make when it comes to dealing with your past sins and regrets?
  5. Pray this week and ask God to help you with any regrets you have in life.

The Prayer of Forgiveness

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“ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth,“ – Numbers 14:19-21.

In the Pray First – a Personal Prayer Guide, there is a section entitled Warfare Prayers – Forgiveness Prayer. That is the subject of this devotional.

People sometimes ask “Is there a prayer I could pray that will help me forgive, and if so, how often should I pray it?” Over time, we often come to the realization that the only answer for the anger and bitterness we feel is to discover the healing power of forgiveness. They want to forgive, but discover that it is not easy. Because what does forgiveness look like when your character has been assassinated? What does forgiveness look like when people have cheated you, or assaulted you?

There are no words that allow you to wash away the deep hurts in life. But there is power in forgiveness and there is power in prayer. Take the people that hurt or wronged you to Jesus individually in prayer, one by one. Tell God what you are feeling and ask God to give you the power to forgive. Rather than laying out your hurts and the justification for how we feel about others, talk to God about it. He is the only one who can keep your heart soft and sensitive to Him and others and give you the power to forgive. I am convinced that if we pray for people who have hurt us, we will have the ability to react in love.

We know that forgiveness is a way of life for a Christian. Do not take it for granted. Do not assume it will just happen. It is continuous process. So pray continually to help you forgive continually. Regardless of what has been said, written, or presumed about you, let it go. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Forgive as many times as is necessary. Then, let it go. You cannot go forward holding onto a past hurt. You cannot go forward with resentment running through your veins. Let it go.

“Marty, that is a heavy price tag for me to pay when it was the other person who is at fault.” That makes sense.  But remember that not forgiving you will cost you more. We should also remember that when we forgive those who have sinned against us we are only doing what Christ did when he forgave us first.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is forgiveness to you?
  2. Is there power in forgiveness? Why or why not?
  3. What happens if I don’t forgive?
  4. Read Matthew 6:14-15: What is this passage telling you about forgiveness?
  5. 6-Day Challenge: Pray and ask God this week to give you the power to forgive.

From the Heart

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!“ – Psalm 139:23-24

In the Pray First – a Personal Prayer Guide there is a section entitled Confession and Cleaning – Present Your Heart To God. That is the subject of this devotional.

Imagine yourself in the crowd in the story in Luke 5.  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Man, your sins are forgiven you!”

“Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” the Pharisees teachers of the law exclaimed among themselves.  Jesus knew what they were thinking, and He replied, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” This is one of many examples of God’s willingness to forgive.

To be forgiven, we must first confess our sins. Confession of sin is a Biblical mandate. We all sin and as a result we need to acknowledge to God that we have sinned, turn away from our sin, and seek His grace. If we do so, He has promised to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). There are no other Biblical conditions to God’s forgiveness.

As D.L. Moody used to say, “We have to be emptied before we can be filled.”  By confessing your sin, you act on your faith in God and His Word. Confession does not give you more forgiveness. Christ has already forgiven you once and for all. But by admitting your sins, you establish in your experience what God has done for you through the death of His Son.

When the heart is not right with God we fail to see sin in its proper light. “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7)

Over the next 6 days, confess your sins and your need for God. Ask God to forgive you for trying to figure everything out on our own, for not trusting that He is more than able and powerful to work on our behalf. Ask God to give you the ability to trust Him more, give you a heart that finds rest in His presence, remembering it’s only to be found in Jesus Christ.

Thank God this week for peace of mind that His loving and strong presence guards and protects our hearts and minds.  Thank God for sending His son to save us and freeing us from sin.   

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you say sin affects you? In what ways does it hold power over you?
  2. If we do not confess to God, what does that reveal about our attitude toward sin? Toward God? Toward ourselves?
  3. Read Lamentations 3:16-24: What does the writer’s description indicate about God’s character? How is our hope in God related to the humble view of ourselves as helpless sinners before Him?

Get Your Heart Right With God and People

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“But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:6-10

Sometimes smart people do dumb things, wise people do foolish things, and Godly people do sinful things. For some of us those things are locked in our past, while for others it is a part of our present. There is one thing we all have in common – the ability and the tendency to make mistakes, to mess up, and to do things that make us shake our heads soon after. Not that we should be surprised. The Bible says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The question is when we do something wrong, how do we make it right? How do we get our heart right with God?

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “…For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” God can see things about you that no one else can see. Deep things. Hidden things. You know, those inner thoughts and desires that your family and friends have no idea are even floating around in your heart and mind.

Being separated from God is a terrible thing. We were created to enjoy a close connection with Him. With Jesus, fractured relationships get mended. Getting right with God can and should lead to staying right with God. Being right with God means we are constantly working to grow and mature in Christ.

Getting and staying right with God means we must walk in the Spirit, keeping your mind on God and His kingdom by praying continually. During the 21 Days of Prayer consider praying Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” God will be faithful to answer this prayer and to keep your heart stayed on Him.

There is also the need to get your heart right with others. We feel bad, in most cases, when things aren’t right between us and someone we care about. It gnaws at us, eats away inside us. We know it needs to be resolved but we often don’t know where to begin, or we don’t want to be the one who takes the first step. We need to take that step. We need to forgive, reconcile and love that person. It is not easy, but is something we must do to truly live as God desires.

Loving others is the only way to keep the God-kind of life flowing through you. God’s love is a gift to us; it’s in us, but we need to release it to others through words and actions. Here’s a 6-day challenge: Think of a person that you want to get right with. Then think of ways you can find to make it right. I believe you will feel a wonderful sense of fulfillment and joy afterward.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does getting right with God look like for you?
  2. To have a heart after God’s heart, we must spend time alone in prayer with God. Agree or disagree?
  3. We should each ask ourselves how seriously we take Jesus’ love. What difference does it make in our lives?
  4. What does love require of us for the next six days?
  5. Get your heart right with God and people today. Ask the Lord to forgive you for any sin in your life and to bring up any unforgiveness you hold onto.

The Gift of Forgiveness

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“ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” – Genesis 50:18-21.

Do you remember white out correction fluid? It is the magical liquid that covers over your errors, your typos, your unfortunate slip-ups. You brush on the liquid and start all over again–hopefully this time with no unfortunate slip-ups. It was used when typewriters were used so you can correct a mistake without typing the whole document over again. Forgiveness is much like that. It does not eliminate the hurts or pain, but it does cover them over in a way that they never really happened.

All this week we have been looking at the subject of forgiveness. The bottom line is forgiveness is a promise. That’s really what it is. It’s a promise. It’s a promise never to take revenge. It is the opposite of a refusal to forgive, which is a promise to get back at the person who wronged or hurt us.

If you want a simple definition then of forgiveness, think of it as a promise never to take revenge. It is a statement of obedience to God that affirms, “I hold no anger, I hold no hatred, I hold no bitterness against you. I won’t ever bring it up to you, I won’t ever bring it up to anybody else, I won’t ever bring it up to myself.” That’s forgiveness.

It will take an act of love.  Because forgiveness is the most Christ-like act a Christian can do.

Never are you more like God or Christ than when you forgive, because that is what Christ does. The personification of forgiveness is when Jesus looked at His crucifiers and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24)

A prime example of forgiveness is the story of Joseph. When presented with an opportunity to exact vengeance on his brothers, Joseph chose, instead, to point them to the overarching plan that God has for His glory: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 60:20)   

Joseph understood that God’s plan was bigger than his revenge. Joseph served a God that enabled him to love those who had sinned against him. Joseph was able to do this, not because they were inherently deserving or because he was inherently righteous. He was able to forgive because he understood that God’s providential hand had guided him to this point, and that God’s plan was bigger than his hurt, just as it had been bigger than the jealousy that lead to that pain.

We serve the same God. We serve a God who enables us to love and forgive others, not of our own power, but from God’s forgiveness that has radically changed our view of the world. Because Jesus loves, we love. Because He forgave, we forgive. 

During this Christmas season I hope you will learn to forgive those around you.  It is one of the best Christmas presents you can give yourself.

Discussion Questions: 

  1. Does Christmas change the idea of what forgiveness means for you? 
  2. What is most important to you in your life and how can forgiving help?
  3. What do you dislike about the idea of forgiving? What do you like about it?
  4. What is reconciliation, and how is it different from the act of forgiving?
  5. Why do you think forgiveness takes courage?

How Can I Forget?

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“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” – Colossians 3:12-13 

There is no waffling about forgiveness in the Bible. Matthew 6:15 tells us:”But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” That seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? The question that often surfaces is something like this: I understand that I should forgive, but how do I know whether I have truly forgiven them? Can we forgive yet not be sure how we did it? Forgiving, and knowing that we’ve truly forgiven, comes easier when we understand a few things about forgiveness. 

The first thing we need to remember is that forgiveness takes time. We expect change and peace to be instantaneous, but the reality is that while God can forgive in a fraction of a second, we need time. Just before he died, C.S. Lewis wrote: “I think I have at last forgiven the cruel schoolmaster who so darkened my youth. I had done it many times before, but this time I think I have really done it.” As you’re forgiving someone or yourself, know that forgiveness takes time. It’s a process. You will have to be honest with yourself and accept the fact you were hurt, but there are ways to not stay bound to the hurt.

The second thing is forgiving does not require forgetting. Forgive and forget—it’s a cliché we all know. But honestly, will we ever forget the wrong someone did to us? What if someone abused you? Cheated? Lied? You may try to dump those things out of your head, but they’re things you will probably never completely forget no matter how forgiving you are. It is impractical and ineffective for us to try to forget. Rather, the goal is to detoxify the memory to the extent that it no longer controls our lives. Philippians 3:13 says, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”  Ask God to heal and defuse the power of old memories and empty out stored emotions so you can find peace.

We have the example of real forgiveness in our Lord and Savior. Think about Jesus when He was on the Cross, taking on our sin and dying one of the most agonizing deaths so that we could experience true forgiveness.

But while Jesus does forgive, He doesn’t forget. He doesn’t remember our sins either. Isaiah 43:25 says, “(43:25), “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jesus never said He would forget our sins, but instead that He won’t remember them—He won’t bring them up again because we have been forgiven.

Isn’t that beautiful to know that God won’t throw our past sins in our face?

My prayer is that we will trust God to redeem the failure and pain of the past and that we can forgive even if we can’t forget.

Tomorrow: The gift of forgiveness.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe you can forgive even though you can’t forget?
  2. What do you have to change in your mind in order to give yourself permission to forgive?
  3. Picture the person who has caused you the most hurt or the person who has greatly offended you. Imagine forgiving that person, and imagine what that would look like. What is the biggest obstacle to making that happen in real life? 
  4. Pray and ask God to give you the strength to forgive those who have hurt you.