FORGIVING LIKE JESUS, LET’S TALK ABOUT FORGIVENESS:
In life, we are going to come across people who will hurt and disappoint us and the hardest part is forgiving them. I’m going to be totally honest, forgiveness is not an easy thing but as Christians we are called to love and forgive because our Heavenly Father loves and forgives us. Once you truly have a relationship with God, you will know how to love and forgive those around you. (if you want to know how to build a relationship with God check out my first blog). If you struggle with forgiving others, this message is for you! If you refuse to forgive others, this message is for you too! This message is for anyone, so feel free to read :))
STRUGGLING TO FORGIVE OTHERS ♡:
I’M STRUGGLING TO FORGIVE, SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? PRAY TO BE ABLE TO FORGIVE.
First, I want you to realize the situation that you are in (someone has hurt you, someone said something rude to you, someone has let you down, etc.) And this can be with forgiving someone for what they have done to you in the past or present. Take a few deep breaths and realize it’s okay. It’s normal to feel upset if someone has hurt you, but remember not to curse the person or hate them (Colossians 3:8 ♡). Instead pray to God for Him to help you to forgive and love this person and God will help you!! Pray for the person as well. Just to add on: with loving the person, I don’t mean let them take advantage of you, but don’t have evil desires or malice/hatred for them in your heart. Have a free mind and love this person/people because God loved first (1 John 4:19 ♡). As children of God we are called to love and forgive others no matter what they’ve done to us. If you don’t know love then you don’t know God because God is love (1 John 4:8 ♡). Trust me, there is power in prayer and if your struggling with forgiving someone God understands and He will help you out. ;))
KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON GOD
Just to add on to the last paragraph- Realize it takes time to move on from past or present hurt, but God will help you to move on! Cast everything onto your Heavenly Father. If you haven’t already, put your focus on the Lord. Put your focus on God by spending time with Him, praying, worshipping, and reading his word will help you, but most importantly to keep your focus on the Lord, as well as your relationship with Him. It will take time, but overtime you will see that praying to forgive that person or people and putting your focus on God will help you to progress. Remember to spend time with the Lord out of your heart and love for Him and not because you need something from Him.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I TRULY FORGAVE THIS PERSON?
You will know once you no longer focus on the situation, of them hurting/disappointing you, as much anymore. You won’t have any grudges towards this person, you won’t hold on to what they did to hurt you against them, and you won’t bring it up in the future. So, keep praying!! & allow the love of God to fill you.♡
HOW JESUS FORGAVE & WHY WE SHOULD FORGIVE ♡:
HOW DID JESUS FORGIVE AND SHOW LOVE?
Remember the world hated Jesus and He had many persecutors. If the world hates you because of Jesus remember that it hated Jesus first. (John 15:18 ♡). Jesus was disappointed by people, Jesus felt pain. Jesus was flogged, He was slapped on the face, spat on, had a crown of thorns on His head, laughed at, mocked, His hands and feet were nailed onto the cross.. He did this because He died for us because He loves us. He died for us even knowing that we would sin against Him. The point I’m trying to get across is that even though people betrayed Jesus, He forgave them and He showed love by dying for their sins despite what they did. When Jesus was on the cross and was getting mocked at, He asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. There were times where Jesus was hurt by people. There were times were Jesus was discouraged. There were times where Jesus was lonely. Everything that you are feeling, Jesus had felt that way too. Always remember what Jesus did on the cross and how He loved.
WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE OTHERS & WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T FORGIVE?
Remember that we all fall short from the glory of God (Romans 3:23 ♡) and sin everyday, it’s our nature. Humans are born into sin. Whenever we fall short from God’s glory He forgives us and cleanses us every time when we repent and ask for forgiveness. But what if God didn’t forgive you? It wouldn’t feel nice (and we know that our God is forgiving and faithful.) That’s the same way with not forgiving someone when they have hurt/disappointed you. If you can’t forgive others, God can’t forgive you. You can’t go to God expecting Him to forgive you every time you’ve hurt Him, but then when someone hurts you, you can’t forgive them (so keep that in mind). We have hurt God for a countless number of times and yet He forgives us, so you should be able to forgive too. (Again, if you struggle with forgiving pray to the Lord to help you and trust me He will).
- In Matthew 6:14 it says, “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” ♡
- in Colossians 3:12-14 it says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” ♡
So, if you want others to forgive you whenever you mess up or hurt them, then forgive, so you can be forgiven and because of God (He loved us first)! Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.
I’m nowhere near perfect I struggle too and forgiveness is not an easy thing. I use to struggle with forgiveness a lot, especially having dealt with bullying, so I thought I would help you guys out :)) Through my journey with Jesus He has helped and taught me to forgive and He can help you too! We will all disappoint each other in life, but God will never disappoint. Thank you for reading this if you read through the whole thing, and God loves you and so do I ♡.
If you need advice don’t be afraid to talk to me!!
Love Bea ♡
Spreading God's Love 