Embracing Forgiveness: Healing Relationships and Ourselves

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not just a simple act, but a powerful tool that can bring healing and restoration. It is a discipline that we learn through drawing closer to God, allowing us to see others as His children and extending the same grace we have received. This process of forgiveness can bring healing and restoration to the broken places in our lives. [21:08]

Bible Passage: Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you need to forgive? How can you start the process of forgiveness today?

Day 2: Praying for Those Who Hurt Us

Praying for those who have hurt us is the first step in the process of forgiveness. It may seem simple, but it is a powerful act that can activate the power of Heaven on our behalf. It is impossible to genuinely pray for someone and hate them at the same time. [21:35]

Bible Passage: Matthew 5:44 - "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Reflection: Who is one person who has hurt you that you can start praying for today?

Day 3: Blessing Those Who Hurt Us

Blessing those who have hurt us means speaking well of them and encouraging them. Instead of tearing them down, we are called to build them up. This act can transform our hearts and allow God to heal and mend the situation. [22:08]

Bible Passage: Luke 6:27-28 - "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Reflection: How can you bless someone who has hurt you this week?

Day 4: Doing Good to Those Who Hurt Us

We are called to do good to those who have hurt us. This means looking for opportunities to bless their lives and make their lives a little bit easier. By doing so, we are not only overcoming evil with good, but also allowing God to work in their lives. [22:39]

Bible Passage: Romans 12:17-21 - "Do not repay anyone evil for evil... If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can do good to someone who has hurt you?

Day 5: The Forgiven Forgive

Those who have experienced God's forgiveness are called to extend that same forgiveness to others. This act of forgiveness can lead to transformation and healing, not just for us, but also for the person we are forgiving. [23:18]

Bible Passage: Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Reflection: How has experiencing God's forgiveness impacted your ability to forgive others?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, I focused on the importance of forgiveness in our relationships. I shared how forgiveness and relationships go hand in hand because people are difficult and relationships are challenging. I used the example of a minor argument with my wife in an elevator to illustrate how easy it is to hold grudges over trivial matters. I then delved into the topic of forgiveness, emphasizing its significance in maintaining healthy relationships. I also highlighted the upcoming series on relationships with friends, family, and spouses, which will provide further insights into this topic.

In the second part of the sermon, I shared a story from Joyce Meyer, a renowned Bible teacher and author, about her journey to forgive her father who sexually abused her throughout her childhood. This story served as a powerful example of the transformative power of forgiveness, even in the face of unimaginable pain and suffering. I concluded the sermon by encouraging the congregation to forgive those who have wronged them and to also forgive themselves, as self-forgiveness is often a significant hurdle to forgiving others.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "As much as the world tells you to pursue vengeance and revenge and anger and cruelty towards other people, that is how much we should pursue forgiveness. That is how much we should pursue forgiving those who have offended us." - 10:12

2. "Unforgiveness doesn't hurt the other person, it hurts you. It's like drinking poison hoping the other person's gonna die. It doesn't make any sense. In fact, unforgiveness can hold us back from moving forward in our life and relationship with Jesus." - 10:46

3. "When you choose to forgive somebody, you're not keeping coals on their head but you're giving them the essence and vitality of life and the forgiveness and grace that is shown to them." - 23:49

4. "The forgiven forgive. She ends up telling the story and she talks about from as early as she can remember her entire life until she was old enough to leave, she was sexually abused and assaulted by her father every day multiple times a day." - 25:07

5. "I believe that we are called to forgive others. I want to pray for us today before we leave and I want to pray two different prayers this morning. The first one is for those of us today that maybe the Lord has brought somebody to your attention, somebody that you're holding anger against, you're holding unforgiveness against." - 26:47

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