--You can forgive... because no matter how much pain you may be in right now, God has a plan for your future. His plan is not to harm you, but His plan is good. His plan is to prosper you and give you hope.(Jeremiah 29:11)
--Steps to forgive:
1. First, you have to make a DECISION to forgive the person who hurt or offended you. Forgiving is an act of your will, not an act of your emotions. You may never feel like forgiving--but as an act of your will--you can choose to forgive. You can choose to let it go. You can choose to release your right to get even or make them pay. You can choose to relese all the toxicemotions of resentment and bitterness. Below is a sample prayer you can use, or write your own from your heart:
Heavenly Father, I choose today to forgive any offense committed against me, whether knowingly or unknowingly. I release to You all the memories and toxic emotions of unforgiveness that may be buried in my heart. I declare before Your right now that this event, situation or circumstance of offense against me is now dead forever. I ask You to heal me, Father. Help me to move forward in the freedom and strength of forgiveness and by the pwoer fo the Holy Spirit.
Please note that our part is to make the decision to forgive--God's part is to heal our wounded emotions.
Forgiveness is Not...
1. Waiting until you feel like forgiving.
2. Dependent on the other person saying they are sorry.
3. Negating the validity of the pain you've been through. It is not saying, "it didn't matter" nor excusing the action.
4. Lettting the other person off the hook so no justice is required.
5. Necessarily reconciling with the person. Reconcilation is dependent on a lot of different circumstances--but just because you forgive doesn't mean you hav eto go back into a situation where you are being mistreated or abused or taken advantage
of.
TO LIVE EVERY MOMENT, TO LAUGH EVERY DAY, AND TO LOVE BEYOND WORDS!