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.”
When discussing forgiveness, it’s always important to define what forgiveness is. It’s not condoning, or saying the offense was “okay,” but it is making a conscious choice to not let that offense dictate your actions or ability to show others God’s love. It’s choosing to treat others respectfully and lovingly (while setting healthy boundaries) instead of holding a grudge and acting accordingly. It’s also choosing to not allow the experiences of the situation define you.
Most importantly, if we separate out the act of forgiving from the emotions that often go along with it, we may begin looking at it differently. When you think about forgiving, what usually stands in the way?
What I’ve seen most often are feelings of hurt, bitterness, resentment, being betrayed, and more. Scripture clearly tells us to rid ourselves of those things. If we don’t, we will not be prepared to offer forgiveness when someone is willing to repent and accept it.
Today, I encourage you to ask God to reveal to you any unresolved feelings of hurt, bitterness, resentment, or other related emotions, and seek His guidance in ridding yourself of them.
Also remember that you are not defined by your experiences. While you may have been victimized in some way, you are not “a victim.” Your identity is determined by your Creator, not your experiences! You can be a warrior, a survivor, a thriver… a victor as a child of the King!
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