Life's challenges handled through forgiveness
Stay close to God by following his wisdom from the Bible:
God's ways are not like our ways of dealing with difficulties. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways." (Isaiah 55:9a, read Proverbs)
God commands we walk in love in all relationships - this involves daily forgiveness
When you make a choice to forgive others, you place them in God's hands so that He can deal with them and bring justice. Give burdensome people to Him.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14,15 - see Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-13)
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
You are forgiven and saved by God's grace (Unmerited favour - not deserved)
If you grant other people that same forgiveness, even though they do not deserve it, then you will be blessed of God and experience inner peace.
Speaking out forgiveness in prayer is for your benefit so that you do not hold hate and resentments and become hard and bitter. These bad attitudes can affect your own health and wellbeing, in time. God cannot bless you if your hold on to unforgiveness.
He commands us to bless those who curse us and do good to those who despitefully use us. By the power of His Spirit, this is possible. One may not feel 'forgiveness' towards another, but you must obediently speak out forgiveness in prayer to be free yourself:. Then, do not continue to say bad things about them as this is evil speaking. Let go and let God!
Example Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I choose to forgive _________. You say in your Word that "Vengenge is Mine,
I will repay" - therefore, I place _________ into your hands and I pray that
you will bless them. I pray that Your will be done in their life. I ask for your
forgiveness for anything I have done to cause problems in this situation. I thank
you that I am forgiven according to your Word. I accept your forgiveness and
I also choose to forgive myself. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Choose to live by faith (believing in what God says in the Bible) and do not let feelings and emotions rule over you
Example:
"When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath, your exasperation, your fury or indignation, last until the sun goes down." (Ephesians 4:26,27)
In other words, do not let anger consume you, confess it to God at the end of each day and choose to forgive whoever hurt you. Let it go. Ask for God's help to choose to walk in love and forgiveness.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)