FORGIVENESS

Definition:

The act of forgiving; pardon; to remit or cancel.

Brief Explanation:

It has been said, to err is human, to forgive divine…and difficult for many. This is especially true for people who have been deeply hurt through rejection, abandonment or betrayal, the results of abuse and neglect. Forgiveness is a process, beginning for most with an act of obedience (as Christ commands, that if we are going to be forgiven, we must forgive). It follows with identifying who is responsible for the offense; this may take time and patience, as often the offense is perceived, often real, often mixed. Once the responsible party is determined, judgment of the offense is to be made, and then statements of relief or forgiveness, undeserved though it may be, are to be done.

Again, this is process not an event, and several experiential exercises can be used to help facilitate the process, from role play to empty chair (imagining the person who offended in the chair), speaking  to  them  ones  hurt,  then  taking  the  “persons  place  to respond,” with a hope that empathy and clarity of thought will ensue, to letter writing (don’t mail them). The act of externalization is often highly therapeutic. Whatever technique is used, the goal is the same, to bring about genuine and heart felt forgiveness, which frees the client to use health energy for growth and change.

The Word of God:

Psalm 32:1, 2

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!  How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!”

Psalm 51:1, 2

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Isaiah 43:25

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

Psalm 103:2-5

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving, kindness, and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Mark 11:25, 26

“Whenever you stand praying forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

Proverbs 25:21, 22

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  For you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

Matthew. 5:23, 24

“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the alter, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled   to   your   brother,   and  then  come  and  present  your offering.”

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”