Forgiveness - Part 3

A Strategy To Wholeness 

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LaDonna 0:00

Welcome to Healing Waters – The Podcasts! 

I am LaDonna Sanders, here to remind you that God wants you well in your mind, body, soul, and spirit! 

III John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

Join me as we check out what good news our creator has to say in today's Healing Waters Devotional! 

 LaDonna 0:27.6

So, in Part 1, we discussed what forgiveness is and what it is not, and then in September, I discussed why we should forgive. Today, I would like to give you some practical steps for your forgiveness journey. 

1. Be Honest with Yourself and God

It's important to be honest with God about your hurt. Don't pretend everything is fine; talk to the Lord about what troubles you. He can relate to your pain because He knows about rejection and betrayal. Even one of His own disciples, Judas, betrayed Him after He had invested knowledge and trust in him. God is waiting for you to give Him all the broken pieces of your heart because He is the only one who can make you whole again. He knows all your specific needs and wants to heal you, so ask the Lord for help. As you pray and ask the Lord to purge your heart of sin, pain, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness, the Holy Spirit will help you to let it go. He will enable you to escape that cloud of unforgiveness and grant you the ability to love your offenders unconditionally. The following Bible verses confirm God as the healer of broken hearts and the one who empowers us to walk in victory over the offense. 

Psalm 147:3- He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

I John 1:7-10- "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,  we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins (own it; your repentance needs to be specific), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But, if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

2. Pray for Your Enemies 

It is essential to pray for those who have hurt or offended you. Praying for your enemies is like irrigating the soil of your heart. Your prayers can help eliminate negative feelings towards those who have harmed you. God is concerned about your wholeness, and He will use your prayers to keep your heart pliable and prepare you for a new beginning.

Matthew 5:43-45- "Ye have heard that it was said, 'You shall love thy neighbor, and hate your enemy. 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, that you may be the sons of your Father  in heaven: for He maketh His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

3. Seek Reconciliation

As Christians, it's important to obey the Word of God. In Matthew 18:15-17, we are encouraged to discuss the matter with our offending party and seek reconciliation and peace. However, when the offending party has a reputation for violence and abuse, it's better to leave the resolution in the hands of God and the governing authorities He's ordained to deal with evil (Romans 13:1-3). Your safety should never be jeopardized in your attempt to make peace. Rest in God's resolve and trust that He will take care of everything. It's important to note that people may get selective amnesia when attempting to discuss matters of the heart or resolve conflicts with others. People may deny or remember the situation differently when they are not ready to deal with the truth. In such cases, we should continue to pray for them and ask God to help you to release it and move on. Remember, Nothing escapes God. He sees and knows everything! He knows every detail surrounding the situation and sees your efforts to make peace (Romans 12:18).

Deuteronomy 32:35– "Vengeance is Mine and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them."

Matthew 5:9- 12- "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:23-24 – "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Matthew 18:15-17- "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every Word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." 

Romans 12:17-19 – "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord." 

4. Bring it to the Cross

When you struggle with the pain of rejection, lies, or cruel treatment, the best place to find solace is at the cross of Christ. Take all those things to Jesus in prayer, and be honest with God about how you feel. Speak to Him about everything troubling you, then refuse to entertain negativity. Remind yourself that you are who God says you are and can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you. Remember that no weapon formed against you shall prosper because God is with you (Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:31; Philippians 4:13). To obtain and maintain emotional freedom and healing, you must counter every enemy attack with God's Word (Ephesians 6:16-18). Start filling your heart and mind with what God's Word says about you (Romans 12:1- 2).

Let's Pray, 

Lord Jesus, I bring all of my heart to you today. You are my creator and the only one who can repair what is broken in my heart and life. All of my sin, all of my anger, all of the pain,  every disappointment, every betrayal, every lie ever told on me, every hurtful Word or thing ever done. I lay it all at the foot of the cross, all of the neglect and every rejection. I am bringing it to you right now! Your Word, Father, says in John 8:36, If Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Freedom today is my heart's desire: freedom in you, Lord Jesus,  freedom from the pains and sins of my yesterday. Lord Jesus, release freedom in my life. I choose to forgive and to let go of everything in my heart that is displeasing to you. You are love, Lord, and you have shown great love towards me; enable me by your precious Holy Spirit to love you better and love others despite their response to me. Pour Love, Lord, into my heart by your Holy Spirit and use me as a tool and instrument of your love to others. In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen! 

 LaDonna  11:18

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Thank you for listening, and remember that God loves you, and he wants you well, in your mind, body, soul, and spirit. God Bless!