Steps on how to forgive someone
- It takes humility - Without humility, true forgiveness is impossible. Our pride is usually what is wounded when we are offended. Overcome pride and forgiveness is easy. So, if you are struggling with unforgiveness, check your pride, it may be the obstacle to your victory.
- Ask for divine help - Sometimes, you really want to forgive and forget but the hurt is so deep and may be you are still physically suffering from the result of that offence, there is need for you to ask God to help you forgive the offender. God is ever ready to help us when we reach out to Him for help. Remember Jesus too had to forgive us all our sins and He remembers them no more.
- Choose to pray for the person - This diverts your attention from the pain to the wellbeing of the offender. It snatches the power to hurt you from the offender. Practice this and you will see that the anger will fizzle out.
- Go an extra mile - If you are still fighting with not forgiving, take some steps to help the offender in any way you can. Buy him a gift or take care of one or two things for him. That should drain any trace of effect the pain still has on you.
- Grow in the Lord - A matured Christian has the capacity to absorb the weaknesses of others and to forgive all offences. The more of God within you, the more of God you manifest. So build up your spiritual life in Christ and you will find it very easy to forgive and forget.
- Choose to walk in love - You can only forgive to the degree to which you love. You easily forgive anyone you love. Therefore make a decision to walk in love no matter who the offender may be. Remember, you are to love unconditionally. 1 Cor 13:1-8
gives a good description of this unconditional love. - Talk to the offender - If necessary talk to the offender about the offence. But ensure your motive is right–to make peace. Your motive determines what you say, how and when you say it. The truth is that people may offend us unknowingly, so do give them the benefit of doubt.
As long as we are still alive, offences will surely come. Learning how to forgive someone is very important if we are to enjoy our short time on earth. And if we are to remember the incidence in future, let it be to help others to forgive too. Remembering it will be without pain because the root of the pain would have been uprooted.
When we forgive evil we do not excuse it, we do not tolerate it, we do not smother it. We look the evil full in the face, call it what it is, let its horror shock and stun and enrage us, and only then do we forgive it. Louis B. Smedes.
How else can you forgive someone and remember the pain no more?
About the Author: Ngozi Nwoke Is a teacher and a counselor. A product and distributor of love. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love and christian living for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com
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