Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven – Beloved Women – March 15, 2019
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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4: 32
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT
An insensitive word, a broken promise, and harsh act can all be difficult to forgive. When we are on the receiving end we may find ourselves wanting to hold a grudge or get even. For believers, however, we are commanded to do otherwise.
On a cross, Christ died for our unforgivable acts and those of our offender. He endured unbearable agony as the ultimate reflection of mercy. He did this knowing I would grudgingly offer this gift He so freely gave to me.
With Christ as my compass, I must release any and every offender. I forgive because I have been forgiven. Period. This choice does not justify the behavior of the guilty party. It does not dismiss or excuse the acts they committed against you. Nor does it require forgetting, denying pain, or reconciliation. Forgiveness is a decision, an act of our will, to surrender our right to hold another person responsible for the wrong done to us.
Though I do not know the tender ache of the misdeeds you suffered, I know the one who has forgiven you and your offender. Christ alone is the impetus for forgiveness, now and forever.
PRAY
Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to choose to forgive others in the same way that I have been forgiven. Please help me to trust that You will right every wrong. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen.
REFLECT
Who is God leading you to forgive? What practical steps do you need to take in order to forgive this person?
CONNECT
For more encouragement from Kia Stephens download her free ebooks, Hope for the Woman With Father Wounds and Forgiveness Hacks: 5 Strategies to Help You Forgive.
RELATED RESOURCE
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© 2019 by Kia Stephens. All rights reserved.
For more Beloved encouragement including Daily Devotionals, practical advice for everyday Christian living, Bible Studies, and more be sure to visit us at www.belovedwomen.org.
