How to Diligently Practice Forgiveness in Your Daily Life
Living a life of forgiveness is an essential element of emotional health and well-being, and as the Bible reminds us in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” When we truly forgive, we are not only doing ourselves a favor, but we are creating the potential for acceptance and respect in our relationships.
The practice of forgiveness can be a difficult path to take, but, as Matthew 6:14-15 states, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” It is a necessary step if we are to live a life of peace and harmony.
4 Steps to practicing forgiveness
1. Acknowledge our emotions and any pain or hurt we are feeling
Once we have identified our feelings, we can then work on moving toward a place of releasing the pain. As James 5:16 tells us, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” The book of Colossians 3:13 states, “Forgive others just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
2. Ask yourself why it may be difficult for you to forgive the other person.
Luke 6:37 says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” By recognizing our own thoughts and feelings and how they are influencing our willingness to forgive, we can move toward a more compassionate place.
3. We must recognize that forgiveness is not about condoning wrong behavior or preventing justice, but rather a reflection of what is written in 1 John 4:7-11, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
We must embrace and understand the viewpoint of the wrongdoer and develop compassion and empathy. This can be done through meditation and journaling, or even talking with a trusted friend or counselor.
4. Finally, in order to make forgiving and acceptance an ongoing, daily practice, we must remember Romans 12:19, which tells us, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” We must practice forgiveness on a daily basis both for our own edification and to embrace the love and mercy that God extends daily.
In Conclusion
Practicing forgiveness each day can help us to restore relationships, build empathy and understanding, and live a more peaceful life. Through regular, diligent practice, we can find meaning and purpose in the situation and be able to move forward in our lives with a clearer understanding of ourselves and the world.
