Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

Search Results for: forgiveness

Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM, Part 5

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There comes a time in the process of forgiveness we must follow Nike’s slogan and just do it. The D in FREEDOM is Decide. Decide to forgive.

We’ve discussed some of the benefits and barriers of forgiveness. Now Decide:

  • To trust God’s character and forgive.
  • To cancel the debt they owe.
  • To trust God to turn something awful into something awesome.

Decide to forgive or turn the offender over to the bill collector—God. They’re off my ledger, but they are not off His. “‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19).Continue Reading

Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM, Part 4

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If you are having a hard time forgiving, I understand.

Forgiveness is Expensive.

Forgiveness brings freedom, but it is also expensive. To forgive means I agree to live with the consequences of the wrong. If someone robs me of $27,000 and I forgive him, $27,000 doesn’t appear in my bank account. If someone steals my innocence, forgiving doesn’t erase the memory and pain from the abuse.

Jesus illustrated this when He told about a servant who owed his king a debt so large he could never repay it (Matthew 18:23-35). The king commanded that the servant, his wife, children, and all he owned be sold to repay his debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.”[1]

When the king forgave the debt, no one replaced his losses.Continue Reading

Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM, Part 3

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“I feel sooooooo free…Part of me wants to jump up and down, and the other part just stands in awe that nothing is tying me down any more…The wounds still hurt, but they don’t own me anymore. I never thought so much pain on Thursday could lead to so much joy and peace! I’m glad I didn’t give up.”

The above email expresses the freedom that comes from forgiveness. It also shows how painful the process can be.

Forgive [1] means:

  • to send away,
  • to yield up,
  • to let go, give up a debt,

The word FREEDOM is taking us through the process of forgiveness. So far we have learned forgive:

Getting real about our losses brings us smack dab up against our pain. If something hurt when it happened, it hurts to let it go. Forgiving can get Emotional, but don’t let this stop you.Continue Reading

Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM—Part 2

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In our Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM series we are spelling freedom. Today we look at R. To forgive we must get Real.

Being honest with ourselves and God about an injury sounds simple. But because truth sometimes hurts, we avoid this and short-circuit our effort to get free. Jesus said, “the truth will set you free,” (John 8:32, NIV). So being real frees us to face our pain, release it, and heal.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB) says “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.”

When we’ve been hurt we need God to search us and share His perspective. Journaling helps me with this. When, like the Psalmist, I honestly express my jumbled thoughts and emotions to God, He addresses them. Below are some areas to consider.Continue Reading

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