Promise for Today - Practical Applications to Forgiving Others

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"

Matthew 18:21-22 NLT

As promised, the practical applications toward forgiving others. 

How to Start the Process of Forgiveness:

#1 Express and vocalize your forgiveness every day. Say it out loud.
     Example: Today I choose to forgive _______ for _______.
     I choose to let go of it in obedience to God's Word.

#2 Pray daily for the ability to forgive through the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart.

#3 CHOOSE not to meditate and relive the issue every day.
     Do not nurse, curse and rehearse the hurt and unforgiveness.
     Don't tell it over and over.

#4 Reinforce your decision by daily reading God's Word.
     Search out the Scriptures that instruct us about forgiving.

#5 Choose to show compassion, mercy and kindness instead of bitterness from your heart.
     Remember, forgiving others is NOT A FEELING.
     Forgiving others is a choice to be obedient to God's Word.

How to Know When You Have Forgiven Someone

#1 Forgiveness is accomplished when the issue is no longer your issue.

#2 Forgiveness is accomplished when you can pray a blessing and not a curse over the former offender.

#3 Forgiveness is accomplished when you no longer require payback.

#4 Forgiveness is accomplished when you can respond in kindness, and not resentment.

#5 Forgiveness is accomplished when you can give a fresh start.
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Forgiveness is not about feelings. 

Forgiveness is not presented as an option. 

Forgiveness is not just a choice - it's an act of obedience to the words of Christ. 

If we want to be forgiven, we must forgive.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for making provision so that we can be forgiven of our many trespasses against You. Let Your Word manifest in us so that we walk by faith and not by our feelings, and so that we can truly love and forgive others as You have forgiven us. We've asked it before and we ask again. Help us to realize that forgiveness is a choice to submit our will to Yours.. Help us to understand Matthew 18 and forgiving others seventy times seven... Remind us to choose to forgive and speak forgiveness every time it comes up. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen