Thursday, July 21, 2022

Reflection - Journeying With Others - Practising forgiveness

Source (book): "He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God", PART III "JOURNEYING WITH OTHERS", Chapter 25 "Practising forgiveness", Page 72.
Adapted from books by Shelly Beach: Ambushed By Grace: Help and Hope in the Caregiving Journey, and It Is Well with My Soul.


Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
PHOTO: Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12-14

Forgiveness is not something that takes place immediately; it is a process that needs time. Just like clothes, the qualities of forgiveness - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love - need to be donned every day, deliberately and purposefully (Colossians 3:12-14). Over time, with practice, they will become a part of us.

Ultimately, forgiveness is a lifestyle. It is a conscious decision to be kind or gentle, and it cannot depend on whether we like the other person or not. Rather, it is only after being kind to others that we will begin to like them.

But what does this decision look like in our daily lives and routines? What practical steps can we take in our efforts to forgive? Here's some things you can do:

Seek freedom. Forgiveness is the only path to freedom from bondage to the person you've been unable to forgive.

Remember that you were first forgiven. The foundation of forgiveness is gratitude for God's abundant mercy. Make a commitment to a lifestyle of confession and repentance as you put off sinful attitudes, worldly rationalisation, self-centred desires, and distorted motives every day.

Lay down your rights. Forgiveness means laying down what someone else might owe you - and never picking it up again.

Keep your boundaries. Forgiveness does not mean abandoning healthy, biblical boundaries or allowing people to abuse you. Instead, it allows you to make healthy, responsible choices in your relationships with others.

Don't deny your pain. Forgiveness does not mean denying wrong actions against you or giving up the opportunity to grieve over what has hurt you. Acknowledge your pain and hurt to God, and tell Him how you feel. Be prepared for the hurt to last a long time - but be assured that when you gain God's perspective, your own perspective will change.

Release judgement. Make a choice to forgive every aspect of whatever offence God brings to your mind, leaving the issue of judgement to Him.

Don't protect. Forgiveness does not mean attempting to divert the consequences of sin. These may be God's spiritual training for those who have made bad choice.

Remember, forgiveness takes practice. It is a daily experience, a lifestyle.

Forgiveness takes practice; it is a habit that will transform us.
Artwork by Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921) -Catherine La Rose (2)
Picture posted by Andlig Inspiration

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Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12-14


Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
PHOTO: Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12-14
 

Forgiveness is not something that takes place immediately; it is a process that needs time. Just like clothes, the qualities of forgiveness - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love - need to be donned every day, deliberately and purposefully (Colossians 3:12-14). Over time, with practice, they will become a part of us.


Forgiveness is not something that takes place immediately; it is a process that needs time.
PHOTO: Forgiveness is not something that takes place immediately; it is a process that needs time. Just like clothes, the qualities of forgiveness - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love - need to be donned every day, deliberately and purposefully (Colossians 3:12-14). Over time, with practice, they will become a part of us.
Picture posted by Live Bold and Bloom


Ultimately, forgiveness is a lifestyle.
PHOTO: Ultimately, forgiveness is a lifestyle. It is a conscious decision to be kind or gentle, and it cannot depend on whether we like the other person or not. Rather, it is only after being kind to others that we will begin to like them.
Picture posted by Devon Delfino on 22 May 2018 at 23:31 IST

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https://www.businessinsider.in/4-signs-youre-being-manipulated-and-how-to-stop-it/articleshow/64278721.cms



But what does this decision look like in our daily lives and routines? What practical steps can we take in our efforts to forgive? Here's some things you can do:

Seek freedom. Forgiveness is the only path to freedom from bondage to the person you've been unable to forgive.


Seek freedom.
PHOTO: Seek freedom. Forgiveness is the only path to freedom from bondage to the person you've been unable to forgive.
Picture posted by Shikha Thakur, MBA on 07 July 2022
Remember that you were first forgiven.
PHOTO: Remember that you were first forgiven. The foundation of forgiveness is gratitude for God's abundant mercy. Make a commitment to a lifestyle of confession and repentance as you put off sinful attitudes, worldly rationalisation, self-centred desires, and distorted motives every day.
Picture posted by Pastor Rick Warren on 02 July 2018

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg3b1363VyTNEGRErKiyXYkYWtB-KNMEFReAFLoCS56SRnddrBlI92GRn0rxMRvJceOtXS5B78fsi4q7Da-fCaWrXXK18daQl4Eo9pmGc90AGl-DO-jHeRxD_aevJ_qrejjTffYeABb_n2GV8znxYCnFPoW6414iWGJBVACDJs1byYhj8DXnVgQKf/s800/07-02-18-Building-Life-Values-Forgive-Because-God-Forgave-You_preview.jpg
https://pastorrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/07-02-18-Building-Life-Values-Forgive-Because-God-Forgave-You_preview.jpg
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/english/full-post/forgive-because-god-forgave-you/



Lay down your rights. Forgiveness means laying down what someone else might owe you - and never picking it up again.


Lay down your rights.
PHOTO: Lay down your rights. Forgiveness means laying down what someone else might owe you - and never picking it up again.
Picture posted by Michelle Devani, LoveDevani on 11 June 2022

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu78hCqWZYNDOCkM13uHFfWzDt7V7o47NmCMyAT1wn7rJZzjtAuf1a7FOYOeLvgvPX8zZv_3_Gst44lMg9x-gTb_A0-ZpUSbtzXQJe35M4jD7Yj3Z4Ccpp1wm9RDg2wdkSaJn0ltUzAfHNOHSFS44NzNUxyascWIi3JFW2J3xUCjpLhhGYIfcAtjVe/s1125/ways-to-get-your-best-friend-to-forgive-you_1.jpg
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https://lovedevani.com/ways-to-get-your-best-friend-to-forgive-you



Keep your boundaries. Forgiveness does not mean abandoning healthy, biblical boundaries or allowing people to abuse you. Instead, it allows you to make healthy, responsible choices in your relationships with others.


Keep your boundaries.
PHOTO: Keep your boundaries. Forgiveness does not mean abandoning healthy, biblical boundaries or allowing people to abuse you. Instead, it allows you to make healthy, responsible choices in your relationships with others.
Picture posted by cz.onlinecheap.ru

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Don't deny your pain. Forgiveness does not mean denying wrong actions against you or giving up the opportunity to grieve over what has hurt you. Acknowledge your pain and hurt to God, and tell Him how you feel. Be prepared for the hurt to last a long time - but be assured that when you gain God's perspective, your own perspective will change.


Don't deny your pain.
PHOTO: Don't deny your pain. Forgiveness does not mean denying wrong actions against you or giving up the opportunity to grieve over what has hurt you. Acknowledge your pain and hurt to God, and tell Him how you feel. Be prepared for the hurt to last a long time - but be assured that when you gain God's perspective, your own perspective will change.
Picture posted by Agony Aunt, Deidre Sanders, The Sun on 13 November 2018 at 19:25

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Release judgement. Make a choice to forgive every aspect of whatever offence God brings to your mind, leaving the issue of judgement to Him.


Release judgement.
PHOTO: Release judgement. Make a choice to forgive every aspect of whatever offence God brings to your mind, leaving the issue of judgement to Him.
Picture posted by Jessica Lovejoy on 27 March 2021

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Don't protect. Forgiveness does not mean attempting to divert the consequences of sin. These may be God's spiritual training for those who have made bad choice.


Don't protect. Forgiveness does not mean attempting to divert the consequences of sin.
PHOTO: Don't protect. Forgiveness does not mean attempting to divert the consequences of sin. These may be God's spiritual training for those who have made bad choice.
Picture posted by Carolina on 14 January 2019

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https://ourkingdomculture.com/dealing-with-the-consequences-of-sin/



Remember, forgiveness takes practice. It is a daily experience, a lifestyle.

Forgiveness takes practice; it is a habit that will transform us.


Remember, forgiveness takes practice. It is a daily experience, a lifestyle.
Forgiveness takes practice; it is a habit that will transform us.
PHOTO: "Dear Father, give me the power to forgive those who have offended me. Help me to release any expectations of them meeting my standards in return for my forgiveness. And give me discernment in drawing healthy, responsible boundaries in my relationship with them.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!
"
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Reflection - Journeying With Others - Practising forgiveness
Source (book): "He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God", PART III "JOURNEYING WITH OTHERS", Chapter 25 "Practising forgiveness", Page 72.
Adapted from books by Shelly Beach: Ambushed By Grace: Help and Hope in the Caregiving Journey, and It Is Well with My Soul.



Other Books (Links)

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, ©
2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020

https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 


Reference
[1] From "He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God", Copyright © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, PART III "JOURNEYING WITH OTHERS", Chapter 25 "Practising forgiveness", Page 72-73.


Links


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