When someone has wronged us, in our process of forgiving them, we also relinquish the outcome of our forgiveness. We relinquish and abandon the way we think and feel about how everything should turn out. We give it up to God. And we relinquish and abandon our anger, resentment, revenge, gossip, pride, retaliation, prejudice, unkindness,…

Letting go of past hurts can be difficult. Yet in forgiving others, the time comes to act: Making a decision to obey Christ. Putting all our anger and resentment behind us. Forgiving the offender. Leaving the offense in the past. Forgiveness is not based upon whether the person deserves forgiveness. It is based on what…

In forgiving others, we acknowledge our pain. Admit our anger or resentment. Accept our responsibility. Then ask for forgiveness. We say some of the ten hardest words in the English language: “I am sorry. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” We don’t defend ourselves or blame the other person. Rather, we take responsibility for…

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). In forgiving others, we acknowledge before God that we are experiencing the pain and hurt done to us. We admit that we are angry toward or resent the ones who wounded us. We also stop blaming others…

In forgiving others, after we have acknowledged the pain and hurt done to us, we then admit that we are angry toward or resent the person who wounded us. When wounded, we react to protect ourselves. Sometimes we lash out in a fit of anger. Sometimes we withdraw behind a wall of resentment. Sometimes we…

God calls us to forgive others to the same depth he forgives us. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). How could we possibly do that? We weren’t born with a generous and gracious attitude of forgiving others. We learn it when we’re…

I recall in growing up a frequent family prayer was for the Lord to “lead, guide, and direct” us. As children we were no doubt just parroting the words somewhat mindlessly. Nonetheless, we somehow recognized the need for God’s continual guidance. “Lord, guide me.” “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake…

That God hears our prayers is truly amazing! The God who is “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:15-16) – this God hears me when I pray! Talking…

You cannot change anyone. Ask any husband or wife if they’ve been successful in changing their spouse. . . . It doesn’t work. They may hope and resolve that their marriage will be different or better than some marriages they’ve seen or known. They may privately think, My spouse will change. I can do this….

Here’s an intriguing approach for prayer – “Lord, cause me. . . .” Maybe you’ve never prayed this way before. I have. “Lord, cause me” can mean that I need God to push me to do what he wants me to do. Maybe I’m stubborn and unwilling, and I know it. But I’m also willing…