Practicing Forgiving

“We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.”

C. S. Lewis

Questions:

1. Do you lose anything by forgiving?
2. What do you gain by forgiving?
3. How do you feel after you forgive someone?

The Consequence of not Forgiving

“A rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is – a biting of oneself. We think that we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves. “

Eli E. Stanley

Questions:

1. Are you hurting yourself by not forgiving someone who has caused you pain?
2. Why is forgiveness so difficult?

Forgiving and Not Forgetting

“Those who say they will forgive but can’t forget, simply bury the hatchet but leave the handle out for immediate use.”

Dwight L Moody

Question:

Do you believe that forgiveness cannot take place unless the wrongful action is forgotten?

Forgiveness

“Forgiveness brings freedom – freedom from being controlled by the past, freedom from the emotional ties to the offender, freedom from the continual inner conflicts of bitterness and hate, freedom to become whole and enjoy the fullness of life.”

Jeanette Vought

Question:

What is holding you back from being free?

Forgivers

“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. “
Robert Quillen

Question:

Is forgiveness a key ingredient in love?

 

“Why?”

     Why is it easier to focus on pain rather than opening our hearts to forgiveness?  We give into anger and resentment forgetting that we are to live for God and not for man (Colossians 3:23). Tragedies occur every minute of every day, filling our hearts with resentment and brokenness.  It’s no wonder that people ask God, “Why…?”  There is no easy answer to this question.   

      I decided to focus this month on two simple, yet powerful words: Grace and Forgiveness.  Forgiveness cannot exist without grace.  God extends His grace to us every day in spite of our sin.  He then forgives and blesses us abundantly with His love.  In the same way, we need to replace anger and resentment with grace and forgiveness.  Below is a verse that reminds me of how God desires for me to live.

 Luke 6:37

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged? Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.”

Questions:

1.    What is grace?

2.    Is it necessary to extend grace to those you forgive?

3.    Who do you need to forgive?

“Go to Your Place!”

     My husband and I recently learned about the importance of creating a safe place for Stastny in our house.  I had always figured that Stastny preferred to choose her place in our home.  Our dog trainer explained to us, like humans, dogs need to have a place to rest and call their own.  Excited about the idea, we bought Stastny a soft pillow bed and placed it in the living room.  We invited her into the house, pointed to her bed, and told her, “Go to your place.”  Stastny wrestled with us and was not clear as to where her place was.  After constant redirection, accompanied by several treats and hugs, she realized that we had set aside a special place for her.

     Stastny taught me, too often we tend to look outside ourselves for God when we should be looking inward. Our place with God is in our hearts; the Holy Spirit lives within us.

1 John 4:16

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”
 

Questions:

1.      Where is your place with God?

2.      Do you find it easier to stay in His place or make your  own place?

3.      If you choose to live in God’s place, what is keeping you there?

The Choice

     I chose the title Walking With God because this is my greatest struggle in life. I often find myself impatiently trying to walk ahead of God instead of with Him. My heart easily becomes anxious and fearful of the unknown. The picture above illustrates the choice we can make: to walk with God or  choose your own path. May you walk with God and not stray from the path. Remember God is of infinite good.  

Romans 8:31

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”  

QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to “walk with God”?

Do you find yourself sticking close to Him or do you have a tendency to stray from time to time?

How do you “walk with God”?