WORKSHEET
Forgiveness And Choice
Forgiveness And Choice
A "WORKSHEET" is simply a way for you to look squarely at yourself and see where you are. Like a GPS system in your car or in your phone, you have to know where you're at, honestly, clearly and completely.
At the beginning of these worksheets, take time to pause and quiet yourself, breathing and relaxing as mentioned in the "HOW TO USE" tab. This is a great time for reflection as to how to care for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and insight as you work through this worksheet.
At the beginning of these worksheets, take time to pause and quiet yourself, breathing and relaxing as mentioned in the "HOW TO USE" tab. This is a great time for reflection as to how to care for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and insight as you work through this worksheet.
Because Jesus walked in our shoes, He had the empathy, compassion and understanding to have a forgiving heart. Jesus was able to say: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He was able to forgive in the midst of such suffering!
As we receive His empathy, compassion and understanding (and forgiveness!) in our own lives, we are then able to choose to forgive and extend that to others!
The following Worksheet is meant to be used in conjunction with the previous Educational page entitled: "Forgiveness and Memory". To review that page, click HERE.
In addition, this Worksheet also follows the techniques indicated in the Educational page: "Renewing The Mind" found in section "M". Click HERE to review that Educational page.
It has been said that unforgiveness is the poison we give ourselves, thinking it will affect the other person.
What is it that we GIVE in Forgiveness?
FORGIVING IS:
1) Giving the hurt and burden to the Lord and receiving comfort from Him;
2) Giving to the Lord control of what we cannot change or “control” ourselves;
3) Giving to the Lord the right to bring justice according to His plan, not ours;
4) Giving to the Lord an honesty of heart within ourselves and with others;
5) Giving to the Lord a sacrifice of obedience by asking for the grace to forgive;
6) Giving to the Lord our lives in surrender; as I have been forgiven, I also forgive.
WHAT IS NOT FOR-GIVING:
1) Pretending that the hurt or wrong never occurred;
2) Minimizing the level of hurt to ourselves and/or others;
3) YOU restoring trust without trust being restored by the person;
4) Judging that the person is beyond forgiveness and is unable to change.
Forgiveness is really a choice; however, true and lasting forgiveness comes only through the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit!
At the end of various readings in Comfort.Guide, we will have a "Pause", "Reflect" and "Receive" section. The purpose of this exercise is to help you better understand and to personally absorb the encouragement Comfort.Guide offers. If you would like, visit the "HOW TO USE" page, under the "CONTENTS" page for a review of "Pause, Reflect and Receive".
PAUSE … Invite Him to be with you; let Him quiet you with His Love. Ask for His Heart of empathy, compassion and understanding.
REFLECT…
* Write a list of those people (including yourself and possibly God) to whom you may need to extend forgiveness.
* Make specific choices to forgive and note your decision.
RECEIVE …
Sometimes we can be disappointed/angry with ourselves and/or others; sometimes, however, because we are human, we can also be disappointed/angry with the Lord. In these times He might say to us:
Why have you moved away from our relationship? Come and talk to me about your disappointment. Will you forgive me for not doing what you expected? Will you forgive me for the unexpected circumstances that occurred in your life that you perceive as my ‘fault’? Will you draw close to me and talk to me so that I can give you comfort, and so you can understand better?
Click HERE to go back to "Week Six Outline".
Click HERE to go to the next Reading "Forgiveness and Renewing the Mind"