“Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine and good things in others. Think about all the things you can praise God for and be glad about.” Philippians 4:8

There is a book called Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness. I read a review recently. After five years of research, they found that people who forgive face decreased stress and fewer physical symptoms of stress. People who forgive experience greater physical vitality. People who forgive feel less hurt and anger.

They have concluded that the problem with grudges is that each time we think about the hurt or anger at the heart of the grudge, it’s a reminder of the helplessness we felt when it occurred.

Here are nine steps they recommend for moving towards forgiveness:

1. Know exactly how you feel about what happened.

2. Forgiveness is for you. Make a commitment to do what you need to feel better.

3. Seek peace, not necessarily reconciliation, with the person(s), who hurt you.

4. Get perspective and recognize that distress comes from hurt feelings thoughts, and not what hurt you in the first place.

5. When you feel upset, redirect your thoughts to that which is positive.

6. Give up expecting things from other people that they choose not to give you.

7. Instead of mentally replaying the hurt, seek new ways to get what you want.

8. Focus on goodness, love and beauty. Remaining in the hurt only gives power to the person who hurt you.

9. Rewrite the story of the grievance in your mind so you can focus on the heroic choice to forgive.

Seems to me that these steps are the very thing the Apostle Paul was telling us in the verse in Philippians 4:8.

Someone said, “The practice of forgiveness is the most important contribution to healing the world.”  What do you think?

It begins with us. How about you – holding on to any grudges? Forgiveness is good for your health! Want to help heal the world?  It begins with you.

Father, You have given us all the principles for our health and the healing of the world. You know that we always see how others need to change, but it is our attitudes that will begin to effect change. Your grace is sufficient for each one of us. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit will give us the will and the power to forgive wholeheartedly.  Amen.

by Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• The Power of Forgiveness
• The Stumbling Block of Unforgiveness
• The Secret of Forgiveness

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

The post Forgiveness is Good for Your Health appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“You heard their cries for help and saved them. They put their trust in you and were never disappointed.”  Psalm 22:5

When Clay Crosse first admitted his sin to his wife Renee, she felt everything any normal woman would feel: anger, resentment, hurt; more anger.  She was becoming closed to him.  And every time he came to her with new information and a confession, it was like a fresh blow to a deep bruise.

But Clay was genuinely filled with sorrow over everything he’d done.  He had already confessed his sin to God and it was time to seek Renee’s forgiveness.

Oh, it wasn’t easy. But each time she chose to forgive him, God’s healing touch swept over her. Forgiveness bridged the pit of Clay’s sin and brought them back together.

Friend, take Psalm 22 to heart:  God hears your cries for help and saves you.  Put your trust in God and you will never be disappointed.

Out of the Ashes by Clay & Renee Crosse https://www.claycrosse.com/

by Vonette Bright
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Forgiving Ourselves and Others – Thoughts by various Authors

Forgiveness Opens the Door

The Power of Forgiveness | by Dr. Henry Brandt

The post Forgive Again and Again appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

God calls all of His children to repentance. This call is truly a gift, as it brings us closer to our Savior. When we repent, we receive His gifts of unlimited grace and mercy. And through this process, we learn to extend grace and mercy to others.

The idea of forgiveness and repentance was not a new concept in Jesus’ time. Ever since God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He has woven the concept of forgiveness and repentance into His law. The Day of Atonement was a testimony to this; it foreshadowed what Christ was to fulfill on the cross.

The gift of repentance has sadly taken a back seat in our modern society. So often we take His mercy and grace for granted. We don’t recognize their significance, that they are all-sufficient, glorious gifts, which need to be shared with the whole world.

My prayer for His children this season is that we will remember His call to repentance, so that the whole world may truly see the nature of God, the great I AM.

Father, forgive me. Forgive me for taking your mercy and grace for granted. Forgive me, for I am a sinner. I need You, Lord. I need Your mercy and grace. Hear my cries and fill me with the gift You’ve given me. Help me to share this gift with others, even my enemies. Father, I want to forgive others as You have forgiven me. All for Your glory, in the name of Christ Jesus, amen.

By Daniel Forster
used be permission

FURTHER READING

• Tears of Repentance and Forgiveness 
• Break the Cycle –  by Rand Kreycik
• Sanding off the Rough Edges –  by Gail Rodgers

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

The post The Gift of Repentance appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Read: Ephesians 4:31-32

Isn’t it interesting that young children generally don’t hold grudges? They may cry and throw tantrums, but once their anger has been vented, they let it go. Adults, however, have a tendency to hang on to offenses. When people wrong us or our loved ones, we want them to pay for what they’ve done, to suffer as we have. It only seems fair to expect restitution of some kind, and unless that occurs, we withhold forgiveness.

As Christians, however, we are called to a different standard and way of thinking—one that’s consistent with God’s character. He is a merciful Father who wants His children to show mercy to others (Luke 6:36). His Son’s life on earth demonstrated this. As Jesus hung on the cross, He prayed for those who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). God expects us to forgive as Jesus did, regardless of circumstances.

This command seems impossible to carry out until we start to grasp the enormity of what took place on the cross. Christ’s death made us recipients of a mercy so great it defies comprehension. The Savior took all our sin upon Himself and died in our place. He experienced the outpouring of God’s wrath so we might be forgiven and reconciled to the Father. Although we deserve condemnation, through Jesus Christ we have instead received God’s mercy.

Now as new creations in Christ who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have His power to truly let go of the wrongs done to us and extend mercy to others, just as God has given mercy to us.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

https://www.intouch.org/

FURTHER READING

•  How Can I Forgive Like God? by Ruth Wood

• Feelings, Forgiveness and Peace | by Dr. Muriel Larson

•  The Power of Forgiveness | by Dr. Henry Brandt

The post Choosing to Forgive appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

You’ve blown it. You have really messed up this time. You have agreed with God that what you did was sin. You know that God heard your prayer asking forgiveness, and you really meant every word. You believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and that His sacrifice forgives all your sins. But you still feel guilt and condemnation. You know from the Bible that God has forgotten that sin. He has removed it from you as far as the east is from the west. But you still feel horrible! How do you get past that feeling?

We make life hard by blaming ourselves for things we did in the past. But God says through Paul,

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

What does that freedom really mean? It means that you are not saved from hell to be imprisoned in self-punishment. God has set you free. You are no longer a slave to self-hatred and self-condemnation. The Bible says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).”

 Forgiveness is not a feeling. You must choose to deny Satan the accuser and his plans to make you feel guilty and dirty because of sins in the past. When Satan tries to remind you of your past, do these things:

Meditate on the truth of who God is and who you are in Him.

• Take into your heart and spirit scriptures about God’s forgiveness, mercy, grace, and love. Psalm 103 is a good place to start.
• Take an objective view of your past to learn from your failure. What did you learn about yourself and God through this experience?
• Allow God to expose the wound for His healing touch, and refuse the attempts of the accuser and destroyer to harass you anymore, because the King of glory stands as your Defender and Advocate.

Pray this prayer of commitment and begin enjoying the blessings of forgiveness and freedom.

Heavenly Father, thank You that you have never rejected me, and You never will. You have received me unconditionally. I am accepted in Jesus. My acceptance does not depend on anything but Jesus, His love, mercy, grace, sacrifice, and righteousness. I am not ashamed before You.

I repent of my sins in Jesus’ name. Thank You that I am completely forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. I will not allow the enemy to harass me about the past. I choose to forgive myself and receive the full freedom of Your forgiveness.

Thank You that my body can function in Your peace, healed and whole. I choose to let Jesus cover past failures and struggles and enjoy Your love, Your thoughts, and Your ways so that my mind is at rest. What amazing grace that You remember my sins and iniquities no more! Jesus took them on Himself. They are nailed to His cross.

Because of the amazing forgiveness of Jesus, I can forgive others in His name. I choose to forgive all those who have hurt me, harmed me, or spoken against me. I free them in my thoughts and no longer hold their sins against them. Bless them in Your mercy. I do this by Your indwelling power.

Thank You that I am a brand new creation. All the old has passed away, and I stand clean in Your sight. I can settle this today with You. I choose to receive Your healing grace by the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit within me.

Thank You that You control me, not my emotions or what others say or do. I receive all Your blessings for my life and give You all praise, honor, and glory.  Amen.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Pressing the RESET button on our lives 

•  Have You Forgiven Yourself?

•  The Gift of Forgiveness| by John William Smith

•  Freedom of Forgiveness

•  Forgiveness is Good for Your Health

•  Salvation Explained

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  •  Pinterest

The post Forgiving Yourself appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” Mark 11:25 (KJV).

You and I have a way by which we can be absolutely certain of God’s forgiveness.

It is two-fold.

First, we must be sure that we have forgiven anyone and everyone against whom we may have anything or hold any resentment.

Second, we must believe His Word unquestioningly – and His Word does indeed tell us we will be forgiven when we ask under these conditions.

Most familiar, of course, is the glorious promise of 1 John 1:9,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all uhteousness” (KJV).

Though today’s verse uses the word stand in reference to praying, Scripture clearly states that the posture in prayer was sometimes standing. God, however, looks on the heart rather than on our position as we pray.

If the heart is right, any posture may be proper. All other things being equal, however, the kneeling position seems more in keeping with the proper attitude of humility in our approach to God. (Physical condition, of course, sometimes makes this inadvisable or impossible.)

Most important, we are to forgive before we pray. That much is certain.

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:9-15 (https://www.biblegateway.com/)

Today: I will examine my heart throughout the day to be sure I have forgiven any who should be forgiven – before I pray.

By Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Feelings, Forgiveness and Peace | by Dr. Muriel Larson
• The Power of Forgiveness | by Dr. Henry Brandt

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

Follow Us On:

The post So He May Forgive Us appeared first on Thoughts About God.

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, Your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, Your Father will not forgive your sins …” Matthew 6: 14-15

Some time ago I was speaking about anger at a men’s gathering. I described resentment as a prison and pointed out that when we put someone in our jail cell of hatred, we are stuck guarding the door. After the message a man introduced himself as a former prison inmate. He described how the guard at the gate of a prison is even more confined than a prisoner. The guard spends his day in a four-by-five-foot house. The prisoner has a ten-by-twelve-foot cell. The guard can’t leave, the prisoner gets to walk around. The prisoner can relax, but the guard has to be constantly alert. You might object and say, “Yes, but the guard of the prison gets to go home at night.” True, but the guard of the prison of resentment doesn’t.

A couple of weeks after I returned home I received this letter from a man named Harold Staub.

Max,
Thank you so much for speaking on forgiveness at Promise Keepers in Syracuse, NY,. I was there. Just want you to know I went home, talked to my wife on many subjects about forgiveness—the best two weeks of my life. You see, she went home to be with the Lord on June 24, totally forgiven. How wonderful is his love. Thank you so very much.

When we called Harold to ask his permission to print his letter, he shared the touching details of his final days with his wife. He didn’t know she was near death, nor did she. He did know, however, that some unresolved issues lay between them. Upon arriving home, he went to her, knelt before her and asked forgiveness for anything he’d ever done. The gesture opened a floodgate of emotions and the two talked late into the night. The initial effort at reconciliation continued for two weeks. The marriage enjoyed a depth not yet known. When Harold’s wife died suddenly of an embolism, he was shocked. But he was ready and now he is at peace.

What about you? Would you like some peace? Would you like assurance that God forgives you? I think you know what you need to do.

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: From the Great House of God

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about/

FURTHER READING

Forgiveness is Good for Your Health
What Do You Want Jesus to Say?

The Trust Factor
Harsh Judgments Can Kill One’s Spirit

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL: FOLLOW THIS LINK

Follow Us On:

The post Grace Received, Grace Given appeared first on Thoughts About God.