When someone hurts us, the most natural thing in the world is to want to get even, to withdraw from them, or put up walls in our hearts when we’re around them.
This would seem like wisdom if it didn’t also lock us in a prison of offense, isolation, and anger.
Through Paul, God counsels us to do something that sounds almost impossible. He says we need to not only forgive them but be tenderhearted toward them.
But how do we keep a soft heart toward those who have hurt us?
Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
Put the passion back in your weekend.
Meditation on truth is a powerful tool God has given us to get heavenly thinking into our hearts more naturally.
Here are fourteen truth statements that have helped me to pursue softness of heart in prayer. They build off one another as you reflect on them in order.
My challenge to you is to meditate on these, turning them over-and-over in your mind as you seek to think more rightly about those who have hurt you, even if they’ve hurt you deeply.
Saved people serve people.
Fourteen Truth Statements to Help You Forgive
1. People do evil things to one another (Genesis 6:5).
2. I do evil things to people, purposely and accidentally (Romans 7:18-21).
3. Often people don’t understand the evil they do (Luke 23:34).
4. God is still good (Luke 18:19).
5. Everyone has pain (Genesis 3:17-19; 1 Peter 5:9).
6. I too am a sinner (Romans 6:23).
7. God personally, relationally, and emotionally knows the pain of betrayal deeper than me. He DOES understand and shares this with me (Luke 22:44, 48; John 12:27; 2 Corinthians 1:4).
8. I have been a recipient of radical grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).
9. It is reasonable that recipients of radical grace would demonstrate more radical grace toward others if they were truly appreciative of the grace they’d been shown (Matthew 21:35; James 2:13).
10. God loves me and wants me to be free (John 8:36).
11. I am not powerless. God gives me the power to withhold or grant forgiveness (John 20:23).
12. God can still have good in store for me despite what this person has done (Psalms 27:13).
13. God uses this for my good and to make me more like him (Romans 8:28-29).
14. God fulfills His plan for me despite and through this. (Psalms 138:8).
What other faith-statements would you add?
Was this helpful? Let me know below and share this post.
Related Resources:
Click to Share
Click to Share
Click to Share
Click to Share
Giving just got easier.
Simply text The Torch Give to (847) 973-6671 to get started!
Related Posts
Be More Interested Than ‘Awesome’
Be more interested in people’s problems (and potential ways you can help solve them) than in communicating how ‘awesome’ you are (or your organization is).
Resisting The Pressure To Make Something Happen
Are you taking on too much pressure for things you CAN’T CONTROL? Let’s face it – no one is at their best when they feel unnecessary pressure to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
Those You Influence Need More Than Your Advice
People are looking to you for leadership, even though you may not know it. Or you MAY know it . . . But you don’t know HOW to help those who follow you. Always be relationally passing on what you have learned.
Subscribe to The Torch Growth
Plan A Visit
In-Person + Online
0 Comments