Christian Relationship Help: Five Scriptural Truths About Forgiveness - By Karla Downing
Are you looking for Christian relationship help on how to forgive? Here are five scriptural truths about forgiveness that you should know:
Forgiveness is unilateral. It has nothing to do with the other person. People confuse forgiveness with reconciliation. You can forgive without having a relationship with someone. You can forgive while having boundaries that protect you from being hurt again. You can forgive but not trust. Jesus forgave Judas for betraying him, but he did not trust him.
The other person may never know you have forgiven, but you will know. You can even forgive someone after they have died. Forgiveness is about what you do in your heart with the offense, so you will feel different after you have forgiven.
Forgiveness doesn't mean that you are condoning the wrong. People mistakenly think that when they forgive that they are saying the act wasn't wrong. The opposite is true: If nothing wrong was done, then why would you even need to forgive? The fact that forgiveness is necessary proves that you were wronged. You can even forgive and still pursue legal remedies and allow consequences to happen.
By forgiving, you will no longer allow the situation to flame the fire of anger, hurt, and betrayal in your heart. "Resentment" means to re-feel the original sentiment. When you haven't forgiven, you replay the incident and feel all the negative emotions. When you forgive, you can remember without re-feeling.
Forgiveness is letting go of the right to get revenge. Unforgiveness is about your desire to get even and to hurt the person who hurt you. Forgiveness is about letting go of your desire to get even and to hurt the person who hurt you. Your attitude will be different. Rather than being enslaved by your bitterness, you will be free to let go and allow God to take care of the person in his way and time.
Forgiveness is a choice for your life. It is a choice to live God's way from the inside out. These five scriptural truths about forgiveness will set you free to live a life that isn't dependent on another person's actions in order for you to get peace.
If you need more practical tips and Biblical truths to help you change your relationships, get my FREE "15-Day Relationship Challenge" designed to give you back the power over your life.Just click here: http://www.free15daychallenge.com Karla Downing is an author, speaker, licensed marriage and family therapist, and Bible study teacher. Karla's passion is to help people find freedom in Christ in the midst of their difficult relationships and circumstances through Biblical truths and practical tools. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karla_Downing Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6706177