Forgiveness is a Choice, Not a Feeling
by Leslie Yeaton Koepke
Forgiving someone who has mistreated you isn’t easy. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you approve of the behavior or the sinful wrong that was done to you or someone else. Neither does it mean that you forget. Each time you remember is an invitation to turn to God and say, “Here, Father, You take this memory, this emotion, this wound and help me to forgive the way that You do—generously and completely.”
Forgiveness is a spiritual discipline.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you’ll be reconciled or become friends with the person who caused the harm. Dangerous people and circumstances need to be avoided and guarded against.
Forgiveness and reconciliation will always require sacrifice, a “giving for” the person who should be blamed and a resolute choice to walk the path that Jesus walked—the path of forgiveness.
It’s Biblical
Jesus often taught on forgiveness and reconciliation with His followers. Read Matthew 5:1-12. Spend some time thinking through each of the blessings Jesus offers. Then read Psalm 139. Is there someone you need to forgive?
This article appeared in Brio
magazine om May 2007. Copyright © 2007 Leslie Yeaton Koepke. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.Hey, we'd love to have some feedback from you! If you've got a comment about this article, send it to Brio@briomag.com. Please include your name, age, mailing address and the title of this article.
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