The following are eight practical steps that if diligently taken will produce sure forgiveness in our hearts.
"See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God' that no 'root of bitterness' spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:15).
1. We must realize that it is an act of will. We have to want to forgive. Resentment is a strongly destructive force to our minds, bodies, souls, and spirits.
"A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot" (Proverbs 14:30).
2. Realize we will not be forgiven by God unless we forgive others who have hurt us.
"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also Who is in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses: (Mark 11:25).
3. Think of all God has forgiven us.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). "As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Colossians 3:13).
God forgives us instantly, joyfully, wholly.
4. Thank the Lord for any or all of the blessings He has brought to us through the people who have hurt us.
5. Think of the needs of the individuals at the time of hurting us ... needs of their minds, bodies, souls, and spirits. Their needs, then and now, are probably greater than ours.
6. Ask God to give us His supernatural ability to love them and forgive them through us. Acknowledge that this is the work of the Holy Spirit and receive it by faith.
"God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5) “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him ..." (Hebrews 11:6).
7. Ask God to give us opportunities of expressing His love to them both in word and deed.
"But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word and speech but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:17-18).
8. Become an intercessor for them on a regular basis. Pray for God to bless them, encourage them, comfort them, strengthen them and meet their deepest needs.
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).
Therefore:
"do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert," (Hebrews 3:8).
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