Releasing forgiveness

Once we understand some of the prinicples behind forgiveness, there only remains the the fact of doing it. The act of forgiveness takes place by the determination of our will and at a certain time. If the the matter being forgiven is weighty, then it may be advisable to have a sensitive, spiritual person with you, a minister, friend or a member of the family. The following are helps to releasing forgiveness and are in no way perscriptive.

• Concentrate on the words that Jesus taught his disciples

  'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
  Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
  Give us today our daily bread.
  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

  and "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." We recognise that in saying the Lord's Prayer we are asking God to use the same measure of forgiveness to us, as we measure out to others.

• Look at and appreciate how much we have been forgiven and the cost of that forgiveness.

  "Be holy, because I am holy." Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:16-23)

• Ask for and receive the forgiveness of God before you commence. You may wish to confess specific shortcomings, but it is also important to ask forgiveness for the unconscious and unwitting sins of everyday life, even when we are not aware of them. If we say we are without sin we deceive only ourselves.
• Speak out the forgiveness in a clear audible voice and a positive confession of forgiveness and mark a calandar with the date, so that you can recall that it is a finished task in times of pressure.
• Thank God for his love and the freedom that his love brings, then read your favourite passage of scripture and experience his love being poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit.
• Take time over the receiving of God's love and the empowering freedom that it brings. Be silent, I personally like to lay on the floor of our lounge and listen to the latest tape, but you should do what makes you relaxed, because relaxing makes it easier to receive.

Finally it is important to walk in the freedom that God provides, enjoy life and most importantly be gentle with yourself - you are precious to God - just look at the price of your redemption.