Choosing Forgiveness Sýnishorn

Creating a flow of forgiveness.

No one said forgiveness was easy or breezy, but pulling together a few biblical principles to create a flow of forgiveness certainly helps.

Keep no record of wrongs. First and foremost, we are called to love God and love one another. This can look like many different things, but one of the characteristics of love, found in 1 Corinthians 13, is that it keeps no record of wrongs. If we’re not paying attention, it can be so easy for us to fall into a habit of picking up little offenses here and there and making a mental note of what’s been done against us. Whether it’s a big thing or a little thing, an offense from your spouse or a stranger, choose to create a regular habit of clearing the record.

Be quick. The Message version of Colossians 3:13 says to forgive “quickly and completely.” In other words, don’t wait or linger. Forgive and follow through, from start to finish. Ephesians 4:26 explains that we can prevent our anger from becoming sin when we don’t let the day end before working it out. The longer you wait, the more opportunity there is for an offense to take root and grow into something bigger. When you choose to let go of an offense as quickly as you pick it up, you create a flow of forgiveness that never allows it to become this big, intimidating, and painful thing.

Confess and apologize in community. One of the best ways to create a flow of forgiveness is by confessing where you’ve gone wrong, apologizing, and asking for forgiveness. What better way to create an opportunity for forgiveness than by inviting it in? When we show how much we value forgiveness, we show others how to make room for it as well. Not only that, James 5:16 tells us that gathering together and laying it all out on the table is where we can find healing. Choose to create space for forgiveness to flow.

Where might you be keeping a record of wrongs? Before you go to bed tonight, practice clearing the record and resolving your anger. Is there someone you owe an apology to, or a friend you can confess your wrongdoing to? Start creating your flow of forgiveness today.