Counter-Intuitive Forgiveness   

Sometimes, the thing that God is asking us to do seems completely upside down. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Say what? That can’t be right… can it? When God asks you to forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it, how can you trust that He knows what He’s doing – and forgive them anyway? 

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

• What’s the most counter-intuitive thing that God has ever told you to do?
• Have you ever let your desire for revenge – or at least an apology! – get in the way of forgiving someone who has wronged you?
• Why do you think we instinctively look for revenge when we’re hurt by others? What steps can you take today to begin to overcome this unhelpful instinct and instead open up to what God is calling you to do – forgive?
• Are you living with the pain of past hurts? Write them down and take them to God. Make it a daily practice to show Him your list of the hurts you are carrying, and give them over to Him, one by one. Ask Him to heal your heart a little more with each repetition.