Freedom in ForgivenessSample

Drop The Weight

Ready: “Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’” — Matthew 18:21-22

Set: Jesus implored His followers to forgive others, knowing that grudges lead to bitterness, which eventually become very heavy and destructive burdens to carry.

Drop the weight and experience the freedom that comes through forgiveness with the following steps:

1. Release Others. We all have the power to choose to forgive. Whether it’s those who may have spoken words of defeat or doubt or criticism and condemnation, or those who planted seeds that you have allowed to limit your progress. We are the ones who suffer from the burden of hanging onto anger, resentment and bitterness.

2. Give Yourself a Break. So many of our burdens are self-imposed. We are often our harshest critics and hold ourselves to impossible standards of perfection. Stop reminding yourself of all the ways you’ve failed or fallen short. Ask God to forgive you, and then forgive yourself. The goal is progress, not perfection.

3. Take Ownership. It’s time to stop playing the blame game and making excuses for why we’re not who we want to be or doing what we want to do. When you release others and give yourself a break, you are free to take ownership of your life.

When we drop the weight and become mentally, emotionally and spiritually free, we’ll become our best in all areas of life. — Jimmy Page

Go:

1. Write down 2 to 3 names of people you need to forgive and release.

2. Write down 2 to 3 personal failures you need to ask God to forgive you for, and then forgive yourself.

3. What’s one thing you can take ownership of with respect to your personal health?

Overtime: Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is myself. And I weigh myself down holding onto resentment or a feeling of failure. Lord, help me to drop the weight of resentment and remember that You always love me. Amen.

This text appeared in FCA Magazine. To learn more about the magazine and to subscribe, click here.