There are various of ways
to pursue forgiveness. One is to seek reconciliation immediately with little
thought given to the seriousness of your hurtful behavior. This approach quickly
seeks to diminish anger and hurt feelings that the wounded person experienced.
The other approach is to wait
patiently for the perfect time when the offended person is receptive to your appeal
to be forgiven. The issue here is to prevent conflict from erupting that might
cause more hurt feelings. Effective forgiveness must include a willingness to
assume full responsibility for hurtful behavior without shifting blame to
someone else.
Shame
and guilt are diminished as seeking forgiveness focuses on making amends for
what the other person endured by your offending words or behavior. It’s easy to
justify hurtful behavior by blaming others, but this must be resisted. If you
seek forgiveness from others in the strength of the grace and mercy God has
shown you, peace that passes all understanding can be yours. Try it.
_____________________
Turn
to the Lord and pray to him, now that he is near. Let the wicked leave their
way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the Lord, our
God; he is merciful and quick to forgive.
~Isaiah 55:6-7 Good News Bible
In
everything you do, you are kind and faithful to everyone who keeps our
agreement with you. Be true to your name, Lord, by forgiving each one of my
terrible sins.
~Psalm 25:10-11 Contemporary English Version
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