What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is a decision (action word) NOT an emotion!
Forgiveness is not a natural response, we need God’s help.

What isn’t forgiveness?
Forgiveness is not excusing the harm caused.
Forgiveness is not giving permission to do it again.
Respect in relationships means holding the person accountable for their talk and actions.

Why is forgiveness needed?
Forgiveness is needed because something wrong has been done
Forgiveness breaks the hurting cycle: Hurt people hurt people
Lack of forgiveness ties us to the event, the person, the situation, the past.
Failure to forgive = hard feelings = broken relationships =failure to forgive = hard feelings, etc.
The cycle can break with you!
Forgiveness overcomes resentments – only love is stronger than hate

Who needs forgiveness?
Forgiveness is needed by the offender and the offended. It is a two way street.
Forgiveness is a two-way street needed for restoration of a relationship – We can’t choose what
hurt comes our way, we can choose to forgive and forget
Willingness to forgive releases you from hard feelings, frees you to live in the present, enables
peace of mind – even when the other person doesn’t ask for your forgiveness.

When you need to forgive
You are responsible for your behavior concerning those who harm or wound you

1) Commit what you do to the LORD. Proverbs.16:
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

2) Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

3) Choose to love them – Luke 6:35-36
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Real love is not based on worthiness or it would change
Fulfill your continuing debt to love – Romans 13:
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Live out the reality of belonging in God’s family-John 13:
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

4) Do good to them (demonstrate you carry no grudge)
Meeting their needs will either melt them or give evidence of coming judgment. Proverbs 25:
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Lend them grace – don’t set an end date. Wait for fruit in its season.
Psalms 1:
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

5) Live peacefully; leave vengeance to God.
Romans 12:
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Life is your opportunity to live out your “thank You” to God for His forgiveness.

When you need forgiveness

You are responsible for your behavior concerning those you have wounded or harmed

1) Confess to God – 1 John 1:
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Tell God what you did, why you did it and that you know it was wrong
Ask His forgiveness – He won’t punish, ridicule or be surprised. His love is unconditional!
Receive His forgiveness and His cleansing paid for by Jesus Christ
Be thankful for your Savior

2) Write down exactly what you did for which you are sorry – practice saying it
Don’t stray off into what others did

3) Make a face-to-face verbal apology to the one you have wronged.
Keep it simple – they need to hear exactly what you did that you are sorry for
I am sorry that I….
Give anxiety over to Jesus – you need Him
2 Corinthians 9:
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

4 Let your actions give evidence of a new attitude

5) Leave the results to God – Psalms 1:
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
God appoints the time your efforts will bear fruit
A leaf evidences life – your new life in Jesus will not wither!

When you live God’s way, your life will be all He intends it to be!!

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dearly Beloved,
Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!
Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good
plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through
you!
Run in His strength alone!
Run with your eyes on the prize!
Run with the desire to finish strong!
Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!
Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!
Run to His glory alone!
Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti