How to forgive?

[arunangelo]

We are created to love others the way God loves us. Therefore, we can never have true peace until we love our enemies and forgive them. Furthermore, we can never have peace in our heart if we hate, reject or condemn any person. When we betrayed God and rejected His friendship He did not take revenge, condemn us, give up on us or hold resentment against us. On the contrary, because of His love for us, He wanted to save our soul from death. He therefore, compensated for our sins (that we committed against him), forgave us, and put His life back in us by sacrificing His own. In other words, He (the victim) compensated for our crimes (we committed against Him) by His own life. In doing this He showed us that to truly love and forgive, is not only to give up resentment or claim we have against our offenders, but also to compensate for their wrongdoings (against us). We can compensate for the wrong doings of our offenders by helping them to overcome their weaknesses by our prayers and acts of sacrificial love towards them. Sacrifice empties our heart of selfishness. This makes our heart open to accepting God’s love for them. In prayer we become intimate with God. This allows God to enter our heart and purify our spirit. When we make sacrifice on behalf of others and pray for them, we accept God’s help on their behalf. We can also accept God’s help on behalf of others, when our love for them makes us one with them.

 

[Caroline H]

:amen

 

[Blazin Bones]

Makes sense to me.

 

[Vince]

Arunangelo, I'm dealing with this problem on another Christian forum as well. A Christian is wronged, and then cannot forgive. The Christian prays and tells God that he forgives the person. Minutes later, angry, bitter thoughts about the person return. So the person really prays hard, really means it, and forgives again. Then the bitter thoughts return.

I have some answers, but I'd like to collect opinions from others first.