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The Fruit of Our Forgiveness: Gratitude

When I wrote Chapter 6 in You Are Forgiven, I shared a very personal, very painful story. To some who have read it, it might not have seemed like that big of a deal. But they didn’t experience it. They didn’t see the look of hurt in my daughter’s eyes. They didn’t feel the pain of letting her down. But I did. And even re-reading the story brought fresh tears to my eyes. But I chose to share this painful story because of what it illustrates: the power of a forgiving heart.

“It feels good to be forgiven. No matter how hard we try, no matter how super we think we can be, we all miss the mark from time to time. Life is messy and disappointing, and at times we hurt those we never intend to. And that’s where grace and forgiveness come into play.”  – You Are Forgiven, p. 153

So maybe that’s the silver lining when we know we need to be forgiven: what forgiveness does to our heart when it has been given to us.

Hearing those words from Addie ushered in love and healing to my hurting mama’s heart. I experienced the freedom found in forgiveness, and it made me want to be generous with my forgiveness in return. Had I not experienced the pain of letting her down and the forgiveness she extended to me, I wouldn’t have understood the power of forgiveness first hand.

King David understood the power of forgiveness, too.

In Psalm 103 David writes:

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion- Psalm 103:2-4

God’s forgiveness gives us much to be grateful for in our lives. He forgives, heals, redeems and crowns us with love and compassion.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.Psalm 103:10 NIV

How can our lives not be characterized by anything but love, grace, and gratitude when we’ve been given and forgiven so much?!

So here’s the deal: let’s put these last few weeks into action. Out of gratitude for the forgiveness we have been granted by God, let’s extend forgiveness to those in our lives who have hurt us.

Maybe it was a small thing in the world’s eyes, but it still penetrated deep in your heart and you know you’ve been harboring a grudge against that person ever since. Maybe today is the day to forgive that person.

Maybe it was harsh words spoken to you by a parent, sibling, or a friend and those words keep coming to mind, again and again, injuring you with each recalled memory.

Maybe it was the rejection you experienced either as a child or as an adult, and the poison from that rejection has been tainting all of your relationships moving forward.

Maybe it was the physical abuse you endured, and the nightmares that have followed.

Or maybe it is you. Maybe you are the one who needs to extend forgiveness to yourself.

Whoever or whatever the circumstances, this week let’s choose gratitude for the amazing gift of forgiveness that God gives to us and in doing so, extend forgiveness to that certain individual(s) God has been placing on your heart these last few weeks.

I know it’s not easy. I know it can be scary and it hurts even thinking about forgiving that individual. For some of you, depending on what you need to forgive, maybe your first step this week is just going to your local church and seeking help from a pastor or Christian counselor.

Whatever the situation, let’s choose to be brave, step forward in obedience and declare: “Today I choose forgiveness… because I have been forgiven!”

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.Psalm 103:11-13

May our lives be characterized with gratitude because of the forgiveness Jesus has given to us!

Love God Greatly!

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Let’s Talk: Are you joining me this week and choosing forgiveness? If so, comment below and just state: “Today, I choose forgiveness!” I’ll be praying for you as you take your steps forward in obedience… no longer will the chains of unforgiveness hinder our walk with Jesus any longer!!

I wonder how our lives and futures will be changed for the better because of our choice to forgive today!

Week 6 Video:

(Viewing our video in your email? Click here to see it!)

Week 6 Challenge:
Whatever the situation, let’s choose to be brave, step forward in obedience and declare: “Today I choose forgiveness… because I have been forgiven!”

Week 6 Memory Verse:WK6

Week 6 Reading Plan:WK6RP

 

Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt is the founder and director of LoveGodGreatly.com, a nonprofit online Bible study ministry reaching thousands of women in over two hundred countries around the world with God’s Word through their translated Bible studies. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas with their three daughters. Angela is passionate about God’s Word and believes one woman in God’s Word can change a family, community and ultimately a nation. Her greatest joy is to encourage her children and others to love God greatly with their lives one day at a time. You can connect with her on Instagram.

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