* You know you're supposed to forgive, but how do you actually let it go? * 1. Name the hurt honestly instead of pretending it didn't cost you anything. * 2. Remember that forgiving someone isn't the same as saying what they did was okay. * 3. Hand the debt over to God rather than carrying the weight of being the one who settles the score. * 4. Let go of the feeling slowly, and forgive again on the days the anger comes back. * 5. Pray for the person, even when it's the last thing you want to do. * Forgiveness isn't a single moment you achieve. It's a direction you keep choosing.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Lewis B. Smedes
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44
If your favorite Bible story is the one where Jesus flipped tables... you might have an anger problem.
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. - Ecclesiastes 7:9
Blessed are the merciful… 1. when the person you trust the most hurts you. 2. when your children get on your last nerve. 3. when the relationship ends in betrayal. 4. when someone cuts you off in traffic. 5. Show mercy. Don’t repay evil for evil.
Anger needs an outlet. 1. Without an outlet, it becomes bitterness and resentment. 2. You can either suppress it… (Not recommended) 3. You can express it… (Which is sometimes appropriate) 4. Or you can release it… (Give the anger to God and ask Him what to do with it) 5. Maybe God wants you to act. Maybe He wants you to confront. Or maybe He wants you to forgive. 6. Whatever you do, don’t ignore it.
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. - Colossians 3:8
1: The way you respond matters. 2: You must all be quick to listen, 3: slow to speak, 4: and slow to get angry. - James 1:19 5: Wisdom listens first. Humility pauses before responding. A Spirit-led person refuses to let anger lead the conversation.
Eliminate division. Fight for unity.
1: Think holding that grudge is only hurting them? Here's who it's really hurting... 2: Your peace. You haven't had a full night of rest since it happened. 3: Your relationships. Bitterness toward one person leaks out on everyone else. 4: Your prayers. Scripture says unforgiveness creates a ceiling on your prayer life. 5: Your joy. You can't fully enjoy today when you're still living in that moment. 6: Your testimony. People are watching how you handle the hard things. 7: The cost of unforgiveness is too high. It's time to let it go.
Jesus forgave from the cross before anyone apologized.
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. - Proverbs 15:18
Nothing exposes how much growing you have left to do like being cut off in traffic on the way to church.
Choose to forgive.
It doesn't matter if they apologized. Forgive them anyways.
“You will never forgive anyone more than God has already forgiven you.” - Max Lucado
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. - Luke 6:37
(1) Make allowance for each other’s faults... (2) and forgive anyone who offends you. (3) Remember, the Lord forgave you... (4) so you must forgive others. - Colossians 3:13
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. - Matthew 18:15
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. - Proverbs 14:29
Your life produces fruit. Not apples or peaches or pears…
Forgiveness is freedom
Let anger move you toward godly action, not sin
