Morning Discipline – The Glorious Freedom in Forgiving Others

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a bunk bed with striped linen behind bars

Good morning!

It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, “Morning and Evening: A New Self Discipline Journey” to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.

This week we are going to focus each day on forgiveness. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!

With that said, let’s start our morning together!

BREATHING EXERCISE

Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.

MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY

I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.

PRAYER For Forgiving Others

Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:

Dear Lord,

Please forgive me for harboring anger. Equip me with a supernatural ability to forgive those who have hurt me. Guard my heart when old emotions threaten to surface. Strip my heart of anger and replace it with joy.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

16 Relieving Prayers for Forgiveness to Make Peace with Yourself and Others | Woman’s Day

AFFIRMATIONS for Forgiving Others

Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.

As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:

  1. I am free from the prison of resentment.
  2. I do not confuse people from my past with people in the present.
  3. Forgiveness is a gift to myself.
  4. I am forgiving, loving, gentle, and kind to everyone.

SCRIPTURES For Forgiving Others

As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).

Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:

  1. Luke 6:37, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
  2. Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
  3. Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
  4. Luke 17:4, “Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

TODAYS CHALLENGE

Our challenge today is this: truly forgive someone.

Forgiveness, what is it?

According to a Johns Hopkins Medical University article I found, forgiveness is “an active process in which you make a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves it or not.”

In a lot of ways we assume that by forgiving someone that this means the wrong never happened. Or, we think that by forgiving someone that this offer of forgiveness is only going to impact them. But the reality is, forgiveness, more times than not, actually benefits the forgiver far and above the one who has been forgiven.

In what ways does the forgiver actually benefit from being forgiving to others?

That same article stated that people who are more forgiving “tend to be more satisfied with their lives” and experience less:

  1. Depression
  2. Anxiety
  3. Stress
  4. Anger
  5. Hostility

Other benefits include:

  1. Lowering your risk of heart attack
  2. Improving cholesterol levels
  3. Improving sleep
  4. Reducing pain
  5. Improving blood pressure

From a Christian perspective, we were commanded to forgive others. In fact, we are reminded in scripture that forgiving others is expected because Christ forgave us when we did not deserve it, and we ought to live as Christ. As a result we should extend that same level of forgiveness to others.

In other words, the one offering forgiveness experiences freedom emotionally, mentally, and spiritually that they wouldn’t otherwise experience by holding on to the offense and anger.

Not to mention, it could open the door to the relationship becoming redeemed and even restored to a better place than it was before.

I know I’ve used a lot of content from the Johns Hopkins article, but I thought it was a really good one with some practical steps that I really wanted to share with you. Their practical steps include (with some additions from me):

  1. Reflect and remember – This includes the event, your reaction, your feelings, etc….but I also want to add to this one to reflect on and remember the forgiveness extended to you by Jesus on the cross.
  2. Empathize with the other person – put yourself in their shoes a little
  3. Forgive deeply – don’t just forgive to restore a relationship or feel you have no alternative, but forgive because you understand and appreciate the imperfection of yourself and others.
  4. Let go of expectations – just because you forgive doesn’t mean you’ll get an apology. Don’t expect it either.
  5. Decide to forgive – talk to the person, and if you can’t write about it in a journal or confide in someone else you trust.

So what are you waiting on?

Quote of the Day

Today’s quote comes from author Itayi Garande from their book “Broken Families: How to get rid of toxic people and live a purposeful life”, which ssays :

If you cannot forgive others, you break the bridge over which you must pass yourself. Make sure you are always building bridges and not walls because those walls may be blocking your progress.

Itayi Garande

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