Power to Forgive by Galina Stele, - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Power to Forgive

by Galina Stele, D.Min.General Conference 2016 Women’s Ministries Emphasis DaySlide2

ForgivenessThe need for forgiveness is woven

into the fabric of our lives:People of Israel would not exist if Esau had not forgiven Jacob.Solomon would not be a king of Israel if God had not forgiven David.Neither you nor I would be here if God had not forgiven Adam and Eve.None of us would have a future if God stopped forgiving us.Slide3

ForgivenessWe may find it easy to accept God’s forgiveness,

but most of us find it difficult to forgive others or to be forgiven by another. Sometimes it is hard to forgive.Sometimes it is a struggle to want to forgive.Slide4

Practicing forgiveness improves our healthLowers blood pressureLowers stressLowers level of hostility and aggressiveness

Lowers risk of alcohol and other addictionsLowers painKeeps one’s heart healthyHelps one to recover from various illnessesBrings emotional balance and harmonySlide5

People who practice forgiveness

are happier and healthier.94% respondentsin a research study believe,“It is important to forgive.”

85% respondents

in a research study confessed,

“I need outside help to be able to forgive.”Slide6

If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.Mother TheresaSlide7

It is difficult to forgive because:

We believe some myths about forgiveness.We believe in the idea of a “just world” and want to bring justice.We do not understand why God allowed the offense to happen, and therefore, we cannot accept it.We do not know the various stages of forgiveness.We do not understand the “injustice gap.”We do not know what forgiveness is.We do not know how to forgive.Slide8

It is difficult to forgive because:

1. WE BELIEVE MYTHS ABOUT FORGIVENESS.MYTHS – Forgiveness means:To nullify the evil or damage that has been done.To forget and never remember it again.To say the offense was not important.To allow someone to do the same thing again.Slide9

The truth about forgiveness

Forgiveness is: Not permission to repeat the same offense.Not amnesty.Not amnesia.Not denial of the damage or harm done.Not an acknowledgement that we are guilty.FORGIVENESS IS GRACE IN ACTION.Slide10

It is difficult to forgive because:

2. WE BELIEVE IN THE IDEA OF A “JUST WORLD.”THIS IS NOT A JUST WORLDIt is not our responsibility to pay back and bring justice.We punish the offender by refusing to forgive.Only God is the true judge.Slide11

It is difficult to forgive because:

3. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GOD ALLOWS THE OFFENSE TO HAPPEN.EVEN IF WE DON’T UNDERSTAND:We need to learn to trust God.We need to develop His character. We need to help others.Slide12

4. WE DO NOT KNOW THE STAGES OF FORGIVENESS.STAGES of FORGIVENESS:HurtPain

HealingForgivenessAnd perhaps ReconciliationIt is difficult to forgive because:Slide13

It is difficult to forgive because:

5. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE “INJUSTICE GAP.”GAPSTHE OFFENDER REDUCES THE GAP BY:OFFERING AN APOLOGY.PROVIDING RESTITUTION.THE OFFENDER INCREASES THE GAP BY:DENYING THE FAULT.BEHAVING BADLY.Slide14

6. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT FORGIVENESS IS.It is hard to forgive because very often we don’t know what true forgiveness is and how to forgive. As mentioned earlier, forgiveness is grace in action. Grace has a divine origin. As Alexander Pope said, “To err is human; to forgive, Divine.” Our ability to forgive depends on how we understand God’s forgiveness, how we treat ourselves, and whether we have experienced God’s grace in our lives.

It is difficult to forgive because:Slide15

We really love our neighbor as ourselves:We do unto others as we do to ourselves.We hate others when we hate ourselves.We are tolerant toward otherswhen we tolerate ourselves.We forgive others when we forgive ourselves.

Eric HofferSlide16

Parable of the unforgiving servant

DENARII:One day’s wage was one denarii; one year’s wage was 300 denarii.Debt of 100 denarii equals one-third of a year’s wages.TALENTS:Twenty years wages equals one talent (6,000 denarii).Debt of 10,000 talents equals 200,000 years wages.Slide17

If we are at war with others, we cannot be at peace with ourselves.Hurt people hurt people.

Forgiveness changes us from prisoners of the past to the people of peace.Forgiveness helps us to reconcile with our past. Slide18

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain,but it takes character and self-controlto be understanding and forgiving.

Dale CarnegieSlide19

To forgive means to understand.French ProverbSlide20

Only great people can forgive.O. OzheshkoSlide21

It is difficult to forgive because:7. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FORGIVE.

HOW TO FORGIVEForgiveness is the choice and decision to forgive.Forgiveness can be given even without receiving an apology or being reconciled.Slide22

Steps in the process of forgiveness

STEP 1Write a list of the people and events that have hurt you.Ask yourself some questions:Why is it so difficult to forgive this person?How does the unsolved problem affect my life, my health, and my relationship with God and other people?What in particular do I need to forgive and forget?Slide23

STEP 2Make your decision to forgive.Put the offender and the consequences in the hands of the Lord.Pray for your offender.

Steps in the process of forgivenessSlide24

STEP 3Tell yourself: “I don’t live in the past, I live in the present, and I am going into the future a free person!”Forgiveness releases others from our criticism.Forgiveness releases us from the prison of negative thoughts.

Steps in the process of forgivenessSlide25

When God sees gaps,He builds bridges.Robert SchullerSlide26

And when you stand praying,if you hold anything against anyone,forgive him,so that your Father in heavenmay forgive you your sins.Mark 11:25Slide27

The Bible teaches usto love our neighborsand to forgive our enemies.Maybe because very oftenthey are the same people.Galina SteleSlide28

You know you have forgiven someone when he or she has harmless passage through your mind.Karyl HuntleySlide29

Forgiveness is a sign of maturity

We can choose to be agents of positive change.The power to change and the power to forgive are available from above.Slide30

Give people happy minutesHappy minutes make

happy hoursHappy hours make happy daysHappy days make happy monthsHappy months make happy yearsHappy years make a happy lifeSlide31

One of the most lasting pleasuresyou can experienceis the feeling that comes over youwhen you genuinely forgive an enemy—whether he knows about it or not.

A. Battista