Forgive Seven Times: The Path to Inner Peace

1You ever heard someone say, “that person’s hurt me so many times there’s no way I could ever forgive them”? I have...I may have thought it a time or two as well. Maybe you have? “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."Luke 17:3-4 Listen, I love this topic because to forgive does not mean to forget. A lot of people don’t know the difference. You neither have to reconcile with the individual that wronged you, nor do you have to release or pardon them from any accountabilities, even if an action is legally or morally justified. God doesn’t ignore sins because He is holy and just. However, God forgives. Not because we deserve it, but simply because of His mercy and love. I’ve always said there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting. You may have wronged me or caused me harm. I will forgive you, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to forget it and start hanging out with you. But it also doesn’t mean I won’t. You see, when we forgive, God does a little something to our hearts. We often end up releasing that person and any anger that went with it. And a lot of time the offense doesn’t warrant separation. Just forgiveness. If you truly want to regain your inner peace, start learning to forgive. Sometimes it will be easy, other times it will be more difficult. If you find yourself in one of those situations, forgive this person over and over again until you are ready to let go. Be Nice, Grace Wins!