Steps to Freedom Week 7

1. Steps to Freedom Week 7 Step 3… Bitterness vs Forgiveness

2. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NIV) If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

3. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

4. Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for the riches of Your kindness, restraint, and patience towards me. I know that Your kindness has led me to repentance. I confess that I have not shown that same kindness and patience towards those who have hurt me. Instead, I have held on to my anger, bitterness, and resentment toward them. Please bring to my mind all the people I need to forgive in order that I may do so now. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. (See Romans 2:4.)

5. List the names of people who come to your mind. At this point don’t question whether you need to forgive them or not. If a name comes to mind, just write it down. ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Myself ______________ Thoughts against God ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

6. Forgiveness is not forgetting

7. Forgiveness is a choice, a decision of your will Romans 12:19 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

8. Forgive others for your sake so you can be free Matthew 18:32-35 (NIV) “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

9. Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another person’s sin 2 Corinthians 5:21 “made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”. Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing”.

10. Forgive from your heart

11. Forgiveness is choosing not to hold someone’s sin against him or her any more

12. Remember - Don’t wait until you feel like forgiving

13. Loving Father, I choose to forgive (name the person) for (what they did or failed to do) because it made me feel (share the painful feelings).

14. Father, I choose not to hold onto my resentment. I thank You for setting me free from the bondage of my bitterness. I relinquish my right to seek revenge and ask you to heal my damaged emotions. I now ask You to bless those who have hurt me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.