Testimonies of forgiveness

JoChris

JoChris

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Introduction: Fellow Christians, for year 2018 I thought this would be a good New Years Resolution, even if a few weeks late. Better late than never. Even atheists acknowledge how important it is to forgive for our own mental health and overall wellbeing.

Q: Why should Christians forgive?
A: Because Jesus commands us. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:14-15&version=KJV
Verse 15 - serious consequences for us if we do not forgive others. We will not be forgiven either.
https://www.easyenglish.bible/faq/forgiving-people.htm

This is an area where we actually demonstrate how much we love Jesus. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:15-17&version=KJV

Before you give up in despair (because you have tried to do this already using your own willpower and failed) Note verses 16-17. If you believe in Jesus you have the Holy Spirit's strength to do so. If other people have been able to do this with God's help you can do this too, no matter how long you have held onto your unforgiveness and bitterness in your heart.

To get this started, the concentration camp survivor's teaching on forgiveness, Corrie Ten Boom:

All Christian personal testimonies and relevant film clips welcome.
 
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JoChris

JoChris

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I was severely bullied throughout later years of primary school (especially year 7) by one particular girl and her group of friends.
She was the prettiest, one of the richest families, best at sports class, one of the smartest too - I never understood why she focused on me except that I was also one of the smartest girls. She is the reason in fact why I am so glad I did not have internet back in my day. I could only be bullied during school hours.

I became extremely depressed, withdrew from my peer group, and rage and bitterness developed in my heart. Although she went to another secondary school (and I never saw her again) unforgiveness remained. She was to blame for my misery. If only I had never known her, my life would have been so much happier and so on.

Some time later, I remember my family going to a Christian evangelism type ministry. The speaker spoke on forgiveness and called for all who were holding onto unforgiveness to go forward to pray with another person. I decided to do that.

The older woman who came to me I recognised as one of the primary school teachers at my old school. I prayed as well as I could for an 8th or 9th grader to help her forgive her friend, she prayed for me. The anger and hatred left me. The memory remained but the severe pain had gone.

Now am I saying I feel no pain from severe bullying from those years? Definitely not. It still is an area of sensitivity for me but God has used it to have genuine empathy for those who have been bullied as well.

All things God can use for good, including bullying (of whatever type). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8:28&version=KJV
 
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floss

floss

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Thunderian said:
I forgive you for liking Anderson. :D
Click to expand...
I know he is post-trib but his doctrines are very sound. His door-to-door soul winning ministry has saved ~30,000 souls in 12 years. His church go out and preach the Gospel every single week Thurs-Sat. Church services 3x a week, once on Wed and twice Sunday. Hardest preacher on sins that I’m aware. He’s great man of God once you give him a chance and get to know his zeal for the Lord. Probably the most down to earth as well. :D
 
JoChris

JoChris

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elsbet said:
Corrie ten Boom was a remarkable woman... glad you posted this @JoChris ♡

Familiar with this one?
Perspective!
Click to expand...
I have read others use the metaphor of God using people's lives like thread, those with dark lives are the darker colours.... I haven't read that poem before so thank you.

----
In a way large, once-off wrongs against us can be easier to forgive than trivial, repeated pattern ones.
http://jordonewrites.com/2014/04/03/learning-to-forgive-how-i-learned-to-let-the-small-things-go/
 
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