Compassing Light

The Power of Forgiveness

1. Choose a higher standard.
   1. Do to others what has been done to you by your Heavenly Father.
   2. Ephesians 4:32 - Forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

2. Tap into the replacement principal.
   1. You must replace an old behavior with a new behavior.
   2. Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

3. Redefine forgiveness in your life.
   1. Forgiveness means that someone doesn't owe you any more.
   2. Forgiveness must be understood so you can forgive others.
   3. Luke 7:47 - Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little.
   4. How much have you been forgiven?
      1. Isaiah 1:18 - No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it.  I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.  Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.
      2. Psalm 103:11-12 - For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
   5. Forgiveness is not given because people deserve it.

4. Three steps to forgiveness
   1. Identify who you are angry with.
   2. Determine what they owe you.
   3. Decide to cancel the debt.