Spiritual Development

Cultivating a healthy relationship with family members can be difficult. Growing up in a big family often leaves a person feeling like they were the least favorite. These feelings can sometimes lead to relationship problems between siblings. Forgiving family is one of the toughest things we can do to follow God’s instructions about forgiveness. We don’t always want to be the ones to initiate the process. Forgiveness within the family dramatically improves the way a family functions. By employing forgiveness the dynamic of the family can become positive and uplifting, creating a healthy home environment for everyone. Even if the family has evolved to having adult children forgiveness will create a positive atmosphere during family get-togethers. This positivity created by adult children will lead to a healthier atmosphere for aging parents. How do I start showing forgiveness to my family member? Understanding the result of forgiveness comes from spending time with God. It is important to allow God to prepare your heart and mind to seek forgiveness. Allowing Him to lead you in this process is the key to obtaining true forgiveness. God’s love for us is based on forgiveness. He forgave us for sins so that we may be found in right standing with Him. We don’t always intentionally do something that hurts others. Regardless, we are still responsible for seeking forgiveness. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32, ESV Praying is the best way to understand how God wants you to approach the person. It will also help in understanding how to speak to them in a way that will be uplifting. God wants us to live in harmony. He intended for the His children to walk together in love. Sometimes you need help to understand [...]

Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. It makes a way for us to live as one with God, it provides a way for person-to-person relationships to be restored, and it develops spiritual maturity as we learn to live from a position of forgiveness. As we explore forgiveness in the Bible, we discover explore God’s forgiveness, Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness, and the practical application of forgiveness. Forgiveness releases a person from guilt and its consequences. It is an act of compassion to restore broken relationships. Forgiveness can involve both the remission of punishment and the cancellation of debts. To forgive is to refuse to blame and take an account of offenses. To be forgiven is to be exempt from personal consequences for an offense. When we experience forgiveness, our mistakes are no longer considered or held against us. God’s Forgiveness in the Bible But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. – Nehemiah 9:16-17, ESV The Israelites had a reputation for a back-and-forth relationship with God. They had numerous experiences of rescue and refusal. They refused to follow God, which led them to sin and captivity. Then God would hear their cry and rescue them because of his kind nature. He was ready to forgive because that is His nature. We can rely on His readiness to forgive us too. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon [...]