THE POWER OF FORGIVING AND HEALTH - PART 2

The benefits of forgiving make it a healthy choice!  For every negative effect of un-forgiveness, there is a benefit when you forgive. 

MOTIVATING BENEFITS TO FORGIVE 

• Forgiving is good for your heart, lowers your blood pressure. 
• Forgiveness relieves stress
• It improves your immune system
• Recent studies show that forgiving improves overall health - you get better sleep quality, more physical energy, peace of mind and more emotional energy.
• Forgiveness also heals relationships.  Which brings a happier state of mind
• There was an article in the other day in USA Today which says that happy people live 35% longer.  That’s a good healthy motivator to forgive. 
    

4 TIPS TO APPLY THE BENEFITS 

You may ask “How do I apply for these benefits”?  Let me share with you from my personal experience a few tips that I’ve learned about how to begin the process of forgiveness.

• Decide to forgive.  It is not an emotional decision; it is an act of the will. 
• Guard your thoughts and guard your words.  Try not to replay it in your mind and repeat and rehearse the offences.  Replace negativity with positive words and positive thoughts as Phil 4:8 encourages us to do:  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• Take Action - In some relationships, like marriage, you should take positive actions, such as giving flowers, cooking a special meal or showing affection.   I know someone who took action by writing a letter to her deceased mother forgiving her and releasing her.
• Require no strings attached.  Can you forgive someone without an apology from them?  Yes, you can.  Don’t expect certain behaviors to be contingent on your forgiveness.  Let it go.
  
  

FORGIVING BENEFITS ARE FOR YOU

I like the quote that says “Forgiveness is like setting a prisoner free only to discover that the prisoner was you.”

We have looked at the some of the damage un-forgiveness can cause.  We considered the benefits of forgiveness and explored some tips to begin the process of forgiveness and it is just that - a process.  So don’t be discouraged if you don’t instantly feel warm and fuzzy and loving - continue the process.  Remember, ultimately forgiveness is the gift you give to yourself.   Even the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s officially made peace!  They also played on the game show “Family Feud” - They competed for a cash prize and a hog – one of their original major issues.

Another common quote says:  “To err is human, to forgive is divine”.  What that means to me is - Offences (sometimes intentional, sometimes not) and disagreements are part of the human experience, there will be plenty of opportunity to forgive.  It also means that I need to ask for God’s grace to lubricate relationships with His forgiveness.  Just ask Him.  He already told us in Ephesians 4:32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  The motto hanging over the door when we leave out of the sanctuary says FORGIVE, FORGET AND RELEASE. He will show us how if we let Him.