It's not a word you hear everyday , but it has an important meaning! Macrothumia is a Greek word meaning "put aside your anger". Putting aside anger and hurt to forgive someone who has wronged you can sometimes feel nearly impossible.
In the movie "Fireproof", Caleb apologizes to his wife Catherine...
For Catherine , forgiveness does not come easy. Forgiveness is never an easy thing.
In Matthew 18, when the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him how often they should forgive, His answer was 70 times 7.
Why should I forgive?
1. To keep Satan out of my life. When I don't forgive I give Satan a chance to have a foothold in my life.
2. For myself. When I do not forgive, i give that person who I am not forgiving a hold over me. God does not have ownership over me and can't fully use me!
3. I am not perfect!! How can we expect overs to forgive us , when we cannot forgive ourselves.
4. Christ forgave me! Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate act of forgiveness. He paid our debt in full and rose again so that we might have life eternally with Him!
Okay so I understand why I should forgive, but how should I do it...
1. Make a decision to forgive. It's a hard choice, but when we make the choice to forgive, Satan does not have a foothold anymore in our lives.
2. Say the words "I forgive you" at least out loud to yourself.
3. When you forgive, forgive for real.
4. Forgive completely as the Lord forgave us.
5. Forgive repeatedly.
6. Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. We can never completely forget the hurt that has been done, but we have to try and move on.
7. Forgiving doesn't mean trusting. Use wisdom and don't set yourself up to be hurt again by the same person.
Ultimately, forgiving is about us. No one can control anyone but ourselves no matter how much we might try. Forgiveness isn't about the other person , it is about what we will do.
God will bless our efforts and renew us each time we make the difficult choice to forgive.
Colossians 3:13 states:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Let's forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us today!
More Macrothumia will make this world a better place for all of us!
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