Bible, Forgiveness, Faith, bitter, Bitterness, proverbs

The Art Of Forgiving

Is offering forgiveness a weakness? Does holding a grudge give you power? That’s often what the world around us reinforces. We’re told that holding onto anger is justified. That canceling others is the answer. That letting the little things go just lets people off the hook. But what if there’s a better way? In this video, discover ancient wisdom from the book of Proverbs for breaking free from the cycle of resentment. Learn how to let go of the small stuff without becoming a pushover. Find out how God’s timeless insight can help you let go of the weight of past offenses and experience the true power of forgiveness.

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FoolProof Your Life: Timeless Wisdom For Modern Living

The Art of Forgiving

Introduction: The Culture of Offense

“Being offended is unavoidable; living offended is a choice.”

  • We get offended easily in our culture
  • Examples: Traffic, unanswered texts, damaged property
  • We live in a time of limitless knowledge but are in desperate need of wisdom

The Wisdom of Proverbs

  • Written by Solomon, the wisest man to ever live
  • Provides profound advice for governing our lives
  • We don’t just read Proverbs, we act on them!

[Proverbs 19:11] “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”

Main Points: How to Get Over the Grudge

  1. Bridge the Gap with Love

[Proverbs 10:12] “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”

  • There’s a gap between an action and your reaction
  • We often interpret situations poorly (Fundamental Attribution Error)
  • Satan wants us to bridge the gap with accusations
  • God wants us to bridge the gap with love
  1. Overlook the Offense

[Proverbs 17:9] “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”

  • Love gives the benefit of the doubt
  • Love trusts the other person
  • Love looks over an offense
  • Love forgives

[Ephesians 4:2] “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

  1. Choose Compassion Over Offense
  • Hurt people hurt people
  • Instead of being offended, choose compassion
  • It’s God-honoring to overlook an offense

“The Hebrew word for Overlook is ‘Ah-Vore’ – pass over the offense.”

  1. Focus on a Greater Purpose
  • The devil wants to lower us into the offense
  • We have a greater purpose in Christ
  • Examples: “I’m over it” mentality for various offenses

Application: Bridging the Gap with Love

  1. Recognize the gap between action and reaction
  2. Choose to interpret situations with love and compassion
  3. Make a conscious decision to overlook offenses
  4. Focus on your greater purpose in Christ

“God’s plan for your life is too important to be sidetracked by small offenses.”

Conclusion: God’s Love Bridges the Gap

  • God bridged the gap between us and Him through Jesus Christ
  • Jesus continually chose to bridge the gap with love
  • We are called to extend the same love and grace to others

“The same grace He has shown me, I want to show others.”

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?

Is offering forgiveness a weakness? Does holding a grudge give you power? That’s often what the world around us reinforces. We’re told that holding onto anger is justified. That canceling others is the answer. That letting the little things go just lets people off the hook. But what if there’s a better way? In this video, discover ancient wisdom from the book of Proverbs for breaking free from the cycle of resentment. Learn how to let go of the small stuff without becoming a pushover. Find out how God’s timeless insight can help you let go of the weight of past offenses and experience the true power of forgiveness.

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