Forgiveness - A Powerful Restorer

When my children were young, I spent a ridiculous amount of time repairing their books.

Books have a high value in our family, and littles enjoy them in a rough manner.

So, after they were in bed, I would meticulously tape corners, spine, and torn pages. 

Books with flaps were particularly difficult. All too often those flaps were opened beyond their boundaries!

Yet there was huge value in enjoying Dear Zoo with each child.

Repairing it meant that it could continue to serve our family and bring us joy.

This week we return to the three steps of restoring a masterpiece.

We’re on step two: Repair It – Repair rips in the canvas, and fix cracked and peeling paint.

If you’ve been around Sanctuary of Home long, then you know that we’re not going to look at issues that need surface repairs, like mending children’s books.
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Looking deeper, Momma, what needs repairs in your life? What is cracked and peeling?

If you are married, how’s your relationship with your husband? 

Do you need reconciliation? 

How about with your children? 

Do you need to apologize to them, or forgive them? 

Maybe it’s a parent? 

Forgiveness. 

Forgiveness may be the most powerful restorer in this life.

It applies both when you forgive another, and also when you receive undeserved forgiveness.

I invite you to engage in a brief exercise.

Grab a blank sheet of paper and a timer. Set the timer for one minute.

On one side of the sheet of paper I invite you to answer the question: Who has wronged me?

Start the timer and write for one minute. Simply make a list. This is not regurgitating the wrong, simply identifying the who.

This could be as deep as a parent who rejected you, to the person who stole your parking spot, to God for not allowing your person to be elected.

This could also include yourself. 

Have you ever felt like you’ve wronged yourself? 

I have. I have felt like I’ve wronged myself for not being perfect, for being unable to do it all, and for sending a text message in anger. I’ve included myself on the list.

After that minute, I invite you to reset the timer for another minute.

This time turn your paper over and answer the question: Who have I wronged?

Answering this will be easier for some, and more difficult for others. It can be hard to consider that you’ve wronged another. 

Yet we all have. 

And this is part of whatever needs repairs in your life.

Make a list for one minute.

Again, this is not regurgitating the wrong done, rather who was offended.

Last, take that list and lay it before the Lord.

Begin with the list of those whom you have wronged. 

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the wrong you have done, and for the grace to ask for forgiveness directly from the person whom you wronged.

Receive His grace.

“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” – and You forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)

Then turn the page over, offer the list of those who have wronged you to the Lord.

You start with the other list because it is easier to forgive others when you remember that you also need forgiveness.

Put the Lord’s word in Matthew 6 into practice:

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (vs.44)

One by one, ask for the Lord’s power and grace to forgive each person on this list. 

If you aren’t in a place where your heart is ready to forgive, then ask the Lord to give you a desire to forgive that person.

Sometimes forgiveness is a process, yet it is also a command. And it is a sure way to repair the rips in your canvas, and fix the cracked and peeling paint.

Forgiveness is an important part of self-care. While the process may be exhausting at first, the result is restoration beyond your understanding.

Restore yourself with forgiveness today.

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All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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