The Faithful
Joseph
Dreamer, Prisoner, Provider
Forgiveness
Scripture (NIV)
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
Message
Joseph was betrayed by his own family and later fed them. Forgiveness did not erase the harm; it refused to let the harm have the last word.
Practice
Name one person you are still holding a grudge against. Pray one honest sentence for their good.
Prayer
God, I cannot undo what was done. Free me from carrying it as bitterness. Amen.
Lived out
Short practices that fit Joseph's virtue of forgiveness.
A practice to try
Saying the name out loud
“I could pray about forgiveness in general for years and feel nothing shift. The change came when I said the person's name out loud in the prayer. It was uncomfortable and I had to do it many times. I did not feel warm towards them for a long while. But the bitterness lost its grip first.”
TRY TODAY
Say one person's name to God today and ask for the willingness to forgive, even if the feeling is not there yet.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)