Works of Mercy

One of the spiritual works of mercy is to forgive the wrongs done to us. Forgiveness is an act of will, not an emotional good feeling. But it's hard work. Here is an article that goes into some of the hows of doing it.

Jesus has instructed us to forgive one another. How do we forgive? Forgiveness is a journey from cold bitter feelings to feelings of love and friendship. Here are seven steps you can try to learn how to forgive.

Difficulty: Hard

Time Required: daily

Here's How:

1. Bring the Problem to God – Sit with God and tell Him your problem. Explain that you are having difficulty forgiving a person. Listen to what God tells you.
2. Discussion – Talk with the person that you are having a problem with. Talk respectfully and stay on topic. Try to respect their opinions and feelings.
3. Look at Your Actions – Ask yourself if you’re being over sensitive or irrational. Look at the role you played in the conflict.
4. Talk to Someone You Trust – Talk with a person you trust about the problem. Don’t gossip about it, but seek advice.
5. Focus on Positive – Focus on the person’s good qualities. Remember that they do have good person, and we all make mistakes.
6. Think about When You were Forgiven - Recall a time when someone forgave you and how wonderful you felt.
7. Positive Actions – Use your anger in a more positive way. Volunteer somewhere and help people.

Tips:

1. Keep an open mind and heart.
2. Pray about it and know if you can't forgive quickly, at least you're trying.
3. Remember it is better for you to be loving instead of bitter.

What You Need:

• Open heart
• Open mind

Labels: Forgiveness