Episode 174: Unlocking the Power of Forgiveness - Part 3

Write this Down! with Dot Bowen

Today Dot and Cara dive into the practical aspects of forgiveness, grounded in Ephesians 3:16-20. They discuss how forgiveness is an act of obedience to God and not a one-size-fits-all process. Cara shares a personal prayer, emphasizing the importance of praying for a spirit of forgiveness early and often. They also remind listeners that forgiving doesn’t mean condoning wrongs and that forgiveness, like a muscle, gets easier with practice. Pull up a chair and join them for this heartfelt discussion.

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know!

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Ephesians 3:16-20 (0:14)
• Today we’re talking about the practical, how-to side of forgiveness (2:08)
• Forgiveness is done out of obedience to God and for His glory (5:21)
• There’s not a one size fits all process for forgiveness (7:04)
• Cara’s prayer for forgiveness format from “Be Transformed” by John Robin Murphy (see below) (9:40)
• Pray for a spirit of forgiveness early and often (12:03)
• Forgiving does not mean what happened was not wrong (18:03)
• Ask the Lord for wisdom for your situation (20:21)
• We have to deal with spiritual issues with spiritual weapons (27:41)
• Like exercising a muscle, forgiveness gets easier with practice and time (31:21)

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Scripture Verse: Ephesians 3:16-20 (NIV)

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Cara’s Prayer from the book “Be Transformed” by John Robin Murphy:

Heavenly Father, I forgive [Name]. I forgive [him or her] for: [list everything you can think of that caused the offense and how you suffered as a result of the behavior.] I ask that You forgive [name] as well. Father, I ask that I would lose sight of the offense, and if I am ever reminded of it, that I will dismiss that memory as an old, resolved conflict. Father I ask for the strength to simply forget the incident and move on with rebuilding the relationship as You lead me to do so.

Father, please show me how to love [Name} the way You do. Father, show me how to turn my offense into concern for [Name’s] well-being. Father, I am moved to forgive [him or her] because I desire to be obedient to You and desire for You to be glorified. Father, I ask You to forgive me for not forgiving [Name] before now and remove from my heart any consequence or torment from not forgiving them in the past.

Father, I confess that I will need Your help to live out this forgiveness and I ask You to give me strength to live true to this forgiveness. Father, please bless [Name’s] life in every way and heal [Name] of any emotional or physical wounds that cause [Name] suffering. (If you are not sure of the person’s salvation in Christ): Lord, I also pray for [Name’s ] salvation and ask that you would write [Name’s] name in the Book of Life and compel [Name] to seek Your salvation.

I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.