“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT.
Whenever you are trying to pinpoint why you feel hurt or why you are seeking forgiveness, use 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide to evaluate the hurt. Ask yourself, do I feel like they were impatient? Do I feel like they were rude? Do I feel like they were only thinking of themselves? Once you pinpoint it, then you can go to the person to express, “I feel like you were impatient with me.” Or “I feel like you didn’t consider me, but were only thinking about yourself, and that hurt.” Now, the two of you have something to work with.
Whenever you are trying to pinpoint why you feel hurt or why you are seeking forgiveness, use 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide to evaluate the hurt. Ask yourself, do I feel like they were impatient? Do I feel like they were rude? Do I feel like they were only thinking of themselves? Once you pinpoint it, then you can go to the person to express, “I feel like you were impatient with me.” Or “I feel like you didn’t consider me, but were only thinking about yourself, and that hurt.” Now, the two of you have something to work with.
It is the same when seeking forgiveness for something wrong you’ve done. Go down the list in 1 Corinthians 13, and ask yourself, was I unkind? Was I overly sensitive and easily angered? Did I believe the best of that person? Once you locate the problem, now you can go to the person and say, “I apologize for being unkind toward you. You don’t deserve that.” Or “I apologize for not believing the best of you.” This way, when it comes time to communicate, you can express yourself accurately and receive the healing you need, and God is glorified.
Whenever you are trying to pinpoint why you feel hurt or why you are seeking forgiveness, use 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide to evaluate the hurt. Ask yourself, do I feel like they were impatient? Do I feel like they were rude? Do I feel like they were only thinking of themselves? Once you pinpoint it, then you can go to the person to express, “I feel like you were impatient with me.” Or “I feel like you didn’t consider me, but were only thinking about yourself, and that hurt.” Now, the two of you have something to work with.
It is the same when seeking forgiveness for something wrong you’ve done. Go down the list in 1 Corinthians 13, and ask yourself, was I unkind? Was I overly sensitive and easily angered? Did I believe the best of that person? Once you locate the problem, now you can go to the person and say, “I apologize for being unkind toward you. You don’t deserve that.” Or “I apologize for not believing the best of you.” This way, when it comes time to communicate your hurt, you can express it accurately and receive the healing you need, and God is glorified.
Every offense is an offense against love. Evaluate the hurt according to God’s Word. Evaluate why you feel you need to apologize. Once you have located it, now you can communicate it effectively.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for speaking directly to my heart. Your word is a lamp to my feet. Help me to use it to guide me in every situation I face. Heal my heart, Lord, and keep it free of all offense. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(Read Psalm 119:105)
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