Road to Freedom

Repairing Relationships

Road to Freedom | Part 6

Road to R.E.C.O.V.E.R.Y.

R - Realizing I’m not God

E - Earnestly believe that God Exists  

C – Consciously Choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.

O – Openly Examine and Confess my faults to myself, to God, and to Someone else.

V – Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in  my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.

E – Evaluate all my hardships, offer forgiveness to those who’ve hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others  

Ephesians 4:31–32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger … along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Forgive those who’ve hurt me

Why?

1. Because God has forgiven me.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

2. Because resentment doesn’t work.

Job 21:23-25 “Some men stay healthy till the day they die … others have no happiness at all; they live and die with bitter hearts.”

3. Because I need forgiveness in the future. 

Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

How?

1. 1. Reveal my hurt.

   2. You release the offender. 

Matt 18:21-22 Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

1. 3. Replace my hurt with God’s peace. 

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace

Make amends to those I’ve hurt

Why?

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

How?

1. Make a list of those I’ve harmed and what I did.

2. Think how I’d like others to make amends to me. (Luke 6:31)

   • The right time (Ecclesiastes 8:6)

   • The right attitude (Ephesians 4:15)

   • Is it appropriate? 

Proverbs 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

3. Refocus my life 

Job 11:13–16 (GNB) “Put your heart right, reach out to God … then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more.” 

3 steps to refocusing your life:

1. Put your heart right.  Release and Forgive

2. Reach out to God.

3. Face the World again (don’t run, don’t withdraw or hide)