As Christians, we're told to forgive, but rarely how to do it. Join me in applying trusted psychological principles to this important, albeit challenging, staple of the Christian life.
After experiencing a betrayal by my church family and struggling to forgive them, I sought resources on how to forgive and found little that was helpful. As a psychologist, however, I began applying basic principles for behavior change to the process of forgiving those who had hurt me. I found those principles helped me live out the forgiveness my faith told me was essential. For this reason, I'm passionate about this topic and what psychology can offer to help us live the Christian life more authentically.
I will provide some basics of behavior change that psychologists have used for decades and apply them to the process of forgiveness. I will offer examples from my own forgiveness journey along with clarity on what forgiveness is as well as what it is not.
I will address scripture on the importance of forgiveness and will address passages that also support the cognitive, affective, and behavioral principles I'll be discussing.
Romans 12:2 - "Be transformed by the renewing of the mind."
Philippians 4:8 - "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable..."
2 Corinthians 10:5 - "Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Matthew 18:22 - forgive "not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Susan Howell, Psychologist/Author/Speaker, www.susanharrishowell.com
