,,…created in man His own image and likeness,…subdue the earth, have dominion over it” – Gen. 1:27-28
As Man, you were created to walk in dominion! To fulfill your God given mandate to rule and reign in life, becoming a King and expanding the Kingdom of God where ever you have jurisdiction!
But – how do you get there? How do you start to walk in dominion in your life?
You can’t rule and reign while you’re still being ruled over by your past! Walking in dominion starts by becoming proactive about your past, taking responsibility for it and executing God’s Kingdom agenda into it.
The prison of unforgiveness
Not forgiving the hurts and offenses of your past is like being bound by chains that hold you back from moving into what God has for you. Unforgiveness binds you and puts chains around you where past hurts, offenses and wounds rule over you. A Man in chains is not a King – he’s a captive and a slave!
A hurt that is done to you creates a wound in your heart and a loss of life. Unforgiveness is saying ”I can’t move on in life until you have paid me back and made up for the loss you caused.” In the same time, the lies and ungodly beliefs that have been created in your heart through these experiences continue to rule over your behavior and perception of truth.
Cut the chains and enter the throne God has for you
Forgiveness is the weapon that cuts those chains! When you forgive, you release the one who caused the hurt from having to pay the dept, and you receive the life that Jesus shed on the cross in His blood as payment for it. You’re saying ”You don’t owe me anymore, Jesus has paid it all for you – and more. I have received more from Jesus than I ever lost!”
In that moment, the chains fall off. You are free to move on in life and to start walking in dominion. To forgive means you exercise authority and dominion over the wounds and hurts of you past, where they no longer run your life. It allows God to start raising you into a Jesus like King!
Eph. 5:1 tells you to be an imitator of God, that means you act like God acts. What an amazing potential you have as a Man!! But – the verse begins with ”therefore”.
That connects it back to Eph. 4:32 which says ”forgive one another, even as Christ has forgiven you.”
The first thing that makes you into a Jesus-like imitator of God is to forgive those who hurt you!
Look at God – He forgave mankind for betraying Him, destroying the world and handing it over to satan, and even killing His son!
Forgiving mankind empowered God to move on with His plan of salvation, and to re-gain rulership over the earth.
How do you forgive?
Below, I give you the exact same steps that God has lead me through when I forgave the two persons that hurt me the most! Following God through these steps has totally transformed my life!
1. Decide in your heart that you want to forgive.
Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. Even if you aren’t in the place in your heart yet to forgive, decide that you want to, and ask God to lead you through the process.
2. Pray daily for that person – Lk. 6,27-28
This is a powerful way to soften your heart, and to start tapping in to God’s compassion for the one who hurt you. It will move your heart!
3. Thank and praise God for the good in the one you want to forgive.
Look for the good God has placed in the one who hurt you. What strength and gift? What do you appreciate with that person? Praise God for that.
4. Ask God if there is anything you need to ask the other one for forgiveness for.
Is there anything hurtful you have done to the other one? Even if it was just your reaction to the hurt? Admit and acknowledge it.
5. Meet that person, and forgive.
This is the most freeing and powerful step of all! If possible, meet the person face to face, and:
a) tell them what you appreciate with them & are thankful for
b) admit your faults, ask for forgiveness where you need to ask for it
c) tell you forgive everything
If you can’t meet that person, try to get a video- or phone call with them. If that’s not possible or they are dead, write a letter!
In some cases, you might not have done anything hurtful or wrong. Don’t try to come up with something if Holy Spirit doesn’t show you anything. In other cases it might be not the best idea to meet a person face to face, like in situations of physical abuse or severe trauma. In those cases, I highly recommend to work through the forgiveness process with a ministry like ”Restoring the Foundation” who can help you with it.
Prov. 29:11 says that ”it is a man’s glory to overlook a transgression”. In other words, it is a man’s honor to forgive! It paints the picture of a man killing the lion that has hold him captive all his life, and then receiving the honor of a ”lion killer”.
Look at how Jesus honored Steven in Acts 7,54-60 when he forgave those who were killing him: He rose from His throne and gave him standing ovations! When you forgive – you are killing the lions in your life, and Jesus respects you big time for that!
Support the Berets of Light on their mission to raise godly men! -> Click here!
Berets of Light 