[This is a story I will mention in my next blog No 429 which is on this subject of forgiveness.  It is an extract of a much longer presentation on this very important subject which is Topic 2 in the Stage 1 notes of the Core Teaching material I used to give at seminars when I was the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.]

Blessing those who hurt us is a further step in the process of forgiveness. It is also a test of whether we have really forgiven someone. [I remember at a conference counselling a female pastor of a non-conformist church who saw the need to forgive someone who had tried to sexually assault her. Fortunately, her screams had prevented that from happening but it certainly bruised her emotionally. When I asked if she would be willing to pray a blessing upon that man, she said that she couldn’t. When I asked why, she replied, “Because he hasn’t suffered enough yet.”  

After a quick arrow prayer to the Lord for guidance I found myself saying to her, “But when you came to the Lord, did He say, ‘No, I can’t accept you because you haven’t suffered enough yet? ‘“After a few moments she said, “No, He accepted me as I was. Yes, I will pray a blessing on him!” Which she immediately did. She left the conference a much different person than when she had arrived. In fact within 2 years after getting rid of her very apparent antagonism against males, she had happily married a former close friend.] 

Blog N0.428 posted on Tuesday 20 September 2022