Christ said it best in Matthew 7:3-5 “ Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out your own eye, and you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
As a Christian Life Coach I use this principle of forgiveness in helping others with the below acrostic P.L.A.N.K. To find out where I am and where the individual is in his or her journey with forgiveness. This is a searching of the heart exercise; remember that when you write these down make sure they are put in a place where no one who could be hurt by what is written will be able to find this work.
Walk the Plank of Forgiveness
Past Experiences- What past experiences are you still holding on to? The deep ones, the things that no one else knows about, the “take it to your grave stuff.” Write them down, get them on paper. Confess them to God and to another individual you trust. An accountability partner, mentor, pastor, life coach, or counselor.
Lies- What lies have you lived or are currently living? Is there any lie that you know in your heart you must make right? Write these down, try and recall all of the lies that have not been given to God.
Anger & Resentment- Who do you currently have anger or resentment towards? Who do you resent? Who do you hate? Who makes you so angry just saying their name makes you upset? Someone or something that is out there can hold you bondage and by not forgiving it holds them in bondage as well. Make another list. Now set a time. How long are you going to let this person, this circumstance, continue to be the director for your story? This is big stuff, I know. You got to confess this and it will lose its power over you.
Nails- Remember the nails that went into the body of Christ? Good. That was the price that He paid for us, for our forgiveness. Christ tells us to remove the plank in our own eye. Not a speck, a big ole hunk of wood that we can’t see. We can’t get it out without help. This is surgery, spiritual surgery, only God can do that kind of surgery.
Kneel & Pray- The idea of kneeling and praying to God with a list like this is literally walking the plank. We don’t know what will happen next, there is fear, sharks maybe. We bring our past experiences that hold us back to what God intended. We bring our lies, our deceit, our hurts that we have done to others and the broken promises. We bring our anger and resentment, all of it. We remember the price that Christ paid for our forgiveness and we drop to our knees in submission and give it up. Right here. Right now. I surrender everything to your control. Perform spiritual surgery on me Lord. Remove the PLANK from my eye, from my heart. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. In Jesus precious name AMEN.
Remember to walk the plank whenever needed.
By Bill A. Gaspard, Life Recovery Coach
At Recovery & Restoration Ministries we have many helpful tools that will guide you on your journey through recovery. If you would like more information about having a Christian Life Coach to walk alongside of you email us or visit our website.
christianrecoverycoaching@live.com
www.christianrecoverycoaching.com
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