The Divine Mandate for Forgiveness and Prayer
That whole "forgive seventy times seven" thing? It's one of those teachings from Jesus that we tend to overlook, but it's actually a big deal. It's not about counting to 490; it's about forgiving endlessly. No limits, no keeping score. That's the level we’re aiming for.
And yeah, Jesus also said we should pray for the people who make our lives hard and even do good to the ones who are straight-up awful to us. Tough love, right? But here's the kicker: praying for your enemies is more important than praying for your besties. Why? Because that's how we step up to be more like God.
This way of living flips the old "eye for an eye" stuff on its head. Retaliation doesn’t work—it never has. The only way to really move forward is through forgiveness and a whole lot of prayers. That’s how we can see the kind of change that actually matters, both in ourselves and the world around us.
Forgiveness: The Key to Setting Yourself Free
Here’s a little secret from The Infinite Way: forgiveness isn’t just some noble act we do for others—it’s really about setting ourselves free. We don’t forgive because we’re saints; we do it because we’re smart enough to know how spiritual laws work.
-
The Law of Oneness (aka Forgiving Yourself) This big idea of oneness makes everything simpler: there’s only one true Self, one Being. So, when you do something to someone else—good or bad—you’re really doing it to yourself. Holding on to grudges or judgments? That’s just putting a piece of your own self in chains. Why do that?
When you forgive someone, you’re actually letting go of your own ignorance, which just happened to show up in them. It’s like transferring money from one pocket to the other—it all comes back to you in the end. So, let your friends, neighbors, and even your annoying relatives off the hook. It’s not just for them—it’s for you.
-
Moving Beyond Karma We’re all born into this whole "cause and effect" thing—what goes around, comes around. Mess up, and karma will make sure you pay for it. But here’s the thing: it’s not God dishing out punishment. That’s not how God works. Karma’s just doing its thing.
But the cool part? Jesus taught us how to break out of that cycle with repentance and forgiveness. The second you truly own up to your mistakes and decide to change, karma’s grip loosens. That’s what happened with the woman caught in adultery and the thief on the cross—they were forgiven instantly. The same goes for us. Once we recognize our mess-ups and let them go, we’re free. No holding onto old baggage.
Living Compassion: From Rules to Something Real
Real forgiveness and compassion aren’t about being a goody-two-shoes. They’re signs of a life that’s plugged into something bigger. It’s about living with Grace, not just following a bunch of rules.
-
Seeing Evil as Impersonal
In The Infinite Way, we learn to stop taking evil so personally. That doesn’t mean we ignore it—it means we see it for what it really is: a universal belief or fear, not something baked into any one person. Evil’s not about individuals; it’s about a messed-up system of thoughts out there.
Most of the time, people mess up because of ignorance, fear, or bad habits, not because they’re inherently bad. That person who hurt you? They’re just caught up in the same messed-up stuff we’ve all fallen for at some point. When we really get that, it’s easier to feel compassion. Like Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing." Once we stop taking it personally, the whole thing starts losing its power over us.
-
Clearing Out the Junk
Here’s the deal: if we want to live with real compassion and forgiveness, we’ve gotta clear out all the junk from our own hearts—resentment, judgment, the whole works. It’s not just about saying "I forgive you" while secretly holding onto a grudge. If there’s any of that stuff lurking in the background, it blocks us from connecting with God’s Grace.
This kind of inner cleansing is what opens the door for real peace. That’s where the magic happens—when we’re still and open, without any inner conflict. That’s when Grace can move through us. It’s not about trying harder; it’s about letting go.
Making Forgiveness Part of Everyday Life
Forgiveness and compassion aren’t just nice ideas—they’re meant to be lived out, day by day. It’s a practice, not a theory. Here’s how to get started:
-
Start with Yourself: Take a hard look at your own slip-ups, big or small, and ask for forgiveness. Be real about your mistakes, then let them go and move forward. We all mess up—it’s part of being human.
-
Go Easy: Start practicing forgiveness with the easier relationships: your pets, kids, friends, or family. Baby steps, right?
-
Think Bigger: Take a moment to mentally release everyone who’s ever hurt you—whether it’s personal or something on a larger scale, like injustices in the world. Wish them well, no strings attached. Pray for them to find their way.
-
Give Freely: Pour out forgiveness, love, and kindness freely, without expecting anything in return. It’s like tossing seeds into a field—you’ll be amazed at what comes back.
-
Keep Your Heart Clean: Before you pray or meditate, make sure your heart’s in the right place. Let go of any lingering bitterness or jealousy. A clean slate allows your connection with God to shine through.