Ken Sande: Four Promises Christians Make When They Forgive

Among other things, forgiveness is a commitment. Forgiveness is a promise to pardon another. Ken Sande summarizes four promises that Christians make when they forgive another.

“I will not dwell on this incident.”

“I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you.”

“I will not talk to others about this incident.”

“I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.”[1]

Sande writes,

By making and keeping these promises, you can tear down the walls that stand between you and your offender. You promise not to dwell on or brood over the problem or to punish by holding the person at a distance. You clear the way for your relationship to develop unhindered by memories of past wrongs. This is exactly what God does for us, and it is what he calls us to do for others.[2]

Think of someone you have recently forgiven.  (And, that shouldn’t be hard to do).  Have you been keeping each of the above four promises in relation to the person you forgave?

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I highly recommend Ken Sande’s book, The Peacemaker. 

[1] Ken Sande, The Peace Maker (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004; reprint, 3rd), 209.

[2] Sande, 209.