Moving Forward provides practical steps for forgiving yourself and breaking free from the past.  The author, Everett Worthington Jr., is a  researcher in the field of forgiveness.  Worthington has experienced the need for forgiveness in his life as his mother was beaten to death and later on his brother committed suicide.  Out of the crucible of personal experience and academic training the author provides a helpful framework for those seeking to experience forgiveness.

Moving Forward presents the following Six Steps to Self-Forgiveness:

Responsibility

Step 1: Receive God’s Forgiveness

Step 2: Repent and Repair Relationships

Step 3: Reduce Rumination

Reaching Peace

Step 4: REACH Emotional Self-forgiveness

The author has developed a five-step technique of forgiveness that stands for:

Recall the Hurt. When you are hurt, it is natural to experience fear or anger. A way to overcome the fear or anger is to recall the event and take it to God in prayer.

Empathize with the person who hurt you. Consider the situation from the perspective of the other person. Wounded people often wound other people.

Altruistic gift of forgiveness. Think of a time when you received a gift of forgiveness.  When you offer the gift of forgiveness you will discover that you are the beneficiary.

Commit yourself. Make a commitment to yourself to forgive publicly so you don’t back out later.

Hold onto forgiveness. Memories may surface after you have forgiven the wrongdoer, the scars may always exist but you can experience peace of mind.

Realistic Living

Step 5: Realize Self-Acceptance

Step 6: Resolve to Live Virtuously

Throughout the book there are a number of principles dealing with personal sanctification.  The author wisely points out, “The hardest struggle is accepting yourself as a flawed individual (we all are), and yet being convinced that you are precious to the Lord” (p. 165).  He develops that thought as he points out that “Accepting ourselves does not necessarily mean that we are satisfied with ourselves” (p. 172).

If you’re struggling with issues of forgiveness or if you’d like to have more self-esteem, but don’t think that you deserve it, then you may find this book helpful.  Jesus taught extensively on forgiveness and gave these words to His disciples,

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.  (John 20:23)

Jesus emphasizes the importance of forgiving others and that includes yourself!

(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5