Living a life of forgiveness is foundational for living life as the masterpiece God created you to be. You are designed to live in such a way that forgiveness flows through you continually. This is the way to live in freedom and to ultimately live out your potential.

Here are seven things you can do every day to help you achieve a life of forgiveness:

1. Be completely dedicated and devoted to God

In Matthew 6 when Jesus taught us to pray “your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, He was teaching us to completely dedicate and devote our lives to God. Daily, every day. This is a moment by moment proposition as Paul says in Galatians chapter 5: “we are to keep and step with the spirit”.

2. Strive to be more like Jesus every day.

While it is true we will not be like Jesus until we see Him face to face, we should strive to be more like Him every day. Allow Him to guide you and direct you as to what the next step in becoming like Him is for you. As human beings we won’t be able to tackle everything at once, take it one step at a time. As Dr. Marvin says in one of my favorite comedies What about Bob: “baby steps”.

3. Become a living sacrifice

The writer Paul in Romans 12:1-2 says this: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV) notice the incredible benefit of living life as a living sacrifice, you will know God’s will for you. His will for you as His masterpiece is as Paul says, good, pleasing and perfect.

4. Be a seeker of Truth

In a world of relativism, be a person who seeks the truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”(John 14:6 NIV)

In other words be a seeker of Jesus.

5. Serve the Lord with Pure motives

The reality is it’s hard to really know our own motives. We like to think we know our own motives and we like to think they’re pure, this is an area where we need help, God’s help through the presence of His Holy Spirit. Make it a part of your normal prayer life. Ask God to search your motives. The psalmist David did this when he said “search me all God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts, see if there’s any wicked way in me and leave me in your ways everlasting.”

6. Never neglect the Spirits prompting

It’s important that we stay sensitive to everything God is saying to us through his Spirit. One of the ways we do this is by never neglecting what he’s prompting us to do. Which leads us to number seven:

7. Obey

There’s an old hymn that I remember singing in the church when I first became a follower of Jesus. The title was Trust and Obeys. It seems simple and it is, but it’s not always easy. Make that your goal every day, to simply trust and obey.

Seven steps may be a little overwhelming, but take one and apply it today. Perhaps you can take one per day for the next week and apply them daily. As you do you will continually grow one step at a time to achieve a life of forgiveness and freedom.