Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice [Paperback]

Doug Schmidt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003

Backstabbers. Slanderers. Unfaithful Spouses. Thieves. Molesters. Terrorists.

How do some people manage to truly forgive their arrogant and remorseless offenders?

Are we to sit by while our loved ones suffer and expect the violator to go unpunished?
Do we struggle to forgive-or vow to bring the offender to justice?
Do we see life as unfair and wonder, "Where is God in all of this?"

When wronged the saints in Bible days poured out their hearts to God, pleading to Him for retribution and vindication. But how can we pray in the same way, and still forgive as Christ taught? Theologian and author Doug Schmidt brings you into the vortex of this astounding paradox. Be prepared to learn the life-changing keys to forgiving the unrepentant through a new-found confidence in God's willingness to accomplish justice on your behalf.

Find out how forgiveness and justice can abide as one in this gripping book!

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Cook Communications Ministries (CO) (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781439426
• ISBN-13: 978-0781439428
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!!!, January 14, 2004

By 

Louise DuMont "Author & Speaker, Faith-Dipped... (Ringwood, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice (Paperback)

"I have always believed that not every book is meant for every reader. The Prayer of Revenge may very well be the exception to this rule. . . . The Prayer of Revenge is applicable whether the reader is dealing with severe trauma (rape, adultery, molestation, death of a child), global issues (terrorism, fear) or more personal issues (backstabbing co-workers, slandering neighbors). . . . Schmidt treats the harshest of subjects with enormous sensitivity and uses appropriate humor to make his book not only practical but enjoyable. If you've ever felt the heat of anger creep up your neck, you will find this book a soothing balm for your soul. . . ."

Louise Bergmann DuMont

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God's role in a world wracked by the depravity of Man, March 10, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice (Paperback)

The Prayer Of Revenge: Forgiveness In The Face Of Injustice by Doug Schmidt grapples with the difficult question of how anyone can truly forgive criminal offenders who exhibit no remorse for the hurt and harm they have done. Deftly examining the need to balance the demands of justice with the nonviolent teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as the conundrum of a benevolent God's role in a world wracked by the depravity of Man, The Prayer Of Revenge is a motivational and thought-provoking exploration of how Christian forgiveness and the demands of God's justice can exist in harmony.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope and Healing for Those Who Hurt. Highly Recommended!, September 4, 2006

By 

Preston C. VanLoon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice (Paperback)

With sensitivity and compassion, Doug Schmidt, in The Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice, takes a complex and often difficult to understand concept and effectively addresses the problem of hurt and pain in the world. Drawing on many Biblical examples and personal experience, Schmidt discusses the injustices we experience in life and offers direction on how to move forward in life with healing and hope.

The Prayer of Revenge directs our attention to the unhealthy temptation we often have when hurt by another to seek our own revenge and the enormous and destructive energy that comes when we withhold forgiveness and points to our need to have confidence in the justice of God, instead of taking justice into our own hands.

There are several nuggets of wisdom throughout the book that help guide the reader through the forgiveness process:

"Our inability or unwillingness to forgive...is directly related to a low level of confidence that God will one day have the final word on the person's harmful behavior."

"Most people think that granting forgiveness is simply a blank check to allow the offender back into their lives simply to trample on their heart again. Nothing could be further from the truth."

"Forgiveness includes that we are powerless to collect on certain debts and that we must trust God to balance the books."

"Forgiveness, when it is done well, is always a unilateral action - we should be moving in the direction of forgiveness regardless of the person's response to responsible confrontation."

Schmidt then concludes by inviting those who have been offended by others to examine themselves as offenders and apply the same grace to themselves that they have offered. Then, when we have worked through our hurt, we move from pain to peace. This powerful book is highly recommended to all those who experience hurt in life.