The Freedom of Forgiveness
Transforming Truth from God’s Word
Forgiveness is at the heart of God’s love for you. He demonstrated His unfailing love when Christ gave His life and shed His blood to forgive your sins and mine. When you confess your sin, Christ is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin permanently. He never remembers that sin again. Having received this great forgiveness from Christ, why do we have such a difficult time forgiving the people in our life?
Do you find yourself holding on to something someone said that offended you? Are you angry with a family member or friend who did something that hurt you? Are you harboring unforgiveness against a co-worker or manager because of the way they mistreated you? Think about these and other examples of unforgiveness that you could be harboring in your heart.
The devil wants you to believe the lie that by refusing to forgive the people in your life who have hurt you, you punish them. Just the opposite is true. You are the one who is hurt emotionally and spiritually. In the verses following The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us that God, The Father will not forgive you of your sins if you do not forgive other people who have sinned against you. Can you imagine The Father turning a deaf ear to your prayers and holding your sins against you because of your stubborn refusal to forgive the other person? Jesus cried out on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” As He hung on the cross dying, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who put Him to death and did not understand the full extent of their sins against Him. Those who offend you often do not know the extent of their actions and how those actions have affected you. By refusing to forgive, you carry an unnecessary weight and burden in your heart and mind because of your refusal to release the other person from the debt you believe they owe you.
To forgive a person is a choice you must make. When you choose to forgive, it opens you, it frees you, it lifts you, it matures you and gives you peace. Through forgiveness, you mature to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Learn to confess your trespasses and pray for others and allow them to do the same with you. Forgive as Christ has forgiven you.
Are you willing to take the next steps toward freedom through forgiveness? Let’s go!
Matthew 6: 14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
A Psalm for Today
Psalm 103:10-12
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
God’s Promises for Today
Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Your Points of Prayer
1.
2.
3.
There is freedom and PEACE in forgiveness, I pray I will always desire your peace above unforgiven In Jesus name
Dear Lord, I release anyone that has hurt me. Afresh, I allow Your peace and forgiveness to flow through me. Also, I ask Your forgiveness for times when I have hurt someone. I will not live feeling guilty. I will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when shown that I need to seek forgiveness from my brothers and sisters.
Thank You Father for loving me and forgiving me.
Dear Lord please purge the unforgiveness in my heart as you so freely forgive me.