FORGIVENESS

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7: 14 New King James Version).

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalm 32: 1).

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86: 5).

But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared (Psalm 130: 4).

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6: 14-15).

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18: 21-22).

“And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.” So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18: 34-35).

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11: 25-26).

Forgiveness has been heavy on my heart this week. I know there’s a bitter root in me somewhere and unforgiveness is the cause of it. Since I have recognized it, Jesus and I are working on this area to completely eradicate it.

Jesus is coming soon and His Bride (the Church) needs to be ready. We need to be without spot or blemish. We need to be pure and holy for Him. He has given us everything we need to do this through His Word, by His Spirit, and with His strength.

We must make time to sit down with God, asking Him to reveal those areas where we may have forgotten but never fully forgiven. We must address those areas, and with the help of Jesus, we must truly forgive. It’s not enough to say we forgive someone- it’s easy to say “I forgive you” – but it’s also easy to turn around and keep reminding them, and others, of the wrong done, however trivial or major it was. In time, bitterness settles in and resentment follows. Before long, we react to people or situations based out of our bitterness and all memories of saying “I forgive you” are gone.

Forgiveness is not just a word, it’s an action. God will surely help completely forgive, but we have to be willing to do it. It is not by our might, or strength that we can accomplish this, we need the help of the Lord. Some of us have been in situations where it may seem impossible to forgive, but I am here to remind you God’s Word says “…“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”(Matthew 19:26).

To truly forgive someone, we need to have knowledge of God’s character. God is a forgiving and merciful God. All through Old Testament scripture we see proof of His mercy and forgiving nature. When Jesus taught, He taught not only about the forgiveness of the Father, but also about forgiving each other.

As humans, it is not easy for us to forgive and forget, and it can be scary. Fear has a way of crippling and hindering us, and the devil uses fear quite well. He tries to convince us not to forgive, because if so, we are saying what the other person did was ok. The devil is a liar! Unforgiveness holds us captive, and when fear paralyzes us from forgiving those who have hurt us, we are right where the devil wants us.

Today, ask the Lord to reveal to you anything you may have against anyone else. Ask God to help you to forgive. Ask Him to help you let go. It is not up to us to obtain revenge, or retribution. It is the Lord’s (Hebrews 10: 30).

Shalom,
Prudence