Choose to Forgive
Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Morning friends! Welcome one and all to another blessed day that God has given for us to enjoy. As you start the day, have you had your alone time with God yet? Have you spent time conversing with Him and asking about how you choose to make decisions? In this post, we want to talk on the choice to forgive; whether to be openly, honest, heartfelt in action and the meaning of what forgiving actually entails. Even the bible tells us to let go of any vengeance or malice toward someone who has wronged us. It explains that Jesus was the ultimate forgiver of all sin and He forgave those who hurt Him, cursed Him, betrayed Him, and murdered Him. Jesus emphasized to His disciples that we should view forgiveness as limitless; not condoning the act of harm or the forgetting of it; but choosing to release that debt of sin. When we forgive the act, we will then make boundaries toward that person or persons, thus allowing it to not happen again. The truth of forgiveness is that because we forgive, it is not to help the person doing the act, it is to help us, to release any evil feelings that became placed in our inner hearts and souls. We must also not rely on feelings, but on the intentional and repetitive choice to remove unforgiveness from our own hearts. Evil lurks in all negative behaviors, negative thoughts; it will become bitter and cause you to forget God’s words, His promises, His calling for your life. As you voice that forgiveness, you will release every negative burden, every negative thought, until your heart blossoms, then grows in the joy and peace that God wants for you to have. In other words, you may give that offender who wronged you a small satisfaction, but the ultimate winner is you! You have now given your whole being back to God, allowing Him to direct everything you do and say. God’s power can now bring healing to all broken situations and mend them into something stronger and more resilient. So, today as you ponder on anything that may need forgiving, take a moment and acknowledge that if you release that burden, not matter how large or small, then peace will come quickly; so, choose to forgive!
Scriptures:
Read: Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-22,35, Isaiah 43:25, I John 4:11, Ephesians 4:29-32, Colossians 3:13, Mark 11:25-6, Luke 6:27, 35-37, Proverbs 17:9, Psalm 32:2,5,11, II Corinthians 3:18, Luke 17:3-4, Romans 12:19, 1 Peter3:9
Prayer:
Lord, we come today thanking you for forgiving us, for giving us the book that can guide us to forgiveness. Lord, today and every day show us the way to honor you by seeing the good that comes from releasing anything that hinders us from doing what you called us to do. Help us, Lord, to see the good that can come from forgiveness, not only for the offender but for ourselves. Amen.