Forgiveness Sets Us Free

 

How do we forgive someone who hurt us? By hearing and following God's advice to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us and to pray for those who abuse us. When someone takes something from us, we give him/her more of what they want. We treat others the way we want them to treat us (Luke 6:27-31).

Forgiveness does not take the offender off the hook, but it does set us free (Romans 12:19).  Our fellowship with God is broken by unforgiveness and His blessings cannot freely flow into our life. With God’s help, we can gain freedom from Satan’s strongholds in our life as we readily forgive those who hurt us and walk in God's Truth.

We also learn to exhibit patience with other people who mistreat us, because we realize that their behavior comes from their wounded soul. Once we forgive those who hurt or offend us, the fruit from the root of bitterness ~ anger, anxiety, depression, irritability, meanness, pride, indulgence and doubt ~ are pulled out of our soul.

The Holy Spirit can then move into our spirit and plant the seed of His fruit in the place of our old carnal nature. As God's chosen people, His holy ones, we cooperate with God's Spirit and put on the cloak of love, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience. We bear with one another and forgive each other, just as the Lord forgives us (Colossians 3:12-15).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to put on Your love, because it binds everything together in perfect harmony. This allows the peace of Christ to rule in our heart, and we live in gratitude for all You do for us each day. Help the word of Christ to richly dwell in us. Whatever we do, in word or deed, we will perform it in Your name (Colossians 3:16-17). Once we find Your forgiveness for our self, we can give it to those who hurt us, and receive healing from the lies Satan planted in our wounded soul.

Thought for the Day:

Satan wants us to live in bondage to the law of sin and death, but Christ already freed us by the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. - Romans 7:22-8:3

A Challenging Discipline

Take this spiritual life test. Ask yourself:

·       Am I a Christian in my outward behavior only, or within as well?
·       Is my walk full of head knowledge about God, or do I have a true, heartfelt relationship with the Lover of my soul?
·       Do I live as a follower of the true Lord Jesus Christ in all of my words and actions, or am I worshipping an idol of my own making?
·       Is Jesus the Lord of my life, or am I sitting on His throne?
·       Am I controlled and guided by the Spirit of God or by my own cravings, ambitions and desires?
·       Do I think like a follower of Christ in Biblical terms or am I caught up in anxiety over the circumstances of my life?

If you see any of these misconceptions in yourself while answering any of these questions, repent right now and forgive your self. God already forgave you (Psalm 103:12).

God is waiting to bless you with the fruit of His forgiveness. As we rejoice always, focus on the eternal and trust in our Savior who lives within us, our fears fade and we look at our affliction like Paul did, as “light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17). God is very forgiving, loyal and steadfast in His love for everyone who calls on Him for help (Psalm 86:4-5). For human beings, however, forgiveness is a very challenging discipline to learn.

We falsely believe that if we refuse to forgive, we are actually hurting our offender. In reality, that person probably has no idea we are unhappy with them; or if they do, they probably do not care. Forgiveness does not mean that we absolve the person of their faults or condone their actions or words against us. Forgiveness does not let them off the hook. It simply takes them off our hook and places them firmly in God’s trustworthy hands (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to forgive those toward whom we harbor animosity. Give us the courage to ask others to forgive us for anything we did to wound them. Then, give us the humility to ask Father God to forgive us for all of our sins, to redeem our soul, to give us an eternal perspective about life and to draw us ever closer to His heart. Then, we will find His grace that we need to also forgive our self.

Thought for the Day:
Forgiveness is the oil that heals our damaged soul. – Psalm 147:3

Unreserved Forgiveness

Read: Hebrews 12:14-15  

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

When someone hurts me, I want to strike back. I often struggle to forgive the offense, until I remember that forgiving does not have to include forgetting. The memory of the painful affront may linger in my heart, but I can still make a conscious decision to absolve the offender, just as God readily forgives my sins against Him. Whether the assault is a major event such as rape or physical violence, or if it consists of less abusive, habitual impositions such as lies and betrayal, we can still forgive.

Even though we should erect boundaries to keep ourselves safe from continued abusers, forgiveness means to pray for those who hurt us and to show them kindness (Matthew 5:44). We can only do this through God's love for them, which dwells in us. It is only by sincerely wishing them the best, that our healing is complete.

Prayer:

Lord, make me a vessel of Your peace; when I am reviled, help me to bless; when I am wounded, help me to forgive the offender.

Thought for the Day:

Bitterness is a boomerang that harms no one but me.