Forgive

This morning, the Lord woke me up calling His bride to grace and forgiveness.

Matthew 6:14-15; Psalm 32:1-5; Romans 12:17-21

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for all our sin — from the tiniest infraction to that monstrous mistake we still regret. So, if our mile-high debt has been forgiven entirely, why are we so bothered by someone else’s “speck”? Matthew 7:1-5, 18:21-35.

Unforgiveness is not only spiritually detrimental because of Matthew 6:14-15 (If you don’t forgive others their sins, your Father won’t forgive yours); it is also physically, emotionally, and mentally dangerous. Psalm 32:1-5. In fact, most cases of depression, suicidal thoughts, and stress-related physical pain can be traced back to an event or series of events where unforgiveness led to bitterness and other sicknesses of the soul. No amount of medication can fix that. 

No matter how you try to “punish” that hurtful person with your ugly thoughts and words, you can’t change him anyway. Only God can do that. But you can change how his sin affects you. Let God empower you to forgive. 

Forgiveness is not saying that what the offender did is okay. Sin is never okay. And it’s not forgetting, although forgetting sometimes happens as a result of forgiveness. 

Forgiveness is cutting the tie that binds your heart to someone else’s offense so the enemy can’t jerk you around by it anymore. 

Forgiveness is a choice. Keep choosing forgiveness, and your feelings will eventually follow. 

Forgiveness relinquishes vengeance into God’s hands to be dealt with by Him so you can get back to shining His light and enjoying the grace, love, peace, joy and freedom you were created for. Romans 12:19, Galatians 5:22-23.

Today, let’s ask the Lord, “Is there anyone I haven’t forgiven?” And boldly forgive.

One way I often check for unforgiveness is by looking for bitterness. Are there stories of wrongs done that I still feel pain or anger about when my thoughts go to that offense or person?

If forgiving is still hard for you, tomorrow we will talk about some steps to freedom through forgiveness that can make a huge difference.

— from Victory Strategy #70 in the deep devotional Bible studies for overcoming the enemy in the battlefield of the mind: Delight to be a Woman of Wonder (for her) and Dare to Be a Mighty Warrior (for him), at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

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For steps to freedom from forgiveness, see Victory Strategy #71 in Delight to Be a Woman of Wonder (for her) or Dare to Be a Mighty Warrior (for him) at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

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