Forgive

This morning, I felt the Lord leading us back to 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. What wrongs done still bring up pain or anger 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.

Lord, what offenses have I not forgiven yet? What bitterness do I still hold in my heart? In what ways is satan still jerking me around by that same old offense over and over? What lies did he plant in my heart when that happened? And what is Your truth to set me free? Please, Lord, help me forgive others as You first forgave me. Help me forgive even myself for the hurtful things I’ve done to You and to others. Let me see others — and myself — through Your eyes. For only then will I see clearly, and only then will the love, peace and joy that are mine through Christ return to me. Only then will I truly be free.

About the author: Mikaela Vincent and her husband have served the Lord for many years in a dark area of the world where Christians are persecuted and few have heard the good news about Christ. They are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

For steps to freedom through 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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