“There’s nothing that can be done to us or against us that we cannot forgive.” ~ Zach Zehnder
Since we are forgiven people, we must be forgiving people, regardless of the harm inflicted. The act of forgiveness may seem impossible, but if God has forgiven humankind, offered us free grace, and the ability to be free from the bondage of our hurts, habits, and hang-ups, then who are we not extend forgiveness for those who trespass against us? Hurt people hurt people, so it’s not a matter of “if”; it’s only a matter of “when” someone trespasses against us, and we trespass against somebody else.
Here is an example of what forgiveness doesn’t look like in the spiritual realm. If you loaned someone $500.00 for thirty days, and after thirty days, they haven’t paid you back, you have a reason to be upset. If that same person comes to you a few weeks later and says, “I can’t pay you the $500.00 today, but I can make five weekly payments of $100.00 each. You agree, and then the day arrives when they make the last payment, you say, “thank you, and now I forgive you.” That is not forgiveness. That is nothing more than you expressing relief that you finally received your $500.00 back. True forgiveness would have meant you forgave the $500.00; it means you forgive the debt completely.
Who in your life needs your forgiveness? When you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free, and that prisoner is you. It’s not easy, but forgiveness is what God grants you every single day or your existence. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you must set yourself up to be hurt again in the same manner, but it does mean it’s time to let it go, forgive their debt, and experience the freedom waiting for you on the other end of this courageous spiritual act.
“Forgiveness is that even though their behavior is unacceptable, we love them anyway.” ~ Anonymous
Lord, I thank You for the power of forgiveness, and I choose to forgive everyone who has hurt me. Help me set [name anyone who has offended you] free and release them to You. Help me bless those who have hurt me. Help me walk in righteousness, peace, and joy, demonstrating Your life here on earth. I choose to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others, just as You forgave me. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will and not mine be done now and forever. Amen.
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