Have you ever thought to yourself "I could never forgive them"? Have you ever thought about what forgiveness actually means? Have you ever told anyone that you forgave them for something but in reality did you?
I know that I have been dealing with a lot of past and recent hurts lately. This has really made me vulnerable, it has opened me up to many different feelings one of which has been unforgiveness. God has shown me that it is ok to be hurt and it is hard to not remember these things however unforgiveness is unexceptional.Matthew 18: 35
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Ephesians 4:32 says
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, Just as God also forgave you in Christ."
The word forgive means to grant pardon for or remission of their trespasses. To forgive a person for something they have done against you. To totally wipe the slate clean, as if they never did it. To free them from all blame. It means to give up your anger for that person. It means to let it go.
When I chose not to forgive it hinders my life and my relationships with God and others.
Mark 12:25 says
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven will also forgive you your wrong doing."
Studies have shown that chosing not to forgive only brings negative consequences. It will lead to bitterness, hatred, hurt, resentment and anger into our lives. It can also lead to health issues.
When we chose to unforgive that is when we allow ourselves to be held hostage over a bondage that God had no intentions of us being in.
I have caught myself saying" well I forgive them but I will never forget!"
The bible tells us in John 15:12 that I am to love like Jesus.
It also tells us in Isaiah 43:10 that he sweeps away our transgressions and remembers our sins no more.
In Hebrews 8:12 it tells us that he will forgive our wrongdoings and will remember our sins no more.
Does this mean we need to forget too?
I know many times it comes to mind. When things happen you won't just forget it.
God has shown me that forgetting is a hard thing to do but when it comes to mind I need to take the opportunity to forgive them again. I need to forgive daily. When it comes to mind I have learned to it take the opportunity to pray for them.
When I pray for them it softness my heart and helps me forgive them.
Forgiveness is not a one time thing. Forgiveness is something that I need to do daily.
When I open my heart to forgiveness I open my heart to a whole new world. Forgiveness is also a big step towards the healing that will take place in my heart.
I also know that Iam far from perfect and I can be confident in knowing that God has forgiven me for all my transgressions. If he can forgive me and also forgive that person that has hurt me and done some unbearable things. I too can learn to forgive that person who has hurt and attacked me.
In reality when I chose to forgive I am not doing it to bring change to the person that has hurt me. By forgiving Iam doing it to bring change to myself. I do it so I can live a happy and productive life. I do it so I can serve God and be close to him. When I implement forgiveness daily it allows me to recieve what God has instore for me.
In the end when I forgive it allows me to be the woman that God wants me to be.
