Colossians 3: 13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye”
Ephesians 4: 31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: v32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”.
If you’ve been hurt, then the idea of forgiveness may seem impossible. If it is a person who cause you hurt, forgive that person. Forgiveness should be an act of Faith…it is a decision, not a feeling. If you want that person to change/apologize to you before you for-give then you did not ‘for-give’, but you literally ‘for-sold’. Forgiveness should be free, no charge.
God will give you Grace to forgive. God Has already prepared your recompense, but you can only receive it when you forgive and forget about the past. Unforgiveness closes the door to your prosperity, but it opens the door to illness, poverty, etc. Stop trying to push everything on somebody else & take responsibility for the things you do wrong, say; ‘It was my fault…I was wrong & I am sorry…please forgive me’ – if you will do tha. you will absolutely be amazed how much better people will like you
Do not be filled with pride, bitterness, resentment, anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, envy; you have to get all these things out of you so that you can receive the things Almighty God has for you. If you have any on these in you, God can not give you what you are asking Him for, because they stop The Blessings (they are Blessing-Blockers).
Be quick to repent, be quick to forgive, & be slow to get angry; do not let anger destroy your life, do not let anger in your household, & do not practice anger. Love covers an offense. Do not be angry with everybody who hurt you, forgive them & let things go. – STAND IN FAITH & FORGIVE.
You may be wondering what exactly it means for you as a Christian and how to forgive. How do you forgive that person – or persons – who betrayed you? How do you let go of the pain and hurt that you have experienced? Thankfully, forgiveness is easy – it just takes three simple steps.
Step 1: TO FORGIVE, ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM
Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
If you are holding a grudge against anyone for anything – no matter how seemingly unforgiveable it is – then acknowledge that there is a problem. Admit that you are hurt or angry. Don’t deny it. Admitting that forgiveness is necessary is the first step toward freedom.
Step 2: TO FORGIVE, PRAY AND RELEASE THE PAIN
Mark 11:25 says, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Take your decision to forgive to God. Pray and commit before the Lord to forgive, to let go of the offense.
Step 3: TO FORGIVE, REMAIN FOCUSED
Matthew 18:21-22 says, “‘Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’”
You may have more opportunities to forgive the person who has hurt you. When past offenses come to your mind, say, “No, in the name of Jesus, I forgive that person. And I thank you, Lord, that I have received forgiveness freely and I give forgiveness freely.”
Forgive people, help people, do good to them (even those who hate you), because nothing embarrasses your enemies more than to help them when they are in trouble. In the same way, nothing makes satan madder than for you to help your enemies. Learn to forgive quickly and don’t take any offence, forgive even you enemies and pray for them. Let them go and let God Deal With them – you should try and live free of anger and bitterness.
Be ready and be prepared to forgive, when somebody offends you don’t take the offence. As soon as somebody hurts your feelings, FORGIVE that person. Forgive people to prevent satan from having advantage over you, 2 Cor 2: 10-11 – don’t opening doors to satan into your life, by staying angry or bitter. Overlook offence & transgression; don’t take revenge and don’t harbour resentment. We all need to learn to do things in God’s Way, & that includes living free of anger, & offence, and walking in forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not a mystical, unattainable thing. You can do it! You can forgive the person who has hurt you and walk free from the pain and anger that comes with it. Live free from the trap of unforgiveness and enjoy the freedom that is yours through Jesus Christ! FORGIVE, NOT BECAUSE YOUR ENEMIES DESERVE FORGIVENESS BUT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE PEACE’.
Forgiveness can change your life. When you experience true forgiveness, love is the result. Not only will you love God for forgiving you, but being forgiven by a loving God allows you to love others in a way you cannot on your own. Forgiveness is the only human force that can stop the disintegration of relationships. This is why it is so essential. This is why our Lord calls us to forgive. If you have been hurt, or you have hurt others-and we all have-open your eyes and realize that it is the call of the Christian to dispel these conflicts.
Unforgiveness throws the welcome mat out and invites the demons in. Where you have unresolved bitterness and an unforgiving spirit, you have given place to the devil: Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26-27). Unforgiveness is linked to higher incidences of stress, heart disease, high blood pressure, lowered immune response, anxiety, depression, and other health issues according to a Johns Hopkins study. Broken relationships affect us deeply, especially when bitterness sets in.
According to Matthew 6:14-15, a person who doesn’t forgive others will not be forgiven by God. In the verses, Jesus states: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Again, The Bible says, James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Try and make it right before the sun goes down.
Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision to obey God and forgive. You put yourself into ‘prison’ if you don’t forgive, that’s why God tells you to forgive people. God doesn’t tell you to forgive people for them – FORGIVENESS IS FOR YOU. We are educated too much – how many more preaching on forgiveness do you need to hear before you forgive or not live in condemnation?
