IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS

by Marilyn Conrad

Rejection from our mates and others can hurt us deeply. Words they have spoken and actions they have taken, most often, cause us to enter into unforgiveness toward them.

Unforgiveness produces bitterness and bitterness produces pain and hardness of heart. Our spirits and emotions have been hurt and we need healing!

Filtered Through Hurt

From the time we enter into unforgiveness until we recognize what is happening, our lives are affected by the pain. Everything we hear is filtered through our hurt and becomes twisted and we perceive incorrectly.

Many times we think God has shown us decisions to make or directions to take, when in reality our actions are wrong because they are filtered through our unforgiveness and bitterness. We can even base our decisions on scripture, however, even the Word of God can be filtered through our hurt and be perceived incorrectly.

A New Filter

When we truly forgive our mates and others we can walk in the God-kind of love that Jesus made possible and what we hear is filtered through love, not hurt.

Unforgiveness opens the door to bitterness, resentment, guilt, lingering hurt, anger and continued rejection. However, God has equipped us to forgive and to be free. Forgiveness is from your heart or spirit and as a child of God you have the ability to forgive, even when you don't feel like it. Remember, forgiveness is an act of obedience, not necessarily a feeling.

Forgiveness is giving up our right to hurt and is not an option. We are commanded by God to forgive if we expect Him to forgive us. Mark 11:25

KEYS TO FORGIVENESS

·         Everyone needs to be forgiven. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

·         God will forgive. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

·         Condition for God's forgiveness. For if we forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matt 6:14-15

·         Commanded to forgive. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph 4:32

When we forgive we not only free ourselves, we free the other person to hear from God. If we do not forgive others their sins against us, our unforgiveness binds the sin to them. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:23

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for forgiving me and as an act of my will I choose to forgive those who have wronged me (mate, person they are involved with, others). I confess as sin holding unforgiveness in my heart against anyone. Father, I don't necessarily feel like forgiving _________ but I know that if I am obedient my feelings will line up with your Word. I forgive and release all bitterness, resentment, hurt and anger. I thank you that I will no longer filter what I hear through my hurt, but through love. AMEN