The Power of Forgiveness
Oftentimes when we are going on about our lives, trauma, betrayals, misunderstandings and mistreatment from those who have claimed to love us can happen. How are we to live like Christ and live in the image of Christ when we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts one to another? What has been blocked or held back because the paths of our hearts and souls have been cluttered with to stain of unforgiveness and what would happen if we allowed Holy Spirit to search our hearts for those hidden things that we need to let go of and surrender to Him?
We attend church and put up a wonderful mask of sanctification, but on the inside, in the secret parts of us, we often hold on to unforgiveness. By doing so, we can prolong the healing process within ourselves and miss the journey towards complete wholeness in Christ.
There is power in forgiving those whom have done us wrong. No matter how big or small, we can never truly live completely free with unforgiveness in our hearts. Some unforgiveness stems from unreasonable expectations of those we are in relationship with. When we stop or remove the expectations of people, we can then be released from disappointment.
Below are some scriptures to read and meditate on unforgiveness. God bless you and I pray this message has encouraged someone today.
Forgiveness allows us to walk in freedom. It removes the people who have offended us from a place of power in our lives.
Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” “Thou shalt not covet,” and if there be any other commandment, all are briefly comprehended in this saying, namely: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefor love is the fulfillment of the law.
No one owes us anything but love. What is love? What are the attributes of love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Philippians 2:12-13 King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 | NIV |
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 | NIV |
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14 | NIV |
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 | NIV |
Luke 17:3
"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Matthew 18:35
"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
Matthew 6:14
"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Mark 11:25
