Forgive.

        

To forgive means to stop being angry with someone, to stop blaming them although they have done something wrong. It means to release the other person from blame, it means leaving the event in Gods hands, it means to move on.

I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.

One may ask, why must I forgive? Why must I let go of this wrong done to me? I know a few reasons why;

Asides from the most common reason which is, the burden of unforgiveness is so heavy for the heart to bear,  our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to forgive (Mathew 6:14-16), Apostle Mark reminds us of the need to forgive (Mark 11:25), Apostle Luke also says the same about forgiveness (Luke 6:37), St. Paul warns the colossians to forgive (Colossians 3:13).

Refusing to forgive leaves an open wound in our soul that festers into bitterness, resentment, and depression. For our own good, and the good of the person who hurt us, we simply must forgive.

We are to forgive so that we may enjoy God's goodness without feeling the weight of anger burning deep within our hearts. Forgiveness does not mean we recant the fact that what happened to us was wrong. Instead, we roll our burdens onto the Lord and allow Him to carry them for us.

To forgive may be difficult but if you try to acknowledge that the person who hurt you also makes mistakes, that this atrocity that has been committed against you is this persons weakness, that you have your own weaknesses too (even if this persons weakness seems to weigh a lot more than yours), and you would want to be forgiven when your weaknesses get th better part of you, it would be a lot easier to let go, to forgive.

How will we know if we have truly forgiven?

Lewis B. Smedes wrote in his book, Forgive and Forget, "When you release the wrong doer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumour out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."

We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us.

I encourage us all today, to make conscious efforts to forgive anyone who has hurt us.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

Written by:

Mis'Lin.