Freedom of Forgiveness
Forgiveness! A powerful word. An act that can break generational curses! An act that can heal years of hurt and abuse! Forgiveness is an act that Jesus commands (Matthew 6:14). An act that seems so impossible at times. A word that sometimes we refuse to do because it just hurts so bad! An act that when not accomplished can imprison you in bondage. Forgiveness is an act that we freely get from our heavenly father but we don’t deserve. Forgiveness is a powerful expression of love!
Unforgiveness had me in the heaviest chains of my life. Refusing to forgive someone had me stuck in a depressed state of mind for years! My choice of not forgiving grew into an ugly monster of resentment. That resentment burned inside my heart and came out as fits of rage and anger towards everyone around me. “No, I will never forgive them.” I made statements that became personal declarations that I would NEVER forgive or forget what they did to me or what they said. “No, they don’t deserve my forgiveness.” I became a judge over whether they received a lifetime sentence of hatred and bitterness. “No, they did it on purpose. They knew what they were doing.” I made excuses and convinced myself of reasons why they did what they did. These phrases were implanted in my mind, playing over again and again, as a broken record player. There were many nights where I was tormented by my thoughts and bombarded by massive anxiety. My heart turned into stone hardened by anger and pain. I had no peace. No peace in my heart, no peace in my life, no peace in my home, no peace in my life. I was in bondage.
Lord help us! Many of us refuse to forgive those who have hurt us. Many of us refuse to forgive ourselves. Some of us stay fixated on the hurt and pain. Some of us are more focused on ourselves than the one who created us! Lord help us recognize when we are being selfish and self centered. Lord help us understand when someone hurts us it is not always the intent of the other person to cause harm. Lord help us truly understand who the battle is with! For your word says:
“ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
I know what you may be thinking. How can the struggle not be against flesh and blood! Everyone has a choice. They chose to commit the offense. They chose to lie, steal or cheat! They chose to abuse me! I said all these things to God myself. I screamed at God asking why me! I understand your hurt and your frustration. I know how some may say life is not fair! We are going to experience hardships in our lives and may not always have the answers right away. That is why it is vital to keep your focus on the Lord and his promises! That is why it is necessary to call on the name of Jesus! That is why it is crucial to believe in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 6:12 is warning us not to fall into this perception that “people” “flesh and blood” is our enemy. People are flawed and we all fall in this category. They will let us down, they will make mistakes, so will we! If we are equipped with the knowledge of who the real enemy is and what we are up against then we are better prepared to win the Battle! “Rulers, authorities, powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil” Ephesians 6:12. Forgive those who have hurt you and go after the one who is behind the evilness of this world! Pray, fast, read your word, continue to love those who hurt you and persecute you and the Lord will move mightily on your behalf! In Luke 6:27 Jesus states:
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
For many years I refused to forgive! I held on to my hurt like a child playing tug of war. The tighter I held on to it...the more it burned my hands. Years of holding on to the hurtful words that were spoken to me and over me kept me victim. Over time those negative words became my reality. I accepted them as to who I was. You called me stupid, I acted stupid. You called me bad, I acted bad. I allowed the words of others to define me and form me into someone God never created me to be. I had let what people said creep into my thoughts, absorb into my heart and result in my actions. I allowed those negative words to come true...until Jesus got a hold of me! Choosing to forgive what a person has done does not excuse what was done! Please read that again! Let it sink into your heart. Forgiveness is not for that person to be set free but it is for your own freedom! It is for your personal relationship with God and the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants you healed. Jesus wants you blessed. Jesus wants your heart clean and pure.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart” 1 Peter 1:22
Forgiveness is a deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you. Forgiveness is intentional and a choice. Forgiveness is a change of feelings or attitude regarding the offense and overcoming negative emotions. I chose to forgive and my entire life changed! No more bondage but total freedom from anger and resentment! I can live with a clean and pure heart loving those around me regardless of what they say or how they treat me. This is possible for you too! With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
How can I forgive? It starts off with making that decision to let go of the resentment. Emotional healing may happen right away or take time. Allow the process and allow the Holy Spirit to break down walls and soften your heart. Forgiving that person does not mean forgetting. It is normal for things to happen throughout our daily lives that can trigger certain memories or events. This is when we should take every thought captive. Stop, pray and remind yourself that you choose forgiveness and refuse to look back. Forgiveness is not based on how the other person acts or responds to your forgiveness. Some people may never change and we can not control that. But we can change how we respond. We can pray for them. We can bless them. We can choose to love those regardless of how they act because we know this is the righteousness of God! Leave vengeance to the Lord. Let God be the judge and choose to forgive those who hurt you! “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” Romans 12:19. Declare victory over victim and hold on to the promises of God! He is faithful.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to you today to thank you for each and every person that reads this word. I pray that you touch their heart and expose any resentment, any anger, any unforgiveness that they may have against anyone including themselves. Lord I pray over their mind and pray against any torment of painful memories or hurtful words spoken to them throughout their life. Jesus I pray they choose to let go and forgive. I pray that they choose to look at themselves or the other person through the eyes of Jesus. I pray that you give them the strength they may need to forgive and begin the healing process. Father I pray you set them free from bondage and any generational curse. I pray against any depression, isolation or anxiety in the name of Jesus. Lord I declare victory over those who declared themselves as victim. Release love and forgiveness in their lives, in their homes and in their families.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!
