by Hazel Straub
Forgiveness means releasing the resentment, bitterness, blame, hostility, hatred, anger and fear that you have towards someone who has transgressed against you or even against yourself. It also means to cancel the need to punish the offender. Releasing the offender from your judgment, allows God to deal with the offender. Forgiving yourself for your mistakes, gets rid of self condemnation and allows you to receive all the blessings God has for you! Forgiveness is an act of the will, not an emotion.
When we do not forgive, however, we rehearse the wrongs and dwell in the poison, we intend for others. Often, when we haven’t forgiven, we engage in negative thoughts and emotions and relive the trauma, without any resolution. Unforgiveness adds high stress to one’s body and mind that opens one up for chronic physical disease or mental torment and mental illness. The cost of unforgiveness is extremely costly to one’s self.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, our sins are forgiven. In order to receive forgiveness, however, we need to cancel the debt owed us, by others. If we do not release the offender, we stew in our own bitterness and anger that we want the offender to drink. This bitter root grows and effects not only the one living, as a victim but also those in relationship with them. (“…lest any root of bitterness spring up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:15)
Jesus told a parable about a king in Matthew 18:23-25 who had a servant who owed him millions of dollars and couldn’t repay the debt. The servant asked for mercy and the king had compassion and cancelled the debt. Then the servant went to a fellow servant and demanded payment for a lessor debt of a few dollars and refused to have mercy and threw him in prison until the debt was paid. When the king learned of this, he threw the unforgiving servant in prison and delivered him to the tormentors. Jesus said we would have the same treatment, if we did not forgive others from our heart. When we forgive, we become victorious with no place for the enemy to steal, destroy and kill us. Our prayers reach God unhindered and we can enjoy living, without the regret and shame of reliving the past and never healing.
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