Forgiveness Is Essential

Forgiveness is essential in our genuine walk with God. I wish you as my faithful readers had the chance to sit in on one of my classes at the prison. I am blessed with the opportunity to mentor individuals who often struggle immensely with forgiveness, not only of others, but of themselves.

From Darkness to Light

Witnessing the freeing moment, where the participants understand judgement is a tool the enemy uses to keep and hold them in bondage, is miraculous. It’s going from darkness to light, being lost to being found; it’s a spiritual awakening that is so necessary to living happily and successfully.

God Asks Us to Repent and Move On

I’m going to remind you of something regarding forgiveness I have touched on many times, God asks us to repent of our sins, and move on (John 1:9). The way you will fight the spiritual or mental battle Satan uses to keep you from experiencing this amazing freedom is simply by speaking the perfect name of Jesus. Just by speaking His name, the enemy must flee (James 4:7).

A Lesson from the Cross

Biblical lesson in this message comes from Luke 23:34. Let’s picture a horrific scene where Jesus is within His last minutes on earth. He is hanging on the cross, with death defying injuries all over His body, given to Him by those He came to save, and His statement is profound. He speaks aloud, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Ephesians 4:32)

How Important Is Forgiveness?

How important is forgiveness? It’s as important as loving our neighbors as ourselves, refraining from violence on others and so much more based on God’s Word. If you’ve held animosity for someone or for yourself over a wrongdoing, give it to God and leave it at the cross. Understand, loved one, your freedom depends on forgiveness.

Letters of Freedom

The participants of my classes really work on this. They write letters to family members and friends to release the burden of unforgiveness.

When Forgiveness Starts With Ourselves

I was unforgiving of myself for many years. I never was a person to hold grudges with others; I just didn’t have the energy for that; but I had a true double-standard with myself. The guilt I carried began with my divorce early in life. I felt awful for my impulsive decision to marry so young. That led to the guilt of trying to find a purpose as a single woman in her 20’s. I could never stop obsessing over the desire to be married. And this led to a life of trying to find the perfect partner…. without seeking God’s guidance.

A Wake-Up Call

I will never forget a friend, a male friend telling me, “Jenny, you exude a desire to be married so strongly, it has the opposite effect on men.” That statement stuck with me. What did that really say about me, about my ability to be happy when I was not getting my way. I had so many blessings to focus on and to be thankful for. The enemy was constantly placing my eyes on happily married couples, placing me in a state of envy, which is not a healthy place to be either.

Envy and Unforgiveness

Envy and unforgiveness—oh gracious, Lord, help me! I was envious of couples I didn’t even know, and even more envious of couples I did know. How does this whole situation pertain to forgiveness? Forgiveness sets us free from feeling like we are actually in control. Forgiveness would have allowed me to be free of worry, about my future in general. God had it all along, but I was trying to get it all figured out on my own.

Envy slowly robs us of gratitude. When we’re consumed with what others have, we miss what God has already given us. I was so caught up in what I lacked that I failed to recognize the many blessings that surrounded me—faithful friends, a loving family, health, provision. It wasn’t until I surrendered that spirit of envy that I could truly breathe again. Envy and unforgiveness are twin thieves of peace, and they can blind us from the truth of God’s timing and provision. Only when I forgave myself and released the weight of comparison did healing truly begin.

We Will Be Disappointed By Man

Forgiveness! What a beautiful thing. The Bible tells us; we are always going to be disappointed by man. It is inevitable. Understand – the reason is because sin is embedded within us right from the start, from birth. This reality helps us in the process of forgiveness. Why – Because when we grow in maturity of spirituality, we are able to be more patient and understanding, knowing our natural tendencies will often lead us astray as sinful creatures.

This Is Why We Need Jesus

It is unnatural to always make right choices and always treat others the way we should. This is yet another reason we NEED Jesus! Following Him will never be in vain but will give us the tools and strength to do what we otherwise can’t do on our own – To forgive.

Forgiveness and Boundaries

We should not allow others to mistreat us. That is not the point. But forgiveness can be internal and is always for the good of our own mental well-being. I have been in the presence of individuals who have had horrible acts committed to them, and their choosing to forgive those who wronged them brings upon such a lightness from a very heavy emotional weight (Matthew 6:14-15).

A Prayer for You

I pray for your ability to forgive, sweet friend. Whether it’s forgiving yourself or another, release it to God and allow His peace to abound. That freedom is like no other! Thank you for reading, and please remember to share if this message touched your heart! Amen.

Enjoy the additional encouragement in song. Click the link to hear the song pertaining to this week’s message of hope: Forgiveness by Matthew West