“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
We have all been wronged at some point and felt the desire to get even. But what is forgiveness?
In the Bible, forgiveness means releasing charges against someone—letting go and canceling a debt. It is not an easy thing to do. A person may feel ready to forgive, but true forgiveness involves certain important elements.
First, forgiveness must be a choice. It must be voluntary, not forced. It must be intentional—a decision to let go of pain. And it is often a process that takes time.
What we want to avoid is allowing unforgiveness to grow into anger, bitterness, hatred, or a desire for revenge. Bitterness, in particular, can become a poison to our souls. It can lead us into sin and cause us to fall out of alignment with God and His blessings.
God calls us to forgive others just as He has forgiven us. However, forgiveness does not mean we condone the wrongdoing, pretend it never happened, or allow others to continue hurting us.
Instead, forgiveness frees us. It releases us from anger and bitterness, allowing God to work in our lives. Scripture reminds us that if we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven.
So let us take a moment now to pray, asking God to help us forgive.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this opportunity to come before You in prayer. Thank You for giving us hearts capable of forgiveness, even when we have been deeply hurt.
We know that offenses will come—Your Word tells us so. But it also reminds us that if we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven. And Lord, we desire to be forgiven. We want to stand right before You and hear, “Well done.”
Today, we ask You, Jesus, to give us hearts that are willing to forgive. Help us develop the right attitude and focus, so we can release every offense.
We trust in Your grace and rely on Your love. Strengthen us, Lord, so that we may walk in forgiveness and love toward others. Let nothing hinder our relationship with You.
We ask this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
As we go forward, let us remember: no offense is worth losing our soul over.
