The power in “I forgive”

This whole week I’ve been meditating on the word “Forgiveness”

I know this word to many, is a cuss word, they hate to say it, but, this one simple word has so much power behind it. This one word, can bring so much healing, and if not exercised, can do much harm.

Many who know me know that I am a very forgiving person, sometimes too forgiving, and I tend to give more chances than I should.  But, I also know many people who find it very difficult to forgive.  This is one of those things that we have to learn how to overcome by making a conscious decision to do so.  Oh and trust me, I’m not saying that forgiving is easy by any means, I do know how difficult it can be to forgive, I’ve been there.

It seems easier to not forgive sometimes. It feels good to hold on to that grudge or that offense, because in our own minds, we think, “they hurt me”… so they deserve to “hurt” by knowing that I won’t forgive them for their actions. Honey let me tell you by experience, we only hurt ourselves more when we don’t forgive. We trap ourselves in a jail cell and sit on the block wall waiting for the doors to open.  The doors of freedom only come when we “choose” to forgive.

Forgiveness is found on the other side of “I forgive!” When we say,” I forgive you” and mean it, it brings freedom to our lives. Not to THEIR lives, but to OURS!  We don’t allow them to dictate our lives any longer; we release the hand that is trying to use us like a puppet.

Jesus perspective on forgiveness goes like this: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “LORD, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 NIV

When Jesus said this, it was an analogy that we should forgive as many times as it takes.  When you start to make a conscious decision to forgive, it becomes a routine. We have to make a conscious decision to let the person who hurt us not take up residency in our space any longer.  We have to CHOOSE!

We just celebrated Resurrection Day (Easter). This was a time where Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave, so that we may have life.  Through God’s suffering on the cross, he still thought about those who hurt him, even hanging from the cross he says “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing…” Luke 23:34 NASB

Now think about it, Jesus is nailed to a cross, as people are beating him, and he cannot do anything about it. And what then does he do? He shows the ultimate form of forgiveness. He is thinking about others even when he is suffering.

So even in our mess, our chaotic life, in our pain and hurt, God still forgives.  Just because you forgive, it does not mean what they did was right, it just means that you don’t want to carry the weight that has been holding you down anymore. Believe it or not, unforgiveness can cause a spiral effect of medical issues. The act of someone else’s offense has the power to cause us harm if it isn’t dealt with correctly.

Don’t let the power of offense take you off your post! (learned that in my intercessory prayer class) Don’t let what that person did to you steal your life away from you, steal your joy, your peace, your hope, your love. Because guess what?! They don’t deserve to keep you held down. Show them how you can bounce back by forgiving, letting go, and rebuilding.