I remember many years ago, as a young Christian, I was praying and trusting God for some things. God answered me very clearly and told me to forgive so and so. Now, these people really hurt me, and I felt justified walking in an unforgiving spirit. But then God gave me two scriptures and said if I want to move forward in life, I have to forgive.
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 ESV)
The second scripture God gave me was:
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 KJV)
- I had to listen to God and it was only then I was able to move forward.
2. From the above scriptures, a few things are clear.
3. People will hurt you, as long as you are human and you are in the days of your flesh.
4. You will like to get even, born again or not.
5. Don’t get even; don’t avenge yourself.
6. God will avenge you, He will fight for you and that is when it is sweetest.
7. If you stay in unforgiving mode, Satan will use it as loophole to cause havoc.
You are not to be ignorant of how the devil operates.
A third scripture I will like you to see is here:
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15 KJV)
Now, you don’t want to find yourself here. You don’t want to find yourself in a place where God will not forgive you. And yet, the only way not to get there is to forgive people easily! Now as you read this, I really want you to check yourself out. Are you holding a few people in your heart without forgiving them? Well, it could slow you down, literarily!
It could cause delays in marriages, it could cause relationships not to work out, and other havocs can be wrecked. That’s why I tell people; don’t start another relationship immediately after one has just ended. Give yourself a break, at least, six months. Why? When you rush into another relationship with hurts, wounds, bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit, you will end up frustrating that other person, and the relationship will still not work out. You cannot establish a relationship on a foundation of hurts, wounds, and bitterness!
When you stay in unforgiving mode, it’s like moving away from God’s protective arm into the terrain of the devil. A lot of us fast and pray fervently, but hear me and hear me well, if you don’t forgive, you will never be able to enjoy the fullness of God’s blessings. I come to you this morning, by the Spirit of God and by His grace which He has endowed me with and I speak into your life and destiny, ‘Forgive!’
Yes, I know you are hurt! Yes, I know you were jilted. Yes, I know you were raped. Yes, I know you were defrauded. Yes, I know you were abandoned when it is just a few days before the wedding. Yes, I know there has been a divorce. Yes, I know you were cheated. Yes, I know you were wrongfully accused. Yes, I know your spouse cheated on you and manipulated you…and the list goes on.
But you cannot afford some bitterness. It is too expensive for you! You need God now, don’t you? You yourself are not perfect, are you? The only way God can overlook, forgive and forget your own imperfections and cause His mercy to avail for you is when you forgive that person.
There are some of us that hold our parents in derision. You are wrong to do that. But my parents are not born-again! You see the scripture never says you should honour your born-again parents! He said you should honour your parents! That is how to last on the planet earth! So that your days will be long! In fact, a particular translation says, honour your parents so that God can say well done to you!
Some of you are having delays in marriage because you are walking in disobedience. If your parents have ever said wrong words to you because you were at loggerheads with them, go back to them and apologize. Humble yourself, so that you won’t slow yourself down. Dishonoring your parents and refusing to forgive them can cost you your life! Read your Bible very well.
Go back to them, buy a gift, prostrate or kneel down and ask them to bless you! That act alone will be better off than ninety days of fasting and prayers, which might not yield results because of an unforgiving spirit.
Forgive your spouse. You will do yourself a lot of good if you do that. If you don’t forgive him or her, your prayers will be hindered. Don’t block God’s blessings over you at this time. Why waste your time praying? Isn’t that a religious spirit at work? Married couples, be quick to forgive each other! Don’t allow strife in your family. If you have been in prolonged hurt and strife, it is dangerous. End it today and allow God’s blessing to flow in your family. Leave your ego behind and obey God. Take your wife out, buy her a gift and apologize! Go to your husband and kneel down and ask for forgiveness. It is not old-fashioned; it is scripture!
Let go and let God! Let it be a beginning of a new day for you and yours! Let go of everybody you are holding in your mind. Burn your little black book of offenses and stop recording hurts. Delete them not only from your memory but from recycle bin as well. Guard your heart with all diligence for out of them are the issues of life.
May God help you and give you strength to forgive all you need to forgive in Jesus name!
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CONFESSION FOR THE DAY
I have a forgiving attitude. I am quick to forgive.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, give me the grace to let go of all who have hurt me
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Matthew 6:14 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY
Let go and let God
BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY
Matt 6
I forgive all who have hurt me
I let go of every hurt, anger, pain and strife. I let go and let God.
I receive grace to forgive quickly and easily
I intentionally let go of every hurt. Amen
I have a forgiving attitude. I am quick to forgive.
I received grace to forget and forgive every hurt.
Unforgiveness is too expensive for me. I forgive all my offenders, i let go of all that hurt me in Jesus mighty name..Amen
A good read for all singles to hold and work the principles.
I receive strength to forgive and forget all hurts.
I receive the grace to forgive and let go of those who hurt me in Jesus name
I can solidly relate with today’s devotional. I became exposed to KHC devotional 2yrs after I had separated with my ex and I had a great difficulty moving on. I was unhappy, unforgiving and bitter. I went for one of the evening singles program on a Thursday and I won the big KHC Devotional (mehn that book is loaded!). Today’s devotional reminds me of the great impact that book has bn to my life and I in no sense take these expositions for granted. Thank you always.
kabaya 🔥
I receive the grace to forgive and let go
thank you sir for this powerful write up.. I will not allow strife, bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart..
Pls note you’re not entitled to forgive those who are not sorry.
You can only forgive those who are truly repentant and are ready to make amends.
God cannot tell you to forgive rapist or murderers. Please lets be guided. God did not forgive the devil for treason neither did Jesus forgive Judas for betraying Him.
You don’t give these people accountability to own up to their faults & God does not keep you stranded for being bitter and hurt instead He will heal you and mend your broken heart and also punish your oppressors.
Forgiveness are for the truly repentant ones.
Rapist, murderers, all of them, have to be forgiven. If you don’t, you stand the risk of God not forgiving you as well. That is not a good place to be. You are forgiving them because unforgiving spirit itself is a burden and it is killing. At the end of the day, you are actually doing yourself a great favour by forgiving whoever offended you.
If all of them have to be forgiven, then why do the unrighteous and unrepentant go to hell?
Forgiveness is only for those who are repentant and truly sorry for what they have done.
Jesus is clearer about repentance as the necessary condition of forgiveness in Luke 17:3-4,
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him” (NASB).
The condition of “if he repents” follows from the imperative to “rebuke him” that is equivalent to the statement in Matthew of “show him his fault.”
God’s Forgiveness Requires Repentance
I stated earlier that forgiving another person who has not repented may be something that God has not called us to do, and may actually be impossible. Does God forgive people who have not repented? The biblical pattern is first repentance, and then forgiveness. Consider a two examples:
2 Chronicles 7:14
…[when my people] turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins… (NASB)
Broadly, the claim that forgiveness requires repentance fits with the biblical idea of salvation that requires personal faith, the voluntary embrace of God’s gift. God’s forgiveness is available to anyone who would appeal to his mercy, and the appeal includes an acknowledgement of one’s crimes. Forgiveness must be desired and accepted if the sinner is to be forgiven by God. Not all people are included in salvation, since not all people are willing to repent of their sins. Since not even God forgives people apart from their repentance, then why should we expect that we could do so?