Are you in a place where you struggle to forgive? Maybe you have been hurt, someone or something was taken from you. Are you struggling to put it behind you and move on? Maybe you have tried to forgive but the pain keeps coming back and you just cannot break those chains and move forward. Maybe your chain is not linked to anybody else but yourself – you just cannot forgive yourself for the hurt and pain you might have caused others or even yourself.
For some of us this issue may be big, but for others it may be small. I do not know how big the issue is for you, but what I do know is that God has one instruction for us with one specific purpose behind it. It has nothing to do with the other person, but it has everything to do with you.
We are encouraged in Ephesians 4:32 to –
“be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
When we have been at the receiving end of a bad and painful experience, out human nature is to hold a grudge and even sometimes nurture unforgiveness to a point where it can even destroy us.
God wants us to forgive instantly, not in a week, month or a year’s time, but immediately. He wants us to forgive in that moment when the damage was done. We are not doing it for the sake of the other person, but for ourselves. By doing that, you break every chain the enemy may have tried to use to bind you by the pain you experienced. You loosen yourself from any power the situation may have over you and you are set free from the damage.
Is this easy? No. Is this possible? Definitely.
How do you do this?
In that moment when you are hurt, choose to forgive, even if it is a decision that you make in your head and your heart has to follow later. Do not reason or justify your choice. Only choose to forgive. At the same time pray for the one who hurt you and declare a blessing over that person. It can be a mere “God, I choose to forgive so-and-so. Bless them and let Your favour shine upon so-and-so“. Do this as a step of faith and do not try to do the right thing out of your own strength as you will fail. But rely on God to work the miracle in you to set you free from any harm.
By praying and blessing that person they lose any power they might have had over you.
Why should we do this?
Because Jesus did that for us and He still does so every day when we sin against Him. We do not only destroy the enemy’s power over us but we are also releasing God’s power into that person’s life that may set the table for God to do a good thing in them.
If you have a person or situation that is holding you back and you would live to be set free from it, hit the reply button and I would love to pray with you so that Jesus can release the amazing power of forgiveness through you that will not only set you free but lift you into a deeper level of intimacy with Jesus.
Maretha Retief