Is there unforgiveness in your heart?
Let’s face it, people these days are not willing to forgive. Part of that is due to how forgiveness is portrayed. We think that if we forgive, then we are to forget what has happened. That is not true, but we are to forgive. So what does forgiveness mean?
Forgiveness is:
the act of forgiving.
Well doesn’t that just clear it up for all of us. I know that I have a very clear picture of what forgiveness means. So what is the act of forgiving?
Forgiving is:
- to cease to feel resentment against (an offender)
- to give up resentment of or claim to requital
- to grant relief from payment of
So forgiveness is basically:
The act of ceasing to feel resentment against or the act of granting relief from payment.
Think of the Lords Prayer:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Matthew 6:14-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Now you may be going great but I cannot forgive this person or that person.
The question you have to ask yourself is why can’t you forgive?
It is a conscious choice to refuse to forgive others. For some reason, you want to hold on to that owed debt or resentment.
All I can say is that this is not healthy and will lead to illness, bitterness, resentment, hatred, anger, vengefulness, etc. Is that how you really want to be?
Furthermore, how can you expect God to forgive you when you refuse to forgive others?
Remember, that forgiveness is not for them, but for yourself.
I choose to forgive others, will you do the same?
Only you can make that decision and as always, the choice is yours with free-will.