As Christians, we know that the benchmark of our faith is our ability to forgive when others have wronged us. But this is easier said than done. Due to the nature of the crime, it can take months or even years to forgive someone. Forgiveness is a process. But even if we can’t forget what someone did to us or they are sorry, we need to go through the process of forgiving. If you’re afraid someone will do the same thing again, why should you forgive them?
Here are five reasons why you should forgive when you can’t forget.
1. God asks us for forgiveness
Throughout the Bible, God calls us to forgive others. We are called to forgive repeatedly even if someone has committed the same sin. Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive others when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. will not forgive your sins, and God will not forgive us if we do not forgive others.This is one of the only commands that accompanies this promise.”
God forgives us no matter how painful our sins are and chooses to remember them no more. He gives us the opportunity to come to Him and experience the freedom that Christ’s death on the cross has given us. It is our duty to forgive others, even if we are not as strict as others. Going through the forgiveness process means believing in God. When we forgive others, we fulfill God’s call to forgive others.
2. set us free
People often believe that forgiveness is for the other person. They believe that we can escape their attacks if we forgive them. Forgiving others frees us from the emotional bondage of not forgiving. When we forgive, we feel lighter and freer. Forgiving others is a better way to show your love for them.
If you find it difficult to forgive someone, start with prayer. Declare to God that you have chosen to forgive the person, and name the sin specifically. Tell God that you choose to forgive, even if it doesn’t feel right. God knows our hearts. He knows when we were doing something on purpose and when we were just doing it over the phone. But God honors us when we choose to forgive. Forgiveness begins the path to healthy relationships. If a relationship is strained because of unforgiveness, the ability to forgive can help the reconciliation process. Relationships may never be the same as before, but we can all do our part to live in peace with each other.Mental health problems are on the rise. This is partly due to the unforgiveness we have in our hearts for not confessing the sins that weigh us down. By choosing to cleanse others in the presence of others, we experience emotional freedom like never before.
3. Show God’s love
John 15:13 “Love has no greater love. Christ died for us when we were still sinners.” I chose to bear the sins of the world. Not forgiving people is like saying that Christ’s death was in vain, or that there are unforgivable sins. When we allude to this, we mean that Christ’s death was meaningless and that Christ did not know what he was doing when he died on the cross. Forgiving someone may evoke past pain, but it’s best to deal with it effectively. Do not suppress your feelings or deny that the problem exists. Rather, when we forgive people in our life, we show others God’s unconditional love. When we do this, we show that God also loves us and we believe in the power of God and Christ’s sacrifice.
4. We show the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance.” Forgiveness helps us recognize that the Holy Spirit lives in us. When we forgive, we grow these fruits in our lives. Forgiving, we pave the way for the Holy Spirit to work more effectively in our lives. If not, unforgiveness can interfere with our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
5. Become a natural habit
Doing the difficult act of forgiving once makes it easier to forgive more than once. You can have the tools and mental skills you need to go through a true forgiveness process, even if your sins are heavy. It can be difficult to forgive someone if you have truly forgiven them. If I repeatedly bring up a crime, keep venting about it to my friends, or feel anger and resentment every time I see that person, chances are I’m not forgiving them. Keep a journal and write down your feelings. Face the wounds that lie deep in your heart. Wounds that are not treated effectively can lead to many other physical, emotional, and mental problems.
Take a blank piece of paper and ask the Lord to reveal those to whom you are still sinning. Write down their names and the nature of the crime. In your quiet time, speak their names and declare that you have chosen to forgive their crimes today. Ask God to help you not. Declare that Satan will not have a foothold in your life and will not allow forgiveness to interfere with your relationship with God. I can’t.
Forgiveness can be one of the most difficult things in living as a Christian. But when we do, we show the unbelieving world who God is and His presence in our lives. I chose to God chose to show us great love when he forgives us. There is nothing we can do to deny the salvation that Christ’s death offers us. You show it best when you forgive others. Forgiveness not only sets the other person free, but it also frees us from physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pain that prevents us from having a vibrant relationship with the Lord.
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