Why Forgiveness is Important!

Why should I forgive? That is a question that replays daily in the mind of so many people around the world.

Do You Need To Forgive?

The Importance of Forgiveness

Believe it or not, forgiveness is not about the individual that has done you wrong, but it’s about you. It’s about you being free, and being able to live your life to its fullest potential.

Jesus said, “I come that you might have life and that more abundantly!” (John 10:10) A life with Jesus is a life of freedom, a life of joy, a life of peace, and a life of wholeness. Nothing lacks when we live our lives for Christ. Whatever we’ve lost, it will be replenished. Whatever we’ve had to give up, it will be given back, and whatever is broken, it will be restored.

How Unforgiveness Affects You

We wear weights and chains like clothing when we are bound by the terms of an unforgiving heart. Bitterness, hatred, and anger only lead to depression and death. You may be walking, talking, and moving about as usual, but things are far from normal. On the inside you are weak, you’re sick, you’re crumbling, and you’re dying; but on the outside, you’re smiling, laughing, coasting along, and pretending to be alright. When we don’t forgive it slowly eats away at us, zapping the very life that we are striving to maintain or obtain. We’re left wondering why and how it seems that we are stuck and can’t move any further.

If we research, we’ll find that forgiveness has many health benefits to our natural bodies, but the greatest and most important benefit of forgiveness is to be forgiven by God. When we forgive others, we put ourselves in a position to be forgiven. Let’s face it, we have all done something at some point in our lives that we wish we wouldn’t have done. Perhaps it was something minute that blew up into an enormous situation, or maybe even something that we didn’t quite mean the way that it was perceived. A misunderstanding, a broken promise, a job left undone, too little or too much said, and even various types of abuse, are all things that we tend to hold on to and never let go. The longer we hold on to it, the more bitter we will become, and it will be more difficult to let it go once we have held it close for so long. When we choose bitterness and hatred we put ourselves in a position for a dark, gloomy, and depressing life.

Matthew 6:15 says that if we don’t forgive, we will not be forgiven! We absolutely want to be forgiven by God. If we are not forgiven, how will we ever make it to Heaven?

Don’t allow things that have happened to you define you, or hold you hostage any longer. Make the decision to give it to God today. Let Him handle it, He knows just what to do.

I encourage you to pray this prayer to God and believe that He has it all in His hands.

Prayer of Forgiveness

Father God, I thank you for being who you are, and I thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for me. I thank you for the privilege to come to you in prayer with all of my hurt, pain, problems, fears, concerns, and relationships. I admit that I have been holding on to some things that I should’ve given to you. I admit that I have been hurt, and I need your healing and delivering power to work in my heart, mind, and spirit. I forgive every one that has hurt me in any way, and I ask that you will forgive me for holding on to the offenses. I welcome you into my situation and I ask that you will heal, deliver, and set me free from all that has held me hostage. I give this situation to you completely and I ask that you will help me to genuinely love those who have hurt me. It’s in the name of Jesus that I pray. Thank You Lord! Amen.

Now, Go on!

Live!

And be Free!

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®,

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