The Power of Forgiveness
Yes, forgiveness does have power, and it is twofold. I am hopeful that as you continue on this journey, you will get more understanding of why I am saying this. So, get in your favorite chair, with your favorite drink, and let’s take a ride down the forgiveness lane.
Why should we practice forgiveness?
As believers that is the only way to please God the father, and our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
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
See, forgiveness is God’s will, not ours.
It was said by an unknown writer, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner is really oneself.”
That’s why I said earlier that the power of forgiveness is twofold. If you forgive it is a plus. You will take your power back. On the flip side, if you refuse to forgive it is a negative. You are allowing others to keep your power. That is the power they have over you. Forgiveness really and truly does have power believe it or not.
I read a story of a young man whose father was killed. The son of the murder victim was only 15 years old. They caught the murderer and put him in prison, but the son could not forgive him. He wasted years of his life, walking in unforgiveness. It was destroying him, until he met a Christian who led him to Christ. After becoming a Christian, he realized he could no longer walk in unforgiveness, even though his dad wasn’t just his dad, he was his best friend.
So, he decided to obey God’s word and forgive the man who murdered his dad. He purchased a bible and visited the man in prison, but sadly the man would not see him. So, he decided to do the next best thing. He took a pen and paper, and he wrote the man a note.
His note of forgiveness said:
I am here to see you today. I am sorry we could not meet. As a Christian, I must forgive you. I ask you to forgive me for the hatred I have had in my heart for you for so long.
So, because he was able to forgive, he was able to get his power back.
Praise God
Are you holding something against someone for what they did to you or what you feel they did? (Don’t answer me, just think about it.) Well if your answer is yes, beloved of God, it is time to take your power back and let it GO.
Paul said, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
We are to forgive because Christ forgave us.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, also do ye. ~ Colossians 3:13
Wait, there’s more that the word says to us.
Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. ~ Matthew 18:15-17
God really loves us all, and his desire is that we be set free, but the choice is ours alone.
Then said he unto the disciples, it is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. ~ Luke 17:1-4
There is unlimited forgiveness in the Lord. There is no other way out, but to forgive.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ~ Matthew 5:44
I say again, forgiveness has power, and it goes both ways.
Listen, to forgive someone doesn’t mean you have to be best friends. It means you are no longer willing to hold a grudge, and that in and of itself “sets one free.”
I think I need to tell you forgiveness can be challenging.
What’s the challenge?
The challenge is what happens when it is difficult or hard to let it go. The enemy will talk to you and make you feel all kinds of ways. Here’s some of the things the enemy says.
• Oh, you’re not important.
• Your feelings don’t matter.
• You’re just letting people hurt you and get by.
• They need to pay for what they did.
• Help God out.
Well, I’ve got good news!!
• You are important.
• Your feelings do matter.
• No one gets by.
• Anyone who hurts anyone will suffer the consequences for their actions.
• You do not have to help God. He is capable.
Forgiveness has power, the power to set free of the power to hold you in bondage.
Beloved, we do not have the right, according to God’s word, to avenge anyone. That’s God’s job not ours.
To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. ~ Deuteronomy 32:35
Recompense no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place (leave room for God’s worth) unto wrath, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. ~ Romans 12:17-19
Forgiveness is a catch 22, meaning it is a thing we can not escape or get around.
Biblical examples of forgiveness:
• Esau forgave his brother Jacob. ~ Genesis 33:4-11
• Joseph forgave his ten brothers for selling him as a slave. What they meant for evil, God turned it for good. Genesis 45:5-15 and saved their entire generation. ~ Genesis 50:19-21
• And Jesus forgave his enemies. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. ~ Luke 23:34
Jesus was the greatest example of forgiveness. Let us follow after him, and allow him to order our foot steps and direct our path.
Last but not least
One might say, what do I get out of letting it go. You have no idea how badly they’ve hurt me.
Allow me to say, Jesus will never ask us to do anything without giving us something in return.
He promises to bless you:
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. ~ Psalm 32:1-5
The wonderful result of walking in forgiveness.
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. ~ Proverbs 16:7
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. ~ Proverbs 25:21-22
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. ~ Luke 6:35
Finally, I do realize that the greatest challenge when it comes to forgiveness, is to forgive oneself.
Now that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Forgiving oneself is not easy, but the Lord would have you let it go. Simply because you have been in bondage too long. And it’s time to be free. Free from all that’s been holding you down. The key to letting go is to come to the realization that you are human, and we all make mistakes in life. That is the very reason God placed forgiveness and repentance in his word. He loves us just that much.
Now maybe the person or the people that hurt you have crossed over. Remember the true meaning of the process is not for others, it is basically for the forgiver, not necessarily the One/ones you are forgiving.
So, here’s a suggestion, just to set you free, even though they are no longer on this side. You call the person’s name (out loud) and tell them this, “I forgive you. I forgive you for hurting me”. Say it aloud until you feel it, until you feel that you have allowed the Lord to help you to let it go. Repeat as much as needed.
Someone who cares,
Apostle Lila S. Harris
With Love Always
Forgiveness Does Have Power!!!
Take It Back!
