The Art of Forgiveness

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:32

There it is. Be KIND to one another. Forgive each other. Two commands we seem to struggle with. Why.

Just to make sure, let's check with Jesus to see what HE has to say about it.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15

Uh-oh.

Just to be clear, if we don't forgive others, we're going to hell. You, me, everybody who does not forgive others.

Here's the real question: HOW do we forgive someone who has wronged us? Do we talk to them about it? That often does not end well. The secret to forgiveness is not from one person to another. It's to God through prayer.

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

Give these situations to God in prayer. Relinquish control of these hurtful situations to Him and let go.

If we continue to hold onto grudges and we keep remembering how so-and-so wronged us, it is not going to go well for us.

Remember, God knows our hearts. He can tell when we have truly forgiven someone.

Let go, and let God.

"Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge that they themselves must pass." - Confucius

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." - Martin Luther King Jr.

God forgives like no other.

The Heart of The Matter - Don Henley

I Apologize - Sidewalk Prophets