Freedom in forgiveness

What does it mean to truly forgive someone? People may have different opinions. I have often heard many say "I can forgive but I cannot forget." I have a different take on that answer. If we truly forgive someone, we no longer hold it against them. If we continue to remember the offense, there will also be feelings of resentment and bitterness attached to remembering. To forgive is defined as, "to excuse for a fault or offense; pardon. To stop feeling anger or resentment against. To absolve from payment of." Now humanly speaking, you will remember and you will hold on to the wrong that was done to you. Jesus did not pay the ultimate sacrifice for us to continue to walk as we once did. When He places His Spirit in you, He gave you His power and His strength to walk as He did. Only by His Spirit living in us, can we truly forgive others who have mistreated us. You may be thinking, well, I just cannot forgive that person or if I forgive-they have gotten away with what they have done. This is not the right way of thinking. Forgiveness is not saying that what the other person did was right, rather, it is letting go of whatever it is they have done and giving it to the Lord. You are doing this for YOU, not for them. When you forgive, you will experience joy and peace. You will no longer feel anger towards the person whom you may have even hated for what they did to you or someone you love. Not one of us is perfect, and we will hurt someone else intentionally or unintentionally at some point in our life. Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother when he sins, up to seven times? Jesus answered. "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22 Forgiveness is something we do over and over again. We forgive as Jesus forgave us and removed our sins as far as the east is from the west. In Colossians, we are called to forgive as the Lord forgave us. 3:13 How has the Lord forgiven us? He has washed us in the blood of Christ and though our sins were like scarlet, they are now white as snow. He took all of our sin and shame, and nailed it to the cross once and for all. He promises to "forgive our wickedness and remember our sins no more." Jeremiah 31:34 Forgiveness is a choice that we have. It is not based on how we feel. If we wait until we feel like forgiving, we never will. We must make a conscious effort to forgive. Say out loud, I chose to forgive...you fill in the blank, and I trust you Lord to help me to do this. When you choose to forgive, the feelings WILL follow-maybe not immediately, but they WILL follow. I have experienced this in my own life and I know it to be true. But don't take my word for it, choose today to forgive and God will flood you with His peace. You will no longer be under the weight of unforgiveness and the bitterness and resentment that comes from not forgiving....you will be free. You will be free to love as Jesus loves, choosing not to hold on to any offense. I am not saying this is an easy thing to do, because it is not, but God in His love and mercy will overwhelm you with His presence! Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. We are to forgive others as God forgives us....continually and habitually. I pray that you experience this freedom today.

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