Unforgiveness

Sometimes unforgiveness lies buried deep in our hearts and we are not aware that it's there

Source: YouTube

As Christians, one of the things that sets us apart is that Jesus commands us to forgive. This is an on-going part of our lives because there will always be times when we have to forgive those who have hurt us. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He forgives us for all our sins and if He forgives us then how can we not do the same to others?  In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus tell us; ‘For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins’. This is a command – we are to do it! Also, in Luke 11:4 the Lord's Prayer says, ‘and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’. This is the pattern for our lives. When we are aware that we need to forgive someone, we should do it. If it is very difficult and painful to do, we should cry out to God to help us and we choose to forgive by an act of our will. If we need to keep on forgiving that person, then that's what we do. The moment will eventually come when we are able to forgive from our hearts.

If we are unable to forgive, bitterness enters our hearts and the fruit of it is not good. It harms us and keeps us captive to the person who hurt us. People can misunderstand what forgiveness is, it is NOT saying that the harm done to us is okay and it is NOT condoning what has been done to us.  However, when we are able to forgive, it sets us free! Ephesians 4:31-32 ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’. In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asks Jesus; ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ And Jesus answers, ‘I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times’.

Source: Bible.com

Sometimes unforgiveness lies buried deep in our hearts and we are not aware that it's there. I had been a Christian for a couple of years when I went on a healing retreat. On the first evening we were told to ask God if we needed to forgive anyone. I thought I was fine but as I closed my eyes, the Minister of the church that my family went to when I was young came straight into my mind. I hadn't even thought about him for many years and I didn't know that I had been harbouring such feelings about him for so long. I had been angry with him because of his lack of care and concern towards my Father who became ill when I was a teenager and particularly because he never visited my Father when he was in hospital when he was in a coma (my father miraculously survived). I was amazed that I had harboured this anger in my heart for so many years. We need the Holy Spirit to bring these things to our minds. It's about being open to allow God to show us what we need to deal with in our lives and it is good to wait on God in order for Him to reveal anything that is wrong. It is all too easy for us humans to have unforgiveness in our hearts and to bear a grudge against someone, however He always gives us the grace we need in order to forgive – He loves us, we are His children!

God bless.

Author: Muriel Allen

May God bless and enrich your life

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