“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.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV)
Forgiving others is a biblical instruction. Meaning it is the will of God to forgive pains brought upon by others. God wants his children to stay in health and to be aware of the devil’s devices to steal, kill and destroy. Many have been caught unawares by feelings of hurt and bitterness and have fallen into various traps of depression and ill-health. A healthy and biblical forgiveness entails that you must understand no one is perfect. Try not to lose your perspective about frail human because a great tendency is for you to dehumanize the offender. We tend to treat them like animal. But we are all in the same boat. We are all imperfect. Secondly, give God your right to get even. The Bible says not to avenge yourselves. This means that even though you may deserve to retaliate, you must commit not to do so. It’s not fair, but it’s healthy, and the godly thing to do. This will not be a one-time decision. You most probably will keep wielding off the devil’s suggestion to get even with this scripture for as long as he brings them your way: day by day, moment by moment.
Thirdly, overcome the evil with good. You cannot overcome evil by keeping mute but by deliberately going out of your way to do good to someone who has hurt you. This could be the most difficult to master. But it is how you know you have completely released someone from the wrong that has been committed against you. You will need God’s help and the love of Jesus to fill you up. Because humanly speaking, it’s nearly impossible to respond to evil with good. But God’s love doesn’t keep track of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13). And finally, get back on track with God’s plan for your life. As long as you continue to focus on the person who has hurt you, that person controls you. Stop focusing on the hurt and the person who hurt you. Instead, get back on track with God’s plan for your life by focusing on God’s purpose for your life, which is greater than any pain you might be currently facing. If you don’t release your offender, you will begin to resemble your offender.
Bitterness affects you emotionally and physically. So, please don’t sit one more day in your resentment. Forgive!
Prayer:
1 God give me the spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of let go in Jesus name.
2 Oh God, I destroy every spirit of bitterness in my life, bitterness in my marriage, bitterness in business, carrier, and job in Jesus name amen.
3 In the name of Jesus, I come against every blood line pattern of malice, spirit of un forgiveness, bloodline pattern of bitterness, quarrel, and hatred in the name of Jesus.
Liberation thought: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Further reading: Matthew 18:23-35; Romans 12:18-20
