Why Should I Forgive?
Mark 11:25 - And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Matthew 6:15 - But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Breakdown of Forgiveness
Forgiving someone is willfully releasing that person and yourself by choosing to pay the emotional pain that individual caused you thereby allowing yourself to move forward emotionally. When someone hurts you, offends you, or takes something from you, you can suffer various levels of grief or emotional pain. Many times people tend to try to ignore the pain or go numb to it by getting angry or upset. However, choosing to ignore your emotions just means that if you don’t deal with them, they will eventually deal with you.
Bitterness or Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:26-27 states, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Something happens to pent up anger overnight. The word translated as “wrath” in verse 26 also means “Rage”. This is important to realize because as a person goes through grief due to a hurt, loss, or offense, and plays it back in their mind, over and over again, we tend to work ourselves up and what could have been a number 1 initially on a scale of 1-10 of emotional pain, becomes a number 10 causing us to have anger, wrath, and even want to express rage. The lack of forgiveness may drive a person to act in a way that harms themselves or someone else. The longer that the wrong attitude is pent up inside a person the more it can lead to bitterness. Pent up anger and wrath become bitterness. Bitterness is the result of the lack of forgiving someone.
Benefits of Forgiveness
Hebrews 12:15 reads, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” The word bitterness here in Hebrews 12:15 is described in English as “bitter gall, extreme wickedness, bitter hatred or a bitter root that produces a bitter fruit.” Different roots have different effects on us. Some people like potatoes. Potatoes are roots. These roots are full of starch and are very tasty and come in varieties such as baking potatoes, white potatoes, red potatoes and sweet potatoes (which oddly enough can have less starch in them than white potatoes). However, contrast the potato, which is a root with ginger, which is also a root. Ginger is used as a spice for food and drinks. Potatoes are mainly used for food. Both are roots and both are beneficial for differing purposes. However, if a person has diabetes, one root can help while the other can harm the person if consumed in large quantities. Once their diet overtakes their health and causes detrimental effects, then they begin to influence people around them in various ways. Anger, wrath, and rage when held in a person’s heart overnight becomes bitterness. The longer the bitterness is in the heart, the greater the root becomes, springing up in their life and negatively affecting the lives of those nearest to them. Forgiveness uproots bitterness. Forgiveness, begins with the mind, will, and emotions and has benefits in a person’s body and even greatly benefits their relations with others.
So why should I forgive?
So I can release myself from damaging emotions.
So I do not allow bitterness to take root in me.
So I can have positive relationships with God, myself, and those around me.
Prayer of Forgiveness (Example)
“Heavenly Father, You know the pain that ___________ has caused/is causing me. I do not want this to harm my relationship with you, myself, or others. Please grant me the grace to choose to forgive __________ right now. I release myself and them from the hurt, anger, bitterness, and desire to get even right now. I yield this matter into your hands, Father. I release myself and them into your care for your desired goal and blessings in our lives right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Praying the above prayer may help you completely resolve the issue in your heart. Praying the above prayer may also be the tip of the iceberg or outer layer of an onion of emotions that you need to work through and address in your heart. Please contact us here at Encouraging Christians.com and let us know how you have been helped or if we can further help you in any way through prayer or counselling. Thank you.
