(In case anyone is wondering why I did not post the last Faith Challenge from our April 2nd meeting, it was because the challenge was not applicable to anyone who does not attend our meetings.)
Welcome to the latest Faith Challenge!
A few months ago, I was challenged by a friend to a new way of looking at forgiveness. Often times we say that we’ve forgiven someone; they apologized, and we said, “I forgive you.” But did you really, truly forgive them from the heart?
Before I received this challenge, I thought I had forgiven people who had hurt or offended me in the past. Well, after hearing this, I realized I hadn’t.
What I am going to share with you is not some formula; it’s not like this is the only way, and if you don’t follow all these steps it’s not real forgiveness. This is a forgiveness prayer model, and it really helped me, so I want to share it with you.
Forgiveness is a choice. And it is never an easy choice, but it is always the best choice. True forgiveness means to cancel and forgive all of a person’s debts and obligations to you. (Emphasis on all of them.) It is showing mercy as we have been shown mercy by God. And also, forgiveness is not forgetting. God forgives and forgets our iniquities, but that doesn’t mean they are the same thing. Forgetting is a long-term byproduct of forgiveness. Once you forgive, God begins to truly heal your heart; and just as scars fade over time, with time our wounded heart will be made whole.
But picking at a scab over and over will keep it from healing quickly and properly.
It’s the same thing when you rehash what someone did to you, revisiting that old offense, hoping it will make them feel bad (even if you don’t admit that’s what you’re doing). Have you heard it come out of your mouth? I know I am guilty of it. “Remember when you did that to me,” and you retell the story with exaggerated details, laughing, then patting the person on the back and saying, “But don’t worry, I forgive you.” That is not forgiveness. In fact, it is a form of revenge. You want the pain you felt years ago to become theirs. But just as revenge always hurts the person who gives it, so reminding a person of their sins against you usually hurts you even more than it hurts them. You’re choosing to make that old, scabby wound bleed afresh.
We cannot afford to not forgive. You may think you are choosing to withhold something from that person, but you are actually depriving yourself! You will never be truly free and at peace if you choose to hold onto unforgiveness.
Forgiveness is not easy. But we can’t wait until we feel like forgiving. That time isn’t going to come. We must choose to forgive NOW, before bitterness has time to get an even stronger grip on our hearts. When we choose forgiveness, satan loses his hold on us. Forgiveness is showing mercy, and when we show mercy, it sets us free from our past. It sets us free from the tormentors that have been assigned to us because of our previous unforgiveness. It sets us free, because when we release offenses, they release us. You’ll be amazed at how it feels like a burden has been lifted from your shoulders–maybe one you didn’t even realize you had.
You can take it a step further. When you forgive, bless those who have hurt you. Pray for them and bless them. Forgiveness is a form of surrender. It’s hard, but it’s so worth it! Ultimately, when bitterness is evicted from our heart, our fellowship with God is restored and made closer and stronger than ever befor
So, here is the forgiveness prayer model (and your faith challenge):
- Ask and allow the Holy Spirit to bring the person/people to mind.
- Confess unforgiveness and lay it before the Throne.
- Purpose and choose to forgive from the heart.
- Cancel and forgive all the person’s/people’s debts and obligations to me.
- Ask Jesus to break and cancel satan’s power over me in this area, and ask for protection from tormentors that have been assigned to me because of my unforgiveness.
- Thank Jesus for His forgiveness, and bless those who have hurt me.
I pray that the LORD will use this to bring freedom, wholeness, and restoration. May we learn to truly forgive from the heart, just as our Father in heaven has forgiven us.
“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy towards those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” ~Psalm 103:10-12
GENERATION JACOB 
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