Forgiveness- 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

DAY 18- FORGIVENESS
At some point in our lives, we’ve all had to forgive someone. A negligent barb hit its mark and now replays in our minds, scraping open the scabs. Perhaps it’s a deeper wound caused by someone’s abuse, abandonment, or assault. The ache of these injuries can linger for years, decades, even a lifetime. Forgiving someone can be one of the most difficult things to do in your life. Yet, it’s through forgiveness that God heals our deepest wounds, and frees us from our prisons of anger, hate, self-pity, and self-contempt.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you
Forgiveness is at the crux of our Christian faith. Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:46-47, Matthew 26:28). In turn, God commands that we forgive those who sin against us: “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13c ESV). When his disciple, Peter, asked him how many times he should forgive, Jesus essentially answered, forgive and keep on forgiving-“seventy-seven times,” a figurative number suggesting continuing renewal.
Forgiveness requires faith.
Application/ Reflection:
How can you begin to make step towards forgiveness?
What is God speaking to you about His ability to heal you of the hurt you have experienced?
Begin daily to ask God for faith to forgive.
Prayer:
God, I come before you with my hurts, and I lay them down before you because I desire to be free and healed and restored. I ask you Jesus that you would give me faith to forgive those who offended me and those I have offended, I desire to be a vessel of healing and love for those around me. Help me to release those that have offended me, I ask you that you would guide me to a life of forgiveness just like you Jesus; as you did for me on the cross, in Jesus name, Amen.