Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
When my husband left me with four children for another woman, I was devastated. The betrayal was almost too much to bear. On my back porch one night when the children were asleep, I cried out to God in my anger, in my heartache, in my pain, in my despair, and I asked Him, “How could he do this to me? To us?”
In between sobs, I heard a still small voice say, “Forgive him.”
When I objected, the Lord whispered softly, “Forgive him if you wish to be forgiven for your sins against me.”
I argued, “But, Lord, I’ve never cheated on You. You don’t know how this feels.”
Immediately, I heard in my spirit, “Oh really? Every time you chose to watch tv when I’ve beckoned you to come spend time with me, you cheated. Every time you chose to run to a friend with your problem instead of first coming to me, you cheated. Every time you desired and sought after love and validation in other places, you cheated. You love your husband, but I am Love. My very being is LOVE! Therefore, I know the feeling of pain and betrayal from your adultery even more than you do from his.”
Next thing you know, I was on my knees weeping and repenting for my adultery against my heavenly Husband (2 Cor 11:2), the One who is Love (1 John 4:8), the One who took my place on that cross even though He knew I would break His heart thousands of times. Needless to say, when I truly recognized my own sin of adultery against the Lover of my soul (Song of Solomon 6:3), it made it a little easier to choose to forgive my ex-husband.
Did you notice that I said “choose”? Choosing to do so is the first step in being able to completely forgive. Jesus is so good to us in that He works it in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Not only did He die for us, but His death made a way for the Helper (the Holy Spirit) to walk with us and help us to walk in righteousness (John 16:7). But first we must CHOOSE to walk in it.
Who do you need to forgive? Ask God to reveal or bring to remembrance any sin that you may have committed against Him or against others. When He shows you, confess your trespass, choose to forgive your trespasser (Matthew 6:12), then ask for the Helper’s help to completely forgive. Please know that if you expect forgiveness from your Father, then you must also be willing to forgive those who have sinned against you.
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Photo by Christian Fregnan on Unsplash