GOD told us and tells us to forgive

forgiveness is a hard one. individuals harbor their resentment on how someone has hurt them, or wronged them in their lives. it is probably one of the hardest acts to do in human nature. for most of us, including me, it is sometimes hard to move forward and forgive. GOD told us and tells us that we must forgive, or HE will not forgive us.

the grace of forgiving someone that has wronged you has got to be a struggle. some things are easily forgivable, others are not. i just got done reading a book that really spoke to my heart about forgiving and what that means. this family went through horrific events done to them by a church member and a church member's husband. the surviving family members had to forgive, because GOD told them to and this family's faith is what pulled them through.

we usually want instant forgiveness from the person we have wronged, but that isn't going always to be the case. sometimes we will never get an apology for a wrong that was done to us. the paradox of course is that it usually takes two to create a bad situation to begin with, so you have to look into your hearts and see what you have done wrong also. most individuals don't want to do that, because then they would have to admit their failings. GOD doesn't work that way i have found out through years of studying and seeking wisdom from HIM.

being the bigger person, or just setting aside your pride is something that HE will tell you over and over again to do. growing in HIM isn't just about learning HIS words, it's how you execute those words in your life and by example. a trap you fall into sometimes is that you may know scripture down to the last word and if you use that against someone, you better know your own failures because GOD will hold you accountable for that. when HE says love your enemies as you would yourself HE means that. all of us have demons we just have to be able to recognize that about ourselves before we judge another, so we can learn to forgive another.

i recently read on revive our hearts.com that you can have checklist about what GOD has taught you and if you have executed that throughout the day. it asked the question "did you bring GLORY to GOD today by your actions?" that doesn't just mean if you were pure in your actions, it's how you treated another. it's how you wrote about another. it's how you thought about another. it's about what you gave to another that day.

some of us in our pride will never be able to forgive. i ask you the question then "how can you ask for GOD's forgiveness and grace?" in all HIS glory HE still will not forgive you for it. we have been taught that GOD forgives all and gives grace for all things, but that's not true. you MUST learn to forgive and give grace. you MUST learn to set aside your pride. you MUST do it because HE commands you to - there is no wiggle room.

"43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." matthew 5:43-48


"9 This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." matthew 6:9-15