21 Days Fast: Day #2

What is Forgiveness?

Forgiveness is a Command

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

Forgiveness is an individual, a voluntary, internal process of letting go of feelings and thoughts of resentment, bitterness, anger, and the need for vengeance and retribution toward someone who we believe has wronged us, including ourselves.

Forgiving is a choice and commitment

Forgiving someone is not a warm, fuzzy feeling. If we don’t believe forgiveness is a choice, the ability to forgive can seem way out of our reach. Forgiveness is a commitment and a choice. It is an expression of faith and love.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him, who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

What Forgiveness is not?

Forgiveness is not a feeling.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

If we wait around to feel like forgiving after a deep hurt – those feelings might never come. Feelings are unreliable guides, as Jeremiah points out. As you bring your hurt to God, your feelings will change.

Forgiveness is not just forgetting.

Our human brain was not designed to forget. So while forgetting would certainly make forgiveness more manageable, we should be relying on the One who can heal our broken hearts.

The Benefits of Forgiveness

It sets us free

Forgiveness benefits us as if a huge burden has been lifted up from our chest. Many times we need to forgive ourselves, too, as this sets us free from things of our past because not forgiving yourself is like punishing yourself. If we do not forgive, a part of us is trapped in resentment, anger, pain or suffering of some kind. Unforgiveness limits us.

It Improves Relationships

When you forgive, you will have a positive attitude in everything you do. It will improve your relationships. You become a better spouse, a better employee, a better parent, a better child, a better student. There will be a bounce in your steps. The Holy Spirit of God will flow freely in every area of your being. As a result of this our health too improves.

How will I know if I have forgiven someone or not?

You will know that you have forgiven completely; whenever the memory comes back, you will not feel any pain, hurt or anger. You will feel the love of Christ in you that you will extend it to that person.

Scriptures for Meditation

Colossians 3:13

Matthew 6:14-15

Luke 17:3-4

Ephesians 4:31-32

Mark 11:25

Repeat every prayer missile till it comes from your heart. Only then move on to the next prayer missile. (Repeat it, personalize it, do this with each prayer point for a minimum 1 minute)

1. Come Blessed Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power and grace. Help me forgive (name of person(s)). I cannot do it without You.

2. In the name of Jesus, I release (name of person(s))

[Repeat the above two steps for the people who have deeply offended you or your loved ones]

3. Heavenly Father, teach me to love ....... like You do and bless them in the name of Jesus.

4. Father, in the name of Jesus, open my eyes to see (name of person) in the way you see him/her, for I am Your true child. Please have mercy on me.

5. I forgive (name of person) for I walk by faith and not by emotions. The Lord will surely honour me for this.

6. Every power, robbing me of the mercy and favour of God because of unforgiveness, release me and go in the name of Jesus.

7. Every evil flow of bitterness and resentment inherited from my parents/ancestors be destroyed now in the name of Jesus.

8. Great Revealer, show me the root causes of my problems in the name of Jesus.

9. My Father, I am here for a total reformation of my character. Break me and remould me again in the name of Jesus.

21 Days Fast: Day #2

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