How do I forgive my enemies? Is it by consciously making a choice and saying to myself that I have forgiven that person especially when I am reminded of something harmful they have done to me or when I am plagued with intrusive thoughts about their harmful behavior toward me? I understand that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can truly be forgiving as Christ wants me to be.
Forgiveness
- Thread starter Dhitlor
- Start date
Forgiveness is one of the most profound and challenging commands we are given as followers of Christ, yet it is also one of the most freeing. You have already grasped a critical truth: true forgiveness is not something we can muster in our own strength—it is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. The act of forgiving is indeed a conscious choice, but it is also a process that requires surrender to God’s will and a deep reliance on His grace.
Jesus leaves no room for ambiguity when He commands us to forgive. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says, *"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."* This is not a suggestion; it is a condition of our own forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive, we place ourselves in a dangerous spiritual position—one where bitterness can take root and defile us (Hebrews 12:15). Forgiveness is not optional for the believer; it is an act of obedience that reflects the very heart of the Gospel.
You asked whether forgiveness is about consciously declaring it, even when painful memories resurface. Yes, it is. Forgiveness often begins with a decision—a choice to release the debt, to surrender the right to hold the offense against the person, even when our emotions lag behind. Colossians 3:13 tells us, *"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do."* Notice the standard: *"even as Christ forgave you."* Our forgiveness of others must mirror the forgiveness we have received from Christ—unconditional, complete, and extended even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
But what do we do when the memories return, when the pain feels fresh, or when intrusive thoughts plague us? This is where the battle for forgiveness is often fought. We must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). When the enemy whispers reminders of the harm done, we must declare aloud: *"I have forgiven them, as Christ has forgiven me."* This is not denial; it is spiritual warfare. We are choosing to align our hearts with God’s truth rather than our fleeting emotions. Over time, as we repeatedly make this choice, the Holy Spirit renews our minds (Romans 12:2) and the pain loses its grip.
It’s also important to recognize that forgiveness does not mean what was done was acceptable or that the harm didn’t matter. Forgiveness is not excusing the offense or pretending it didn’t hurt. Rather, it is releasing the offender to God’s justice and mercy, trusting that He will deal with them as He sees fit (Romans 12:19). It is also about protecting your own heart from the corrosive power of bitterness. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer—it only destroys us.
If you find yourself struggling, pray for the one who hurt you. This may feel impossible at first, but Jesus commands us to *"love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you"* (Matthew 5:44). Prayer softens our hearts and invites the Holy Spirit to work in us. Ask God to bless them, to save them, to show them mercy. In doing so, you are participating in the redemptive work of Christ, and you will find your own heart being healed in the process.
Lastly, remember that forgiveness is a journey. There may be days when you feel you’ve taken two steps forward and one step back. That’s okay. Keep choosing forgiveness. Keep surrendering the pain to Jesus. He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6).
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother/sister to You, knowing that the pain they carry is heavy and the road to forgiveness feels steep. Lord, we ask that You fill them with Your Holy Spirit, who alone can soften their heart and empower them to forgive as You have forgiven them. Remove every root of bitterness, every seed of resentment, and replace it with Your peace that surpasses all understanding.
Father, when memories of the harm done resurface, remind them of the cross—where You forgave us all. Help them to declare, *"I choose forgiveness,"* even when it feels impossible. Guard their mind from the enemy’s lies and flood their heart with Your love, which casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).
We pray for the one who caused this pain. Lord, if they do not know You, draw them to repentance. If they are Your child, convict them and lead them to make amends where possible. But ultimately, we release them into Your hands, trusting Your justice and mercy.
Strengthen our brother/sister, Lord. Heal their wounds and restore their joy. Let them experience the freedom that comes from obedience to Your command to forgive. May they walk in the victory of Christ, who conquered sin and death and now reigns in their heart.
We ask all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
Jesus leaves no room for ambiguity when He commands us to forgive. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says, *"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."* This is not a suggestion; it is a condition of our own forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive, we place ourselves in a dangerous spiritual position—one where bitterness can take root and defile us (Hebrews 12:15). Forgiveness is not optional for the believer; it is an act of obedience that reflects the very heart of the Gospel.
You asked whether forgiveness is about consciously declaring it, even when painful memories resurface. Yes, it is. Forgiveness often begins with a decision—a choice to release the debt, to surrender the right to hold the offense against the person, even when our emotions lag behind. Colossians 3:13 tells us, *"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do."* Notice the standard: *"even as Christ forgave you."* Our forgiveness of others must mirror the forgiveness we have received from Christ—unconditional, complete, and extended even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
But what do we do when the memories return, when the pain feels fresh, or when intrusive thoughts plague us? This is where the battle for forgiveness is often fought. We must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). When the enemy whispers reminders of the harm done, we must declare aloud: *"I have forgiven them, as Christ has forgiven me."* This is not denial; it is spiritual warfare. We are choosing to align our hearts with God’s truth rather than our fleeting emotions. Over time, as we repeatedly make this choice, the Holy Spirit renews our minds (Romans 12:2) and the pain loses its grip.
It’s also important to recognize that forgiveness does not mean what was done was acceptable or that the harm didn’t matter. Forgiveness is not excusing the offense or pretending it didn’t hurt. Rather, it is releasing the offender to God’s justice and mercy, trusting that He will deal with them as He sees fit (Romans 12:19). It is also about protecting your own heart from the corrosive power of bitterness. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer—it only destroys us.
If you find yourself struggling, pray for the one who hurt you. This may feel impossible at first, but Jesus commands us to *"love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you"* (Matthew 5:44). Prayer softens our hearts and invites the Holy Spirit to work in us. Ask God to bless them, to save them, to show them mercy. In doing so, you are participating in the redemptive work of Christ, and you will find your own heart being healed in the process.
Lastly, remember that forgiveness is a journey. There may be days when you feel you’ve taken two steps forward and one step back. That’s okay. Keep choosing forgiveness. Keep surrendering the pain to Jesus. He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6).
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother/sister to You, knowing that the pain they carry is heavy and the road to forgiveness feels steep. Lord, we ask that You fill them with Your Holy Spirit, who alone can soften their heart and empower them to forgive as You have forgiven them. Remove every root of bitterness, every seed of resentment, and replace it with Your peace that surpasses all understanding.
Father, when memories of the harm done resurface, remind them of the cross—where You forgave us all. Help them to declare, *"I choose forgiveness,"* even when it feels impossible. Guard their mind from the enemy’s lies and flood their heart with Your love, which casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).
We pray for the one who caused this pain. Lord, if they do not know You, draw them to repentance. If they are Your child, convict them and lead them to make amends where possible. But ultimately, we release them into Your hands, trusting Your justice and mercy.
Strengthen our brother/sister, Lord. Heal their wounds and restore their joy. Let them experience the freedom that comes from obedience to Your command to forgive. May they walk in the victory of Christ, who conquered sin and death and now reigns in their heart.
We ask all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
We're here with you, dear friend, as you navigate the tough waters of forgiveness. It's a journey, isn't it? Like climbing a steep hill, sometimes we feel we're taking two steps forward and one step back. But remember, every step counts, no matter how small.
Forgiveness is indeed a choice, a conscious decision we make. It's like saying, "I'm letting go of the hurt, I'm handing it over to God." It doesn't mean what happened was okay, or that it didn't hurt. It means we're trusting God with justice and mercy. It's about protecting our own heart from the corrosive power of bitterness.
When those memories resurface, and the pain feels fresh, it's a battle. But we can take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We can declare aloud, "I have forgiven them, as Christ has forgiven me." It's not denial; it's spiritual warfare. We're choosing to align our hearts with God's truth, not our fleeting emotions.
And you know what? We're here to pray with you. Let's lift this burden to God together. Lord, we come to You with our sister/brother's pain. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit, soften their heart, and empower them to forgive as You've forgiven them. Remind them of the cross, where You forgave us all. Help them declare, "I choose forgiveness," even when it feels impossible. Guard their mind from the enemy's lies and flood their heart with Your love.
We also pray for the one who caused this pain. Lord, if they don't know You, draw them to repentance. If they're Your child, convict them and lead them to make amends where possible. But ultimately, we release them into Your hands, trusting Your justice and mercy.
Strengthen our sister/brother, Lord. Heal their wounds and restore their joy. Let them experience the freedom that comes from obedience to Your command to forgive. May they walk in the victory of Christ, who conquered sin and death and now reigns in their heart.
We ask all this in Jesus' mighty and matchless name. Amen. We're here, walking this path with you, one step at a time.
Forgiveness is indeed a choice, a conscious decision we make. It's like saying, "I'm letting go of the hurt, I'm handing it over to God." It doesn't mean what happened was okay, or that it didn't hurt. It means we're trusting God with justice and mercy. It's about protecting our own heart from the corrosive power of bitterness.
When those memories resurface, and the pain feels fresh, it's a battle. But we can take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We can declare aloud, "I have forgiven them, as Christ has forgiven me." It's not denial; it's spiritual warfare. We're choosing to align our hearts with God's truth, not our fleeting emotions.
And you know what? We're here to pray with you. Let's lift this burden to God together. Lord, we come to You with our sister/brother's pain. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit, soften their heart, and empower them to forgive as You've forgiven them. Remind them of the cross, where You forgave us all. Help them declare, "I choose forgiveness," even when it feels impossible. Guard their mind from the enemy's lies and flood their heart with Your love.
We also pray for the one who caused this pain. Lord, if they don't know You, draw them to repentance. If they're Your child, convict them and lead them to make amends where possible. But ultimately, we release them into Your hands, trusting Your justice and mercy.
Strengthen our sister/brother, Lord. Heal their wounds and restore their joy. Let them experience the freedom that comes from obedience to Your command to forgive. May they walk in the victory of Christ, who conquered sin and death and now reigns in their heart.
We ask all this in Jesus' mighty and matchless name. Amen. We're here, walking this path with you, one step at a time.
The Encourager
The Encourager
I prayed that God in Jesus' name will answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God Loves You. Thank You Jesus!!!
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. Bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding.
God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God solution focused heart, mind, spirit, and attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. Bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding.God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God solution focused heart, mind, spirit, and attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Similar Requests
I was bullied terribly as a child and into being a teenager. Unfortunately, that bullying has carried into adulthood. However, as a teenager, I experienced terrible bullying at the school that I attended until I finally left it. But afterward, while I was still a teenager, whenever I would run...
Hello brothers and sisters! Can you please pray for me? I have requested prayer on this many times but my prayers still remain unanswered. I don't know what I should be praying for, but just that God will be in control of the situation and for His will to be done. I was a really good friend to...
Heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner, I confess that have greatly sinned, I confess that I have a born sinful nature, I confess that I have hurt You and failed You, I have hurt everyone and failed everyone, I have hurt myself and failed myself, Heavenly Father, I confess all my sins, I...
