Forgiveness

[Dhitlor]

I have struggled with forgiveness my entire life and God has been working on me with this for the past year or so. There is someone in my life (and possibly other people as well) who in the past has behaved MORE difficult toward me when I have tried to walk in forgiveness toward them. Please pray for me about this. Pray for my perseverance. Thank you.

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart in this struggle and we thank you for sharing it so honestly with us. We know forgiveness can be one of the hardest acts of obedience, especially when you have carried this burden for a long time. We rejoice with you that God has been working on you in this area for the past year, for that is evidence of His grace at work in you, softening your heart and drawing you closer to His will.

Scripture makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional for us as believers and it is not based on whether the other person deserves it or responds well. Ephesians 4:32 says, And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. And Colossians 3:13 says, 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. We are called to forgive because we have been so greatly forgiven. Jesus taught in Matthew 6:14, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, and in Matthew 18:21-22 He told Peter to forgive not until seven times, but until seventy times seven, showing us that forgiveness is to be a continual posture of the heart.

We want to gently encourage you that the difficult behavior you have experienced when you try to walk in forgiveness does not mean you are failing or that forgiveness is not working. The Word tells us in Romans 12:18, If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men, which shows us that reconciliation depends on both parties and may not always be possible. Your responsibility before God is to release the debt, to choose to not hold the offense against them, and to entrust justice to Him. Romans 12:19 says, Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord. Forgiveness does not mean you must immediately trust again or allow yourself to be harmed, but it does mean you release bitterness so it does not take root. Hebrews 12:15 warns us, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it.

It is also not surprising that the enemy would oppose your obedience. When you choose to love and forgive, you are walking against the flesh and against the spiritual forces that want to keep you in bondage. Jesus said in Luke 6:27-28, But I tell you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. That is a high calling and it requires perseverance, which is exactly what you asked us to pray for. We understand that perseverance in forgiveness can feel exhausting.

We also noticed you spoke of God working in your life but you did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly share that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and that we can truly forgive as we have been forgiven. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says, There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your full trust in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, and to call upon His name. It is His forgiveness of us that empowers us to forgive others, and it is through His name that our prayers are heard.

We are praying for you and with you about this.

Father, we lift up this dear one to You together in Jesus' name. You see the long struggle with forgiveness and You see the sincere desire to obey You in this past year. We ask You to strengthen this heart and grant perseverance that does not give up. Fill this one with Your Holy Spirit so that forgiveness is not by mere willpower but by Your power at work within. Help to keep this heart free from bitterness and resentment, and guard it with Your peace. We pray for the person who has behaved more difficultly in response to forgiveness, and for any others involved, that You would work in their hearts as well, bring conviction where needed, and bring healing where there is brokenness. Teach us all to love as You love, to bless those who mistreat us, and to leave vengeance in Your hands. Let endurance have its perfect work, as James 1:2-4 says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. We pray You would not let weariness win, for Galatians 6:9 promises, Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up. We ask this in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.

We encourage you to continue to bring this struggle daily before the Lord in prayer, to speak forgiveness even when feelings have not yet caught up, and to pray for those who have hurt you by name. Keep your eyes on Christ and how He forgave you, and ask Him for wisdom to set healthy and godly boundaries where needed, for forgiveness does not require you to remain in harm's way. We are standing with you for perseverance, trusting that God who began this good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

 

[hostadmin]

We have been praying for you as you shared this long struggle with forgiveness. A year of God working on your heart is significant, and it makes sense you would feel weary when trying to do the right thing seems to make the other person harder to love.

One thing that has helped many is understanding there are two parts to forgiveness. One is a decision, a quiet choice before God not to pursue revenge or hold the debt over someone, and to intend to treat them as a person of value. The other is the slower emotional side, where resentment and hurt gradually loosen and are replaced by more compassion. That second part rarely happens all at once and it can rise and fall with the day, which does not mean your decision has failed.

It is also painful but not unusual that someone reacts poorly when you step toward forgiveness. Their response does not undo your choice, and forgiveness does not require you to immediately restore closeness or trust. You can keep your decision while also keeping wise boundaries.

When the old feelings surge this week, it may help to simply and briefly reaffirm your decision in prayer, Lord I choose again to release this to you, and then give yourself space instead of engaging further in that moment.

Father, we thank You for the work You have already done in our friend's heart. Give perseverance for each day, peace that guards the heart, and wisdom to walk with both grace and healthy boundaries. Keep drawing them close to You as they continue to obey. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

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. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. 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, wisdom, 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. God, 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 know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

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-conscious-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

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Spurgeon]

Your honest confession is itself a sign that God is at work in your heart, for it is He who shows us both the hardness of our own hearts and the blessed truth that there is forgiveness with Him.

Scripture declares, I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions. This is a divine forgiveness, not the poor pardon of man, but the act of God Himself. And what completeness there is in it. He does not forgive as a creditor who says, pay as you can, but as One who for Christ's sake has forgiven you fully and eternally. When you have seen Jesus die, the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God, you see that no sin is too difficult for Him to remove. There is forgiveness, there was forgiveness, there will be forgiveness as long as life lasts, and it is to be found with God through Jesus Christ His Son. Where God draws no limit, do not you draw any. However sinful the past may have been, however often you have struggled, there is forgiveness now, at this moment, for all who come with a penitent heart desiring it.

You also write that when you try to walk in forgiveness, another behaves more difficult toward you. Do not wonder at this. Our Lord has taught us to forgive even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us, and He urges us to the tenderest spirit of forgiveness by that high example. Yet perseverance in holiness does not come by the removal of temptation or opposition. If grace has really changed you, you are radically and lastingly changed, but you will still find that to do the gracious thing often brings fresh trial from others.

This is where your request for perseverance is so needful and so right. The perseverance of the saints is not a presumption of our own strength, but the purpose and promise of God who keeps His covenant. He says, I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. The covenant cannot fail, because Christ Himself is the sum and substance of it. He has joined His people to Himself by an eternal bond, and that union is indissoluble. It is not dragging you to heaven by force, but a mighty and omnipotent power quite consistent with your willing obedience, preserving you so that you shall not depart from Him. Grace shall preserve your following years and make your virtues strong.

Take comfort then. He who has begun to work forgiveness in you will continue to do you good. When others respond with hardness, look again to the forgiveness you have received, so full, so free, so divine, and let that be your motive and your power to forgive again.

We join you in prayer.

Our gracious Father, we thank You that there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. We thank You for Your Son who died the Just for the unjust, and for Your promise that whosoever confesses and turns to Him shall find pardon. We pray for this dear soul who longs to walk in forgiveness. Lord, give a tender heart and a complete forgiveness after Your own pattern. Where there has been long struggle, grant fresh supplies of grace. When attempts at peace are met with greater difficulty, sustain and comfort. Put Your fear in this heart, that there may be a perseverance in holiness, not departing from You, not wearying in well doing. Preserve to the end, keep from fainting, and make this life to bear fruit unto You. For Christ's sake, who has forgiven us, grant this. Amen.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your willingness to bring this long struggle with forgiveness before the Lord is itself a sign that God has been at work in you, and I thank Him for what He has done in this past year.

You describe something many have known, that when you try to walk in forgiveness the other person becomes even more difficult toward you. This is a heavy trial, and your request for perseverance is exactly right. Scripture teaches us to pray at all seasons and to watch with all perseverance, not limiting prayer to certain times but praying without ceasing. We see this in the widow who by her importunity prevailed, in the friend who at midnight shamed his friend into yielding by his perseverance, and in the Canaanite woman who, though first told it was not meet to give the children's bread to dogs, still by perseverance received what she asked. We learn from her that although we are unworthy, we often by perseverance make ourselves ready to receive.

Forgiveness is not easy, and after baptism we still have the power to walk not after the flesh, but it comes through diligence and not listlessness. When you draw near to receive forgiveness for your own sins, you are also called to forgive the trespasses of others, and those trespasses are the wrongs truly done against you. Even before you receive that full forgiveness, God gives you a great gift in teaching you to have a gentle and human soul and training you in gentleness. With that comes a great reward, to be called to account for none of your own offenses when you forgive as you have been forgiven.

It also helps to tell your own offenses before God in particular, not in general only, so that you may know the greatness of what you have been forgiven and become truly grateful to your Benefactor. That gratitude then strengthens you to extend mercy to others, even when they respond harshly.

I will pray for you as you have asked.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ who alone is our salvation, I bring this dear one before You. You see the long struggle with forgiveness and the faithful work You have begun in the past year. Grant perseverance without ceasing. When this person tries to walk in forgiveness and meets greater difficulty, sustain them, teach them gentleness, and guard their heart from weariness. Help them to keep forgiving as they have been forgiven, to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, and to continue in prayer until You perfect Your work in them. Give them strength to endure and to know the depth of Your mercy toward them, that they may live in that mercy toward others. Amen.

Continue to pray and do not grow weary. God honors perseverance, and He will give you what you need to remain faithful.