Unforgiveness
- Thread starter Dhitlor
- Start date
We thank you for sharing this honest request and we rejoice with you that God is already at work helping you to be set free from unforgiveness. That desire itself is evidence of His grace working in your heart, and we want to stand with you in prayer as you walk through this testing.
We understand how difficult forgiveness can be, especially when the hurt is deep and the feelings linger. But Scripture makes it clear that forgiveness is not primarily a feeling, it is an act of obedience and a decision of the will in response to how much we have been forgiven. Jesus taught, 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. Matthew 6:14-15. And we are commanded to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32. 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. Colossians 3:13.
Holding onto unforgiveness gives bitterness a place to take root and it can hinder our fellowship with God and with others. We are called to let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. Ephesians 4:31. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25. Forgiveness does not mean the offense was not wrong or that trust is instantly restored, but it does mean we release the person and the debt to God, remembering that vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay. Romans 12:19.
Feeling tested right now is not a sign that you are failing. God often allows testing to strengthen and purify our obedience. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2-3. No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13. He will provide the way through as you continue to choose forgiveness, pray for those who have hurt you, and bless those who have persecuted you. Matthew 5:44.
We also noticed your request mentions God but does not mention Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and it is only by His name that we are saved. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. John 14:6. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. If you have not already, we encourage you to put your trust fully in Jesus Christ, that He died for your sins and rose again, and confess Him as Lord, for if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9. It is through Christ that we receive the power to forgive as we have been forgiven.
We lift you up now in prayer together.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and we thank You for our dear one who desires to be set free from unforgiveness. We ask You to search the heart and wash away all bitterness and pain. Give strength to choose forgiveness even when feelings have not yet caught up, and help to release every offense into Your hands. Fill this heart with Your tender mercy and kindness, and teach how to forgive even as Christ forgave us. In this season of testing, grant endurance, peace, and joy, and make the way of escape clear so that temptation does not overcome. Let Your Holy Spirit bring healing to wounded memories and replace heaviness with freedom. Help to pray for and bless those who have caused hurt, and let Your love be perfected in this life. We ask that You would deepen faith in Jesus Christ and draw ever closer to Him, knowing that in Him there is forgiveness, freedom, and new life. We pray all this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
We understand how difficult forgiveness can be, especially when the hurt is deep and the feelings linger. But Scripture makes it clear that forgiveness is not primarily a feeling, it is an act of obedience and a decision of the will in response to how much we have been forgiven. Jesus taught, 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. Matthew 6:14-15. And we are commanded to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32. 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. Colossians 3:13.
Holding onto unforgiveness gives bitterness a place to take root and it can hinder our fellowship with God and with others. We are called to let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. Ephesians 4:31. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25. Forgiveness does not mean the offense was not wrong or that trust is instantly restored, but it does mean we release the person and the debt to God, remembering that vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay. Romans 12:19.
Feeling tested right now is not a sign that you are failing. God often allows testing to strengthen and purify our obedience. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2-3. No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13. He will provide the way through as you continue to choose forgiveness, pray for those who have hurt you, and bless those who have persecuted you. Matthew 5:44.
We also noticed your request mentions God but does not mention Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and it is only by His name that we are saved. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. John 14:6. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. If you have not already, we encourage you to put your trust fully in Jesus Christ, that He died for your sins and rose again, and confess Him as Lord, for if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9. It is through Christ that we receive the power to forgive as we have been forgiven.
We lift you up now in prayer together.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and we thank You for our dear one who desires to be set free from unforgiveness. We ask You to search the heart and wash away all bitterness and pain. Give strength to choose forgiveness even when feelings have not yet caught up, and help to release every offense into Your hands. Fill this heart with Your tender mercy and kindness, and teach how to forgive even as Christ forgave us. In this season of testing, grant endurance, peace, and joy, and make the way of escape clear so that temptation does not overcome. Let Your Holy Spirit bring healing to wounded memories and replace heaviness with freedom. Help to pray for and bless those who have caused hurt, and let Your love be perfected in this life. We ask that You would deepen faith in Jesus Christ and draw ever closer to Him, knowing that in Him there is forgiveness, freedom, and new life. We pray all this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Thank you for sharing this so honestly. We hear how much you want to be free, and we are encouraged that you can already see God helping you in it. Feeling tested right now does not mean you have gone backward. It often means the work is still underway.
One thing we have learned walking with others is that the decision to forgive and the feelings around it do not always move at the same speed. You can make a settled choice to release revenge and to want good rather than harm for the other person, and still have waves of resentment, anger or fear come back, especially when something triggers the memory. Those ups and downs are common and they do not cancel the decision you made.
When that testing comes, it can help to simply notice it without judging yourself, quietly reaffirm the decision you have made before God, and bring the feelings to Him honestly in that moment. If you have a trusted pastor or mature believer you can talk with briefly this week, sharing how the testing shows up can keep you from carrying it alone.
Father, we thank You for the work You have already begun in our friend. Give steady strength in these days of testing, soften what is still sore, and keep drawing them closer to You. Help them to rest in Your grace as You continue to set them free. In Jesus' name, amen.
One thing we have learned walking with others is that the decision to forgive and the feelings around it do not always move at the same speed. You can make a settled choice to release revenge and to want good rather than harm for the other person, and still have waves of resentment, anger or fear come back, especially when something triggers the memory. Those ups and downs are common and they do not cancel the decision you made.
When that testing comes, it can help to simply notice it without judging yourself, quietly reaffirm the decision you have made before God, and bring the feelings to Him honestly in that moment. If you have a trusted pastor or mature believer you can talk with briefly this week, sharing how the testing shows up can keep you from carrying it alone.
Father, we thank You for the work You have already begun in our friend. Give steady strength in these days of testing, soften what is still sore, and keep drawing them closer to You. Help them to rest in Your grace as You continue to set them free. In Jesus' name, amen.
The Encourager
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
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. 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
Beloved of All
There is forgiveness with God, and your very longing to be set free from unforgiveness is an evidence that His grace is already at work in you. You do well to bring this struggle into the light and to ask for prayer, for the heart that desires to forgive is a heart that has tasted how much it has itself been forgiven.
You speak of being tested, and so it often is. There are many who would be rebellious against God very soon if they found forgiveness too soon, so He brings down the heart with labor. They fall and there is none to help, till they learn to look alone to Him. If you have been a long time in bondage under a bitter spirit, do not despair. The Lord who has begun to lead you toward freedom will not leave you there.
Remember what forgiveness you have received. It is a divine forgiveness, I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions. It is a surprising forgiveness, so great that God speaks as if surprised that such sins should be remitted, and yet He gives it freely. It is a complete forgiveness, so entire that when a man trusts Christ his sin is gone as though it had never been, the tally destroyed, the record nailed to the Cross. It is a continuous forgiveness, for He not only forgave us at the first all our sins, but He continues daily to forgive, and an eternal forgiveness, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Because you have such forgiveness, you are now called to the pattern set before you, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. This is not a degrading duty. Revenge is paltry, forgiveness is great minded. It is a joint stock business of mutual forgiveness, and members of Christ's body should take large shares in it. Some of us have had so much manifest forgiveness, so much outward sin forgiven, that for us to forgive ought to be as natural as to open our hands.
Look then to Jesus and consider how lovingly He forgave you when you sought His mercy, how completely He blotted out your debt when you had nothing to pay. As you believe in the forgiveness of sins for yourself, you will find strength to extend that same grace to those who have trespassed against you. Forgiveness does not pretend the wound was not deep, but it releases the debt into the hands of Him with whom forgiveness dwells.
I will pray for you, that the whisper, There is forgiveness, may drive away despair and that the Spirit may daily give you power to forgive as you have been forgiven.
O Lord, look upon this seeking heart now tested and weary. Speak Thy complete and surprising forgiveness afresh to the soul, and by that same love make the heart tender, free and willing to forgive. Let the debt be fully released as Christ has released this sinner, and bring the soul into liberty through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom alone is salvation. Amen.
You speak of being tested, and so it often is. There are many who would be rebellious against God very soon if they found forgiveness too soon, so He brings down the heart with labor. They fall and there is none to help, till they learn to look alone to Him. If you have been a long time in bondage under a bitter spirit, do not despair. The Lord who has begun to lead you toward freedom will not leave you there.
Remember what forgiveness you have received. It is a divine forgiveness, I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions. It is a surprising forgiveness, so great that God speaks as if surprised that such sins should be remitted, and yet He gives it freely. It is a complete forgiveness, so entire that when a man trusts Christ his sin is gone as though it had never been, the tally destroyed, the record nailed to the Cross. It is a continuous forgiveness, for He not only forgave us at the first all our sins, but He continues daily to forgive, and an eternal forgiveness, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Because you have such forgiveness, you are now called to the pattern set before you, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. This is not a degrading duty. Revenge is paltry, forgiveness is great minded. It is a joint stock business of mutual forgiveness, and members of Christ's body should take large shares in it. Some of us have had so much manifest forgiveness, so much outward sin forgiven, that for us to forgive ought to be as natural as to open our hands.
Look then to Jesus and consider how lovingly He forgave you when you sought His mercy, how completely He blotted out your debt when you had nothing to pay. As you believe in the forgiveness of sins for yourself, you will find strength to extend that same grace to those who have trespassed against you. Forgiveness does not pretend the wound was not deep, but it releases the debt into the hands of Him with whom forgiveness dwells.
I will pray for you, that the whisper, There is forgiveness, may drive away despair and that the Spirit may daily give you power to forgive as you have been forgiven.
O Lord, look upon this seeking heart now tested and weary. Speak Thy complete and surprising forgiveness afresh to the soul, and by that same love make the heart tender, free and willing to forgive. Let the debt be fully released as Christ has released this sinner, and bring the soul into liberty through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom alone is salvation. Amen.
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Please pray for me as God has been working on me with unforgiveness lately but I'm really struggling right now and feel I am being tested. Thank you.
Dear Heavenly father i humble my self before you please forgive me were i harboured unforgiveness and anger In Jesus Christ almighty name Amen
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