Unforgiveness
- Thread starter Dhitlor
- Start date
We join together with you in this battle and we thank you for sharing this honest request with us. We understand how the enemy intensifies his attack right when God is bringing freedom, and unforgiveness is one of his most effective traps. We want to stand with you for complete deliverance and victory in this area.
The Word shows us how serious this is, not to condemn you but to set you free. We are commanded to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to hold onto unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold in our lives. Ephesians 4:31-32 says Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. 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. And Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. This is why we must rebuke the spirit of unforgiveness and refuse to entertain it, even when the feelings and memories return. Temptation itself is not sin, but choosing to hold the offense is.
We also see that this is spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 says For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 2 Corinthians 2:11 warns that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. And 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The enemy wants you to remain bound through resentment, but God wants you free through obedience.
We notice you spoke of God setting you free, and we want to gently encourage you that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father and true freedom from sin. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. Acts 4:12 says 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. We are saved and set free not by our own effort but by believing in Jesus, that He died for our sins and rose again, and calling upon His name. It is by His blood we have been forgiven, and it is by His power we can forgive others. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your full trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and for daily victory.
We pray together now for you in Jesus name. Father, we come before You together in the mighty name of Jesus and we thank You that You are setting our brother or sister free from unforgiveness. We ask You to strengthen them to resist the enemy’s temptation to hold onto bitterness. Help them to submit to You and resist the devil so that he will flee as James 4:7 promises. Fill their heart with Your love and mercy, and bring to their mind how much they have been forgiven in Christ, so they can release every offense, every hurt, and every person who has wronged them into Your hands. Heal the wounds that make forgiveness feel so difficult, and help them to choose forgiveness as an act of obedience and not just a feeling. We rebuke the attack of the enemy against their mind and we declare that no weapon formed against them shall prosper. Let Your peace guard their heart and let them walk in the freedom Christ purchased for them. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to walk this out daily. When the thought or the hurt returns, immediately bring it to the Lord in prayer and choose again to forgive and bless that person as Christ has forgiven you. Mark 11:25 says 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. Speak Scripture out loud over yourself, put on the whole armor of God each day as described in Ephesians 6:11, and do not give the enemy any place. Forgiveness does not mean the wrong was okay or that trust is instantly restored, it means you release the debt to God and trust Him to be the righteous Judge. As you continue to obey, the feelings will follow and the enemy’s power will be broken. We are praying for your continued freedom and joy in Christ.
The Word shows us how serious this is, not to condemn you but to set you free. We are commanded to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to hold onto unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold in our lives. Ephesians 4:31-32 says Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. 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. And Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. This is why we must rebuke the spirit of unforgiveness and refuse to entertain it, even when the feelings and memories return. Temptation itself is not sin, but choosing to hold the offense is.
We also see that this is spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 says For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 2 Corinthians 2:11 warns that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. And 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The enemy wants you to remain bound through resentment, but God wants you free through obedience.
We notice you spoke of God setting you free, and we want to gently encourage you that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father and true freedom from sin. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. Acts 4:12 says 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. We are saved and set free not by our own effort but by believing in Jesus, that He died for our sins and rose again, and calling upon His name. It is by His blood we have been forgiven, and it is by His power we can forgive others. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your full trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and for daily victory.
We pray together now for you in Jesus name. Father, we come before You together in the mighty name of Jesus and we thank You that You are setting our brother or sister free from unforgiveness. We ask You to strengthen them to resist the enemy’s temptation to hold onto bitterness. Help them to submit to You and resist the devil so that he will flee as James 4:7 promises. Fill their heart with Your love and mercy, and bring to their mind how much they have been forgiven in Christ, so they can release every offense, every hurt, and every person who has wronged them into Your hands. Heal the wounds that make forgiveness feel so difficult, and help them to choose forgiveness as an act of obedience and not just a feeling. We rebuke the attack of the enemy against their mind and we declare that no weapon formed against them shall prosper. Let Your peace guard their heart and let them walk in the freedom Christ purchased for them. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to walk this out daily. When the thought or the hurt returns, immediately bring it to the Lord in prayer and choose again to forgive and bless that person as Christ has forgiven you. Mark 11:25 says 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. Speak Scripture out loud over yourself, put on the whole armor of God each day as described in Ephesians 6:11, and do not give the enemy any place. Forgiveness does not mean the wrong was okay or that trust is instantly restored, it means you release the debt to God and trust Him to be the righteous Judge. As you continue to obey, the feelings will follow and the enemy’s power will be broken. We are praying for your continued freedom and joy in Christ.
We hear how heavy this has been, wanting to live free from unforgiveness and at the same time feeling the pull to hold onto it even more strongly.
It makes sense that the temptation feels louder right as God is bringing freedom. That pressure does not mean you have failed or gone backward.
It has helped many of us to remember that forgiveness has two parts that work on different timelines. One is a decision, a settled choice not to pursue revenge and to treat the other person as someone still valuable to God. That decision can stand firm even on a hard day. The other is the slower emotional side, where feelings like resentment, bitterness, anger and fear are gradually softened and replaced with more compassion and peace. That emotional part naturally rises and falls with moods, memories and reminders, so a flare up does not cancel the decision you made.
When the urge to rehearse the hurt or hold bitterness comes, it can help to pause for a moment, notice it without shaming yourself, quietly reaffirm the decision you have already made before God, and ask Him to help you through the feeling in that moment. Sharing that moment with one trusted believer can also keep rumination from taking deeper root.
Father, thank You for the work You are already doing to set our friend free. When the temptation to hold onto hurt returns, give strength to stand by the decision to forgive and gently soften what is still sore underneath. Guard our friend from the enemy's pressure and draw him closer to Your peace day by day. In Jesus' name, amen.
It makes sense that the temptation feels louder right as God is bringing freedom. That pressure does not mean you have failed or gone backward.
It has helped many of us to remember that forgiveness has two parts that work on different timelines. One is a decision, a settled choice not to pursue revenge and to treat the other person as someone still valuable to God. That decision can stand firm even on a hard day. The other is the slower emotional side, where feelings like resentment, bitterness, anger and fear are gradually softened and replaced with more compassion and peace. That emotional part naturally rises and falls with moods, memories and reminders, so a flare up does not cancel the decision you made.
When the urge to rehearse the hurt or hold bitterness comes, it can help to pause for a moment, notice it without shaming yourself, quietly reaffirm the decision you have already made before God, and ask Him to help you through the feeling in that moment. Sharing that moment with one trusted believer can also keep rumination from taking deeper root.
Father, thank You for the work You are already doing to set our friend free. When the temptation to hold onto hurt returns, give strength to stand by the decision to forgive and gently soften what is still sore underneath. Guard our friend from the enemy's pressure and draw him closer to Your peace day by day. In Jesus' name, amen.
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.
Similar Requests
Please pray for me as God is helping me to be set free from unforgiveness these days and I feel I'm being tested right now. Thank you.
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