“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24- 26).
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
One of the core messages and distinctions of the Christian life is forgiveness. We cannot earn God’s forgiveness and mercy. Jesus paid the debt for our sins that we could not pay, granting us forgiveness and eternal life. Forgiveness is the very gift that makes a personal relationship with God possible. If we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, God washes our slate clean and makes us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
Just as God forgives us, we are instructed to forgive others who have wronged us. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Forgiveness is not often easy. For years, we can harbor resentment and pain, struggling to get past deep-seated feelings to offer forgiveness. God knows this, yet He tells us in Mark 11:25, we are to forgive anyone we have a grudge against and he will also forgive our sins.
God doesn’t ask anything of us He hasn’t provided the way for or modeled first. He is the Great Physician! Through His healing, He helps us give AND accept forgiveness. Choosing to receive and extend forgiveness is a choice. He can heal our pain and restore our relationships, providing us release, joy, and peace.
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: Pray and seek God for direction in extending forgiveness through hard life-seasons and relationships. God will provide answers when you focus on Him. Read these scriptures and let them bring peace to you.
“If you forgive those who sin against you, Your heavenly Father will forgive you” Matthew 6:14).
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
“And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent, forgive him’” (Luke 17:4).
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, Your name is high and lifted today! We come to You seeking guidance. We don’t want bitterness to cast a dark cloud over the joy in our lives. Help us to heal from any deep-rooted resentment and pain that others may have caused. Please open our hearts to Your instruction and help us be willing to extend forgiveness to others. We ask forgiveness for ourselves—for anything we have done against You. You have offered us a blessed life in Christ Jesus, and we thank You for it. In Your name, we pray, Amen!
Final Thought: Let God do the heavy lifting. Give Him all your worries and cares because he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7). He is there through every obstacle, waiting for us to call on Him.
Extending Forgiveness Through Hard Seasons
Focus on the Fruits! PEACE
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: A Journey Towards Divine Purpose
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Focus on the Fruits! JOY
“God will let you laugh again; you’ll raise the roof with shouts of joy” (Job 8:20).
Taking Up the Mantle: Your Role in Expanding God’s Kingdom
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Spiritual Recharge: Ignite Your Connection with God Now!
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
Discover a Profound Love for the Word of God
“Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (Matthew 6:8).
Standing for Christ with Courage
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed” (Isaiah 61:1).
Ordinary, Yet Highly Valued
“And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:5).