Favor in Forgiveness!

Forgiveness is a powerful and often complex concept to grasp. We are used to thinking of it in terms of us forgiving others, but it’s important to remember that God is the only one who can truly forgive us. He wipes away our sins and gives us a chance to start fresh. As we forgive others, we are not taking away their sins or guilt; that is God’s job. We are simply letting go of our anger and grudges and offering forgiveness from the heart.

I once read that unforgiveness is like a balloon. If we try to twist and squeeze a balloon, it will pop out in another area and may even cause the balloon to pop, destroying it. The same holds true with unforgiveness, when we suppress it in one area of our life, it will show itself in another area. God did not intend for us to live in bondage. According to Ephesians 4:31, we must put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. This evidence of an unforgiving spirit will rob you of peace and joy. When we forgive others, we free ourselves from bitterness and resentment.

This concept can be seen in Peter denying Jesus three times. After this happened, “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matt.26:75). I cannot imagine Peter's anguish, yet he could move forward because he trusted in God’s word. Even though Peter had done wrong, he could fully walk in His favor by trusting in God's forgiveness.

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, releasing us from the debt of our sins. As we forgive others, we walk in the favor of God! We have the opportunity to share our testimonies on forgiveness and how it opened the door for God to pour out His favor on us. It is a great feeling to be liberated from the bondage of unforgiveness, allowing us to walk in total freedom It causes a transformation as we realize the fruit that comes from forgiveness but also shows others what God has done in our lives. In addition, witnessing the peace that we have gives others hope that they, too, can experience the power of God in their lives.

God is a God of forgiveness and grace. When we forgive ourselves or others, we’re not saying that we have the power to forgive sins but that we can release the burden we carry because of unforgiveness. We can trust God to wipe away our sins and allow us to move forward in His favor. The Bible tells us, "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (Romans 4:8). That is a promise to every believer!

When we forgive those who have wronged us, and when we forgive ourselves, we release the burdens that weigh us down. This allow God to do what He does best—forgive and restore! Forgiveness is an integral part of our relationship with God. When we forgive others, and ourselves, we can move forward in the knowledge that we are forgiven and loved, and that God has given us a chance to start fresh. Let go of the burden of guilt, shame, and anger and accept God's grace. When we do, we can walk in His favor and experience the peace and joy that comes with it. ©Rita Larson 4/14/2023

#Forgiveness #FavorofGod #Freedom #OnWordandUpWord

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