FORGIVING THE UNLOVELY

You know it is easy to love the ones that are kind, that show they care, that believe the same way we do, that have a positive attitude but what about the ones that are unlovely? It is not as easy to love the person who has wronged us, who believe differently than we do, that have hurt us, that have mistreated us and that are negative.  God says in His word, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you….Matthew 5:44.  That one is a tough one to swallow because to do all of those things, we must also forgive.  Forgiving someone who has wronged us can be hard to do but when it is done, it releases us from the pain and hurt and gives us power to love even when they don’t deserve to be loved.  You may be thinking….well she does not know what this person did to me.  You are right but God does and when we release that forgiveness even to the person who abused, neglected or abondoned us; although difficlut, it allows God to heal our deepest wounds and it frees us from all of the junk that has been stored up in our hearts that has stolen our joy and peace.  When we release that anger, hate, bitterness and hurt….it sets US FREE!!  That person that you have had all of that unforgiveness for has kept you captive long enough.  Truly forgive them and love them as Christ loves us and be free from the pain and hurt and live a life of victory, a life of freedom, a life filled with peace.

God has helped me through the years to forgive those that have hurt me.  I had some deep wounds that kept me bound up in unforgiveness that took away so much of my joy, peace and happiness.  It caused me problems in my relationships because I had built not only unforgiveness in my heart but the inability to trust.  Once I laid that pain and hurt at the feet of Christ and said God I lay this down and I refuse to ever let the hurts of my past control my future….then the forgiveness came, the trust began to rebuild and my life started turning around.  I kept so much unforgiveness in my heart for so many years that it truly controlled my present that in return controlled my future….I was destructive in all of my relationships, my heart was angry and my thoughts were negative.  Letting go of the things that have hurt and bound you is the first step to a happier future.  I am living proof of it.

Forgiveness is at the very heart of Christianity and our faith as believers in Jesus.  Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins….he died for me and you!  He forgives me day after day after day and never looks back at what I did. He never brings it up again.  He never says well Leanne remember when you hurt me back in 1989?  No, he doesn’t…..once forgiven it is erased from memory to never be mentioned, remembered or brought back up.  Wouldn’t it be simply amazing if we, as humans could replicate that very forgiveness for others in our lives?  There are things that have hurt me so deeply that I never thought I would recover.  Once I truly forgave the persons that hurt me, I began to live a new life and the forgiveness set ME FREE!  We are not hurting anyone but ourselves when we choose not to forgive.  Once again the bible tells us….”As the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive” Collossians 3:13.  God commands us to forgive.  Sometimes the forgetting is the hard part but if we forgive, we just have to pray that God will change our hearts and minds about the person, situation or event and day by day let our hearts and minds be renewed and all things are made new.

Forgiving and displaying grace to others is not easy and it comes with alot of praying, seeking out truth and laying it all at Jesus’ feet so He can heal those wounds that have caused us so much pain.  You truly have to come to a place that you do not want the pains of the past to control you because lets be honest, forgiving is not easy, forgetting those hurts is not easy, letting Jesus heal our hearts is not easy but it can be done.  Pray and ask God to reveal to you how to forgive and get past these hurts that have bound you for so long.  Deep, intimate hurts can destroy you if you let them so release that hurt and forgive so that you can live a victorious life in Christ!  Let the Holy Spirit take over your life and help you forgive today, like Jesus!

Prayer of forgiveness:
Dear heavenly father I come to you today and I ask you to help me to forgive those who have wronged me.  I thank you for forgiving me.  I thank you for sending your only Son to die on the cross to show us all the true meaning of forgiveness.  Help me as I forgive and show that same forgiveness to the people in my life that I need to forgive so that they can see YOU living in me.  As I forgive others, let others forgive me so that we can live out our lives in joy and peace.  In your precious name we pray, Amen.

Bible Verses about forgiveness:

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‭‭
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.

Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 6:35-36
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.