I never feel adequate to write on forgiveness. I struggle in all the areas I write about, but holding grudges and forgetting the power of forgiveness is a challenge for me. 

What I’ve learned though, is that the longer we hold on to the hurt and the wrongs others have done to us, we are only prolonging the healing process. As we let it fester and boil inside of us we become bitter and miserable people. We cannot pray for healing if we are not willing to give it over to God fully and forgive others. 

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting, but it does mean leaving the past in the past and not dwelling over it. If we truly forgive someone, or ourselves, which is hard to do, then we can move forward. Acknowledge that it happened, but claim the freedom God gives to those who follow Him.

My challenge for you today is to find that hurt or that baggage you’ve been carrying, and pray it over to God. Let Him take control of it, so you can receive peace and healing from Christ. 

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:31-32

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” -Colossians 3:12-14