Forgive, Okay?

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

   Do you find it hard to forgive? Your husband maybe hurt your feelings. Your best friend said something rude or as a joke. A friend no longer wants anything to do with you and says she forgives but goes no further. You were cheated by a business partner. A co worker lied to the boss about you. Someone gossiped about you and you found out. You got a raw deal from a realtor or a company you hired to do a service for you. I am sure you can add more scenarios. 

We are commanded to forgive. We are commanded to love. A person can not truly love unless they can bring themselves to forgive. Sometimes the person you need to forgive my not even be aware of it and you just have to move on and let it go. A lack of forgiveness causes a bitter root to develop. You can not love until you get rid of this bitterness. Being unable to forgive causes divorces, friendships to end, lawsuits, being fired, and a bunch of other stuff. 

If you are weak in this area make it a point to start listing people you need to forgive in your life. It might even be an absent or alcoholic parent. Perhaps a cheating spouse. Maybe a parent who wants nothing to do with you. Perhaps a child who wants nothing to do with you. Begin praying for healing and restoration. God wants love to dominate.

PRAYER: I am thankful when people have asked me to forgive them when I thought there was no hope. Help me to remember to never harbor hate for anyone and to pray for my enemies. In Jesus' name. Amen.