Forgiveness

I had an amazing revelation about a lesson I have heard a million times before but never seemed to grasp: forgiveness. You see, I realized I was walking around with a weight on my shoulders of the past. I wouldn't allow myself to let people come into my heart without a fight because of scars left by previous people. I would go around doubting myself and my abilities because of my past failures. On top of that, I would wonder why I wasn't receiving certain blessings and why I felt like my life was stuck in a rut. Then I listened to a teaching my pastor gave on forgiveness and I decided that I was no longer going to allow my bitterness and doubt to run my life. I decided to let go of the hurt and the pain people have caused me. How could I move on with my life if I am still stuck on the past? After all, Jesus suffered the most out of all of us by the hands of ones he came to save and he still asked the Father to forgive us. Then after I listened to that teaching, it just so happened that part of my Bible Reading of the day was Genisis 50:19-21 which is when Joseph forgives his brothers for all the wrong they have done to him. Joseph said that what they did to harm him, God used for his good and that he would continue to care for them. When I read that, my first thought was how could Joseph so easily forgive his brothers for beating him and selling him to slavery? Then I thought, well if Joseph could forgive his brothers after everything they did to him, there is no reason why I can't forgive the people that have hurt me. Now let's just be honest for a moment, I'm not saying forgiveness is easy. It is not that simple to just say, "I'm going to forgive everyone who has ever hurt me". However, I had to make the choice for myself that I am no longer going to allow those people to have any power over me. I am choosing to forgive them and myself for my past mistakes because God has already forgiven me! I'm deciding to empower myself rather than beat myself up because beating myself up gets me no where. Healing may not happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere. Choose to forgive and feel the weight lifted off your shoulders. It is one of the most important and most rewarding decisions you will ever make. Guaranteed.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15 NLT)