MY un-forgiveness and bitterness yields ground in my life to Satan...
Every opportunity to be offended or bitter is a trap of Satan. He is the great deceiver that delights in destroying my prayer life, which would result in damaging the joy of an intimate walk with God. When I don’t forgive I am cherishing sin in my heart, thereby ruining my communication with God!
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (NIV)
WHAT FORGIVENESS IS AND IS NOT:
· Forgiveness is excusing a fault, completely canceling the expected payment for a wrong, and giving up my right to hurt someone for hurting me.
· Forgiveness is not approval or denial of a wrong committed.
· Forgiveness is not forgetting or pretending the wrong never happened
· Forgiveness is a process of acknowledging our hurt but we “drop our case” and surrender our pain to the Lord.
Some of the results of forgiveness are joy, happiness and love that come from Christ and not our circumstances. I can even love and pray for blessings on those that have hurt me. I’m released from the prison of bitterness about life in general and hope returns to my heart. Forgiveness is an act of our will in obedience to God. Jesus offered the ultimate forgiveness; he is the greatest Intercessor. We have the privilege as Christians to join Him in advancing the Kingdom through our prayers.
