Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
“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.”
INSIGHT
Forgiveness is not optional. It is obligatory for every individual so as to receive pardon from our Father. If you are a Christian, it is because you have admitted you couldn’t pay for your sins, and you trusted Jesus to pay for them instead. You didn’t deserve it; but He was gracious to you, and forgave you anyway. Therefore because of the gospel, you know you must forgive others, in the same way that you have been forgiven. The Lord’s prayer reminds us to forgive others their debts as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:12). Forgiveness is a spiritual law. It is the spirit of God who leads us forgive one another and be reconciled. He gives us the grace to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. You have not been given the luxury of holding on to bitterness towards other people, but to release mercy and love to them that results to reconciliation.
PRAYER
Lord Almighty Father we thank You for this is a new day that You have given us, we rejoice and are glad in it. Your mercies are new every morning, we exult Your name. You are good and Your mercies endures forever. We appreciate You Lord for enabling us to see this new week in good health and peace. May You heal all those who are sick and suffering among us, and restore their health fully. May You give comfort to all those who have lost their loved ones and grant them your peace. May You be ever present always to those who are facing challenges and difficulties in their walk of faith. May You grant us the grace to forgive all those who have offended us and the heart of reconciliation. May You forgive us our trespasses and deliver us from all evil. May You engulf us with Your loving kindness and show us Your salvation dear Jesus. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Ephesians 4:32
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
INSIGHT
-Love forgives. The love of God; agape, never keeps a record of wrongs but forgives. Enmity between friends, family members and other people, begins when selfish motives find a foothold. Jesus in Luke 6:27-30 says that, you should “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” Jesus discloses the causes of enmity, and gives the remedy to a united friendship. Enmity is resolved by love and forgiveness, which are inseparable. Love does not rejoice in evil but delights in the truth. When people desire to do evil things against others, the window for enmity broadens, but when we have love, we remain peaceful and maintain harmonious relationships with one another, having one mind, the mind of Christ.
PRAYER
You Lord are Forgiving and Good, abounding in love to all those who call to You. May You show us Your grace which is sufficient to us. May You teach us to love and forgive one another like You do. Transform our minds that we may have one mind, Your mind Christ Jesus. Father God, may You help us to forgive everyone who has offended us in the past and in the present. May You reveal to us all those people who we have carried as burdens of unforgiveness in our hearts. May You help us to forgive our spouses, friends, parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, children, colleagues, church leaders, president, leaders, and everyone who has offended us. May You liberate us from every burden that has weighed upon our lives, heavy yokes that leads only to the way of torment and death. May You train our heart to forgive promptly and to live peaceably with all men. May You unite all the broken relationships and marriages according to Your will dear Jesus. May You bless all those who are waiting on You for marriages and unite them with Your love loving Savior. May You cement all the married couples with Your cords of love that cannot be broken gracious Redeemer. May You fill us with Your love Holy Spirit, and teach us to love deeply, and truthfully for love never fails. Amen
Further reading: Romans 13:10, 1 Corinthians 13:13
Matthew 18:21-22 NIV
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
INSIGHT
Forgiveness causes inner healing. Unforgiveness is the heaviest burden that we carry in our hearts. It is heavier than any physical load or weight. When people do not forgive one another, it may destroy your mental health and physical wellbeing. According to medical research, unforgiveness causes stress leading to anger, bitterness, resentment, high blood pressure, blood sugar related issues, ulcers, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and tendencies, and the actual suicide. If one does not forgive they live a defeated life filled with rage but pardon heals the tormented soul. When Peter made enquiry on how many times one should forgive another, Jesus responded saying, seventy times seven times, meaning inexhaustible and uncountable instances. Forgiveness leads to lifting of heavy burdens leading to emotional calmness and physical restoration.
PRAYER
Lord God our Father You are filled with love and mercy. Lord, if You kept a record of our sins, who could ever survive? But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You. Where is another God like You who pardons the guilt of the remnants, overlooking the sins of Your special people. You will not stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing unfailing love. Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean. May You teach us to forgive others their faults as You have forgiven us. We cast all our burdens and cares unto You Jesus for You care for us. All the burdens of unforgiveness that weigh down our hearts, we cast them unto You merciful Savior. May You heal our hearts and all our diseases dear Jesus. May You heal our land and prosper us, our families, children, churches and economy. May You water our land and make us fruitful merciful Savior. Thank You dear Jesus for loving us and caring for us. We love You Lord and bless Your holy name now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Romans 12:17-21, Micah 7:18-19
Matthew 5:23-24 NIV
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
INSIGHT
-Forgiveness releases a blessing. Reconciliation is not only an engagement of dialogue but also a call to take the necessary action. We are called to forgive first having a clear conscience and a clean heart. The Lord is reminding us to make the first move and be reconciled with our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness releases a spiritual blessing to those who take initiative. Mark 11:25 tells us that, “when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” We must be willing to humble ourselves and make the first step, and ask for pardon from our brothers and sisters which release a blessing even when we pray and give our tithes and offerings.
PRAYER
Lord our God You are merciful and forgiving, even when we rebel against You. May You blot out our transgressions for Your own sake and remember our sins no more. May You sanctify us and cleanse us by the blood of Jesus that we who have been red as crimson may now be white as snow. Oh Lord, we surrender our hearts to You that You may remove all grudges and unforgiveness towards our brothers and sisters, and give us the grace to forgive others and we seek their mercy from those whom we have wronged. We need You Lord for we cannot do this on our own. We need Your grace and peace oh Lord. We pray for our nation that all may learn how to forgive and seek Your forgiveness oh Lord, that we may humble ourselves and turn away from our sins so that You may heal our land. Lord may You intervene and takeover. Father, may You heal our hearts and transform us to be like You Jesus. Thank You Lord for Your unending love and for hearing us and forgiving us. We thank You for all you are doing, have done and are about to do. May You bless us and increase us. May You expand our boundaries beyond borders and increase our capacity to serve You and receive from You. May You answer all our prayers and hearts desires according to Your will. We trust in You and know that You are able. We pray all this believing and trusting in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Further reading: Daniel 9:9, Isaiah 43:25
Luke 23:34-35 NIV
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
INSIGHT
-Forgiveness leads to peace and a fresh start with God, a new beginning. Forgiveness is an act of your will. It is an practice that every Christian ought to follow. Jesus showed us the best examples, the last thing He did before He died, He forgave His offenders. We are called to emulate Christ in His sacrificial nature and love, that He gave Himself up for the remission of our sins through His blood (Matthew 26:28). In the same way we should forgive our offenders for they do not know what they are doing. Let us therefore, forgive one another as we partake of the New Covenant and demonstrate love for our brothers and sisters.
SUMMARY
Forgive in Hebrew is written salach which means to pardon, and aphesis in Greek which means to release. Forgiveness is the most freeing concept. Forgiveness frees the one taking the initiative to forgive. It benefits self more than the other person. Forgiveness also causes inner healing which precipitates to peace and wellness. We are called to forgive as often as we can knowing that no one is perfect, only God is. Forgiveness is a spiritual concept that endorses the law of sacrifice. It is through the love of God, Agape; that we forgive one another freely. Jesus demonstrated pure love for us when He died for us on the cross, even when we did not deserve it. Since love does not hold any records of wrong, and it does not delight in evil but the truth, we are called to love one another with the Agape love that does not fail (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Forgiveness also causes a blessing to us. We are called to forgive and ask for mercy, before we offer our tithes and offerings (Matthew 5:23-24), and also before we pray (Mark 11:25).
PRAYER
Holy Holy Holy are You Lord God Almighty, Who was, Who is and Who is to come. We magnify Your Holy name Jesus for You are our God and none can compare to You. You are Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Shalom, we praise Your holy name. Lord You have said in Your word that You will withhold no good thing from those who diligently seek You. May You release the grace of forgiveness in our hearts, that we may be quick to forgive and hold no grudges against others. May You give us the grace to forgive our enemies. May You grant us the fruit of love and humility in our hearts. May You provide the guidance that we have been searching for from You Lord our King. May Your angels go before us to prepare our way ahead and behind to be our rear guard. May You protect us and our families from all sicknesses and diseases. May our children walk in great faith knowing that You our Savior are with us. We rejoice and are exceedingly glad for nothing shall be impossible for us in You Christ Jesus. May You Lord give us the double portion that we seek. May You bless us Lord and keep us. May You Your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: 1 John 4:20-21, Colossians 3:13