Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others] (Mark 11:25, Amplified Bible).
Here it is, 2:00a.m. and you are wide awake. Your mind is racing a hundred miles an hour. You should be praying, but instead, memories of the past, the people that hurt you, circumstances and choices dominate your thoughts. You are haunted by the “what if” syndrome.
You hold yourself hostage with the memories and the pain of your past. Verbally, you say, “I’ve forgiven them” or “I’ve forgiven myself; but yet the memories persist. You find yourself stuck in the muck and mire of what was or even what could have been. The people involved have gone on with their lives or may have even died. Here you are rehearsing it again with your mental, spiritual, and physical well-being badly affected. You want to hold their feet to the fire, but you must remember as a Christian, you have a responsibility to forgive. Let it go!
Mark knew the importance of prayer and forgiveness. He encourages Christians to drop the issue for their own sake. Don’t have your prayers hindered because you refuse to forgive. That way you can be forgiven for what you’ve done.
Let it go! You are responsible for you. Allow yourself to heal of the memories, pain, and the emotions. Learn from the experience and “grow” into what God has planned for you. You cannot be the best you can be if you stay stuck in the muck and mire of unforgiveness. Let it go!
Prayer: Father, I pray that I accept and grant forgiveness. I thank you that I can let go of what was done to me and what I have done, so that I can be who and what you’ve called me to be in Jesus. Amen.
Question: Do you feel a Christian should immediately forgive someone who has done them wrong OR should only forgive once the person has admitted they were wrong and asked for forgiveness?
Reprinted with permission, this week’s blog is an excerpt from “Praise from the Pews: A 70 Day Devotional” (2017). If you were encouraged by this devotional, you will really be blessed by the other 89 devotionals offered in “Praise from the Pews.” It may be purchased on the home page of this web site and will be shipped to you speedily.
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