“If you have anything against anyone, forgive him.” —Mark 11:25
Jesus tells us that if we hold anything against anyone, then we must forgive them. But what if they haven’t asked for forgiveness? What if they don’t think they did anything wrong?
Though that person’s hardness will affect his well-being and relationships until he deals with his sin, no one can force you to be bound as a prisoner in your own heart—not as long as you take the bold step to forgive. That’s a choice you can and must make, regardless of where the other person is in their journey.
As you respond to the Lord in this matter, don’t stop short of actually forgiving your offenders. I’ve heard well-meaning people pray, “Lord, please help me to forgive this person.”
I don’t doubt their sincerity, but that’s not enough. Don’t just ask God for help; don’t just talk about your need to forgive. Go all the way. Say, “Lord, by Your grace and in obedience to You, I choose to forgive—to clear their record, to press the delete button, to let the offense go. I do forgive!”
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Choosing Forgiveness: Your Journey to Freedom ©2022 Revived Hearts Foundation
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
What does it look like to “go all the way” when it comes to forgiving those who have hurt you?