“…And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…” - Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)
Forgiveness. This one word can simultaneously invoke feelings of joy and gratitude and feelings of pain and intimidation. When we think of it in terms of God forgiving us, we are overwhelmed with gratitude that He has forgiven our multitude of sins. When we think about it in terms of us forgiving others…the conversation gets a little weightier.
The Greek word for forgive is aphiemi which literally means to “let go or leave behind.” When we are forgiven, God let’s go of our debt against Him because of the blood of Jesus that was shed to cover those sins. It’s immediate and it’s guaranteed. When we repent and ask for forgiveness, God gives it every time. When we forgive others, we are letting go of the debt of the wrong they committed toward us. This does not make exceptions for wrong acts done by us or by someone else against us. When God forgives us, He releases us of our debts. When we choose to forgive others, we are not saying that what they did was right and acceptable; rather, we are letting go of our own wants and releasing that person into the Lord’s hands.
When we hold onto unforgiveness and refuse to release it to the Lord, we are not allowing Him the opportunity to take it and address it. Think of it in terms of a medical emergency. If you get a cut on your arm, you might hold tightly to it in attempts to stop the bleeding and reduce the pain. But when you go to the doctor, he or she cannot begin the process of cleaning and healing the wound until you take your own hand off of it. Removing your hand will not immediately take away the pain, but it will allow the doctor the opportunity to begin the process of healing.
When we choose to let go and forgive, we are actually choosing to free ourselves from the bondage of that pain. Lewis B. Smedes said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Forgiveness is a process that we desperately need God’s grace and help to accomplish. When we do forgive, we walk in unmatchable freedom and peace.
“Our Father 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. Father, forgive me for (fill in the blank). I thank You that You are faithful to forgive if I repent and turn to You. Would You give me the grace to forgive (fill in the blank)? Begin Your supernatural work of healing in my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to comfort the areas of my heart that are still broken. I release this unforgiveness to You and choose to walk in Your freedom. Amen.”