One of the struggles people deal with all over the world and every social class is unforgiveness. Maybe this is something you are dealing with today or have in the past.
Why is unforgiveness so damaging? Paul gives us insight in Ephesians 4-26-27 when he talks about anger. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. [1] When I cut myself and soon after that clean the cut and put antibiotic on, it soon heals. Even if it is a deep wound with quick medical treatment I am on the road to recovery. But if I wait and don’t tend to a cut or wound it has a greater chance of getting infected. Now, when I do treat the wound, it takes longer to heal.
When I ask the Lord to help me forgive a person, the earlier I do that the quicker the wound is treated. The longer I wait to forgive, the longer it takes the wound to heal just like a wound to your body. Today, the Lord may be bringing someone to your mind that you need to forgive. The hurt is real. The person wronged you, but you know that unforgiveness is hurting you. In your heart you want to be set free. Jesus came to set the captives free.
I have written a couple of short prayers that maybe helpful to you. There have been times in my own life where I needed God’s help to forgive. Don’t be embarrassed to think you need God’s help. God is waiting to hear your prayer.
Prayer to Forgive others
Lord Jesus, I thank you for giving Your life on the cross to forgive me. I thank you, Jesus, for the power to forgive and I choose to forgive those who hurt me. (You may want to insert those people name or names who have hurt you.) Help me, Jesus, to remember the words Paul wrote in Romans 12:19 –Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. [2] Also, Jesus, help me to pray for those who hurt me as Paul tells us. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.[3] Romans 12:14.
I choose this day with Your strength to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. I can do this because as Paul writes in Philippians 4:13 –For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.[4] (In my own life I often repeat that verse when I am struggling.)
Prayer to forgive yourself
Sometimes it is not just others we need to forgive, but ourselves. When we ask the Lord to forgive us, He does not remember our sin. The Lord tells us that truth in Psalm 103:12 – He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [5]
Lord Jesus, help me to forgive myself and I chose this day to forgive myself. Help me, Lord, to begin to put good thoughts into my heart to transform me. (I personally have found this verse from Philippians 4:8 helpful in my personal walk and self-talk.) 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.[6]
I pray all of this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
To hear the story of prophet Jeremiah who spoke truth into people lives so they could forgive and be forgiven, listen here:
If you would like more teaching on Jeremiah listen here:
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 4:25–27, Romans 12:19, Romans 12:14, Phil. 4:13, Psalm 103:2, Phil. 4:8). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.