Freedom through Forgiveness

Do you know what forgiveness truly means? Have you ever forgiven a person that has done you or a loved one wrong? Does simply saying it, mean that you truly forgive them or is it more than that?
Of course it is. 

Forgiveness is from the heart and is not just a mere term that you say to move on from the past but then continue to hold a grudge against that person. To forgive is to forget, that means to put it aside, hand it over to God and ask Him to remove the dross of bitterness from your heart, to remove the chains and shackles from your hands and feet. 

You might say.."well I'm not the one who was wrong." And that may be true, maybe someone abused you or a loved one, or went beyond what the human heart could handle. I don't know your situation, but I do know that just like Jesus has bore our sins and forgiven us, we should forgive just the same. (Colossians 3:13)
That person may not deserve it...however unforgiveness in one's own heart will only lead to a hardened heart, with no place for spiritual growth. It will consume you and infest you as quick as fleas on a dog.

You see, an unforgiving heart does more damage to yourself than it does to the other person. While we are still on this earth, we will learn that people will fail us, even those that are closest to us. But we need not seek vengeance. For vengeance belongs to God. God's word says to bless those who persecute you. Easier said than done right? But we are up against the enemy, not against flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

And while someone may hurt us whether accidentally or intentionally, it is up to each one of us, not to be a slave to the enemy's tactic.

You are only a prisoner of your own unforgiveness, so why not take off the shackles and handcuffs of hurt and pain and give it freely to God.

To forgive wholeheartedly is to have freedom within....