Releasing Unforgiveness

Forgiveness is the absolute launching pad of freedom. Nothing will unlock us so quickly as forgiveness.

I know we touched on unforgiveness as bondage in the previous days, but it's important to understand that forgiveness is the catalyst for all freedom—freedom through Jesus' forgiveness of our sins and through our forgiveness of others, even those who may not deserve it. Jesus modeled this. He forgave us, and now we must do the same.

By now, you should have a deeper understanding of the weight of unforgiveness. We've talked about sitting with the Lord and listing the people and situations you need to forgive. Yesterday, we examined the consequences of holding on to offense. Scripture clearly says that if we don't forgive, we won't be forgiven. And without the Lord's forgiveness, where does that leave us?

Matthew 7:23 (NLT) says, "But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws." Let's not allow unforgiveness to stand between us and God. Let's release it—fully—and give the role of Judge, Redeemer, and Vindicator back to the Lord.

Today, it's time to let go. You must forgive your children for the disappointment they caused. You must forgive your ex for the abuse. You must forgive your parents for the pain they caused. You must forgive those who made hurtful comments, issued harsh criticism, or betrayed your trust. You must forgive former bosses, coworkers, and family members. You must release the pain of childhood abuse. It no longer serves you.

Take time today, alone with the Holy Spirit, to list those who still need your forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit, "Holy Spirit, search my heart. Let no unclean thing remain." You'll be amazed at how He reveals old wounds you thought were already healed. A few days ago, you created this "unforgiven" list with the Holy Spirit. Now, we use that list to actively release each name. If you haven't done this yet, take a moment now. Sit in silence, listen for His instruction, and resist distraction. Be focused. Be intentional.

Choose one person at a time from your list, and pray something like the following:

"Father, I forgive ______________ for the pain they caused me. I forgive because you first forgave me. I forgive because you require me to do so. I forgive out of obedience to you. I forgive because my freedom is worth it. Help me never to revisit this offense. I nail it to the Cross. In Jesus' Name."

Repeat this prayer (or something similar) for each person on your list. Speak the offense aloud—the one that plays over and over in your mind—and give it to the Lord. For example, you may say, "Father, I forgive my dad for abandoning me and abusing my mother. I forgive him today for making me feel alone and ignored. I choose your way today, not my own." This may not be a one-time process. In fact, it likely won't be. It may be weeks and weeks of intentional release. You may need to pray someone's name repeatedly until you feel the release in your heart. The heaviness will lift, though. I know this to be true.

If the Lord brings anyone or anything else to your heart during this time, don't delay. Deal with it immediately. This intentional, obedient process will be honored by the Lord.

Points to Ponder:

• Have you truly released the role of judge and vindicator to God? Do you trust Him enough to handle what was done to me?
• Is your freedom worth more than holding on to the offense?