The Promise of Forgiveness By Christine Baker (Louisiana)

If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.   MATTHEW 6:14 (NIV)

Years ago I found myself sitting on the front steps of my house while the person sitting beside me was breaking my heart. In tears and anger, I pushed the hurt deep down inside and thought, I’ll get back at him one day. I wish I had said, “I forgive you.” It took me a long time to learn that holding on to anger and refusing to forgive someone doesn’t take the pain away. It only makes it linger. Scripture reminds us that in order to be forgiven, we must forgive. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want or need forgiveness from time to time. Yet sometimes we hold on to bitterness and lose the very thing that could set us free — the act of forgiving. Choosing to forgive doesn’t mean that the other person gets off without any consequences. It means that we give up our right to take matters into our own hands and instead trust God to do what only God can do. If we ask with a repentant heart, God is willing to forgive. As children of God, we can choose to be just as willing to forgive others.

TODAY'S PRAYER   Dear Lord, help us to forgive those who have wronged us, just as you forgive us. Amen.   * * *     TODAY'S READING   Matthew 6:9-15         THOUGHT FOR THE DAY   In gratitude for God’s forgiveness, I will forgive others.         PRAYER FOCUS   For help to forgive someone