“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ – Matthews 18:32-33
Forgiving someone can be super tough! Saying “sorry,” and “forgive me,” can be the hardest words to spit out. When we mess up, we might pray to God and ask for forgiveness, confessing everything we’ve done wrong to Jesus.
But when someone hurts us, like a friend or family member, it’s not always easy to forgive them and move on. In the Bible, Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who did him wrong. Jesus said that we should always forgive people, not just a certain number of times.
Here’s the deal, though: it’s kind of messed up to ask God to forgive us for our mistakes but then not to forgive others when they mess up. And it’s even worse if we can’t forgive ourselves.
So, if you ask God to forgive you, you should also let go of those mistakes and not beat yourself up over them. Forgiveness is hard, but letting go of grudges and moving forward is worth it.
From Grudge To Grudgeles
Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive my sins. Thank you for forgiving me. Please help me to be able to forgive myself and others who have sinned against me. Please, Lord, I ask this not because I deserve it but only out of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Challenge: Think of someone who has hurt you or let you down. It could be a friend, family member, or anyone else who has wronged you. Then, try to forgive them. You don’t have to forget what they did or pretend it never happened but try to let go of the anger and resentment you may be holding onto. Give it a try and see how it feels! It might not be easy, but forgiveness can be incredibly liberating and allow you to move forward positively.
