In Touch Daily Devotional
Victory Over Unforgiveness
When you are hurt, trust God with your pain, and ask for His help to overcome any wrong attitudes that linger.
November 20, 2024
Matthew 6:9-15
9 ``Pray, then, in this way: `Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 `Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 `Give us this day our daily bread.
12 `And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 `And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [ For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.']
14 ``For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 ``But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
After teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won’t be forgiven by the Father. Be careful not to misunderstand Jesus’ meaning here. We don’t lose our salvation when we refuse to pardon others. Rather, we break fellowship with God because an unrepentant attitude interferes with regular confession and turning away from sin.
Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. We don’t often feel like showing mercy to someone who’s wronged us—but that’s exactly what we’re called to do (Matthew 5:38-40 38 ``You have heard that it was said, `AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'
39 ``But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 ``If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.) A resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment. As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude or actions.
A bitter spirit doesn’t fit who we are in Christ. That’s why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden—Jesus promised to make us free when we choose to believe and obey Him (John 8:31-32 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ``If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.".
