Have you ever forgiven someone only to have them hurt you repeatedly?
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18 NLT
The Bible tells us in Matthew 18:21-23 that Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
In no way, shape or form am I perfect; as a matter of fact, I stumble many times. I get angry when I shouldn’t; sometimes shout to get my point across when my heart’s desire is to articulate and convey my message calmly without getting so emotional. I fail, make mistakes, miss the mark, fall short of the glory of God, and it hurts when I fail or misrepresent the LORD. My heart is grieved because I have sinned against God. And He is so compassionate with us, He gives us (undeserving grace and mercy), and when I’m hurt and torn apart, He is always there with arms wide open and ears to hear my every cry.
When I recognize my desperate need for my Savior, He softens this hardened heart of mine and fills it with His mercy and compassionate love; He then enables me to extend forgiveness.
In all of my brokenness, this broken vessel and this broken heart are what draw me to my knees. When my heart recognizes that I have a desperate need, a need for God, a need for repentance, and a need for forgiveness, His grace in abundance then enables me to extend His grace and forgiveness to those who have hurt me because I, too have hurt people. The LORD reminds me in Matthew 7:12 … “treat people the same way you want them to treat you.”
Christ is our perfect example. He forgave me of all my wretched sin and how great it was! It is only through the LORD that I can forgive by faith, over and over again. It’s being honest before the LORD. And yes, with man this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible. {Matthew 19:26}
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
{Colossians 3:12-13}
LORD Father GOD,
Please help me to forgive and to forgive quickly, just as you have forgiven me. Please do not let my heart become hardened. I need You, LORD. Help me to love the way you love (unconditionally) and (wholeheartedly). I call upon Your name O’ LORD, and I ask for Your forgiveness of all my sins. I know I am undeserving of Your grace and mercy, and I thank You for the gift of salvation. Please, Father GOD, Your will be done and not my own. Fill this broken, empty heart with Your love, grace, mercy, merciful kindness, and forgiveness. Let me extend Your mercy to others. For my heart delights to please You. I LOVE YOU, LORD.
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation] (Ephesians 2:8-9).