The hardest words
in the world to say are,
"Will you forgive me?"

"I was wrong. Will you forgive me?" These words humble us. They also heal us and those we have harmed. They empower where it matters . . . in heavenly places. Should the offended one refuse to forgive you, graciously accept the refusal and continue to pray and forgive.

When we go to those we have harmed and sincerely ask for forgiveness and they refuse, we are forgiven by the Lord. We are loosed. It then becomes an issue between God and the one who refused to forgive. The operative word for us who are asking for forgiveness is "sincerely".

Forgiving Others
When someone does not realize or refuses to admit they have done anything wrong, we can forgive them in prayer to the Lord. Neither is it always necessary to confront someone who is unaware they have offended us with the wrong suffered nor tell them directly that we forgive them. If, however, after we pray we are still offended and struggling, then it is best to go to them. When all else fails, don't fail to communicate. And be gracious and kind about it.

It is important to make every attempt to resolve hurts with others whenever it is possible. This is usually done face-to-face.

Can I hold someone in bondage by my unforgiveness? Can someone hold me in bondage with theirs? No. No one walking in forgiveness can be held in bondage to anyone else. If, however, I am walking in unforgiveness, it's as if I'm walking around with a bull's eye on my back. I'm fair game for all outlaws and bounty hunters.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Forgiveness is the key to the prison door, and this lock opens from the inside. Forgiveness opens the prison door for me. At the same time it opens it for the one I forgive. If someone refuses to forgive me, I still have the key to my prison door. When I forgive another for their judgment against me, the prison door swings open and I go free.

Forgiveness is redemptive. As children of God, when we forgive, His redemption flows through us. We are trophies of God's redemption, and we are agents of God's redemption in the world. Spread it around!!!

I see the power of forgiveness in my life. I see it in the lives of hundreds of people every time I teach this vital message. Once we take hold of it and witness the changes it makes in us and those around us, mercy and forgiveness become a passionate desire instead of a wearisome and painful duty.

Jesus took God's wrath for sin upon Himself as He hung on the cross. He shed His blood to pay the price for every sin (Ephesians 1:7). All we have to do is believe and forgive. Even for those who believe, forgiveness is not an easy step to take, nor is it finished when we make the choice to forgive. It has only begun.

Once I understood the price we pay for unforgiveness—my own torment—and the iniquities passed down to my children, grand- children and great-grandchildren—and once I understood the power of forgiveness—the breaking of the patterns of behavior and the strongholds in the family to a thousand generations—I could not wait to get on with it.

Our nation needs to get on with it. Certainly the body of Christ needs to get on with it.

Forgiveness is the key to the prison door.

Tears Cleanse the Pain of our Heartaches, Disappointments and Broken Dreams

Repentance and godly sorrow are companions. We can't have one without the other.

"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

The word "sorrow" in the Greek means heaviness, mourning and grief. This godly heaviness, mourning and grief produces repentance.

Repentance is not a choice, it is a fruit borne out of our griefs and sorrows in the presence of the Lord. Repentance isn't merely sorrow for our sins. Repentance doesn't just indicate a change of mind or a desire to change our mind. Repentance is a turning to God, and we can never turn to God and remain the same.

God transforms our souls in the midst of repentance. This repentance leads to salvation, which means "healing, wholeness and deliverance". The tears that have been begging to brim over all of our lives are the key to our healing. This is exactly what God created tears for—to brim over—to bring healing.

When we have not fought back our tears, we have shed them with shame because we did not understand their place in God's plan. That shame has created more pain and nullified the potential for healing.

Here is an important key. We know forgiveness takes place when we make that decision. Healing of our wounds, pain and disappoint- ment takes place in the brokenness of tears and repentance (turning to God).

Lord, so many offenses, so much unforgiveness, so much judgment. Where do I begin? Help me sort all of this out. Bring to my mind those against whom I am holding judgments, especially parents and other early authority figures. Also quicken to me those I have wounded. Make me a minister of reconciliation in my family, your church, our nation and your world. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

We know we are free
when our pain is gone.
Yes, it will go!