Give Yourself the Gift of Forgiveness

And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults.

─ Mark 11:25 TPT

Corrie ten Boom, an advocate for reconciliation said, “Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” A Dutch watchmaker, who worked with her father, Casper ten Boom, along with other family members, helped many Jews escape capture by the Nazis from the Holocaust during World War II by hiding them in her home. When they were found out, they were sent to a concentration camp, where some of her family members died from the horrific conditions.

In our verse today, Jesus instructed you to consider forgiveness when you pray. And if you sense you have an offense against someone, release them from it, simply because when you do, the Father also releases you from your faults.

Is there a relationship in your life that needs mending? Unforgiveness is self-imprisonment. As long as you hold on to unforgiveness, you are chained to the wound that bleeds from your soul or builds a wall of denial from which you can’t escape.

But you can escape the pain and live freely.

Today’s One Thing

As you spend time in prayer today:

• Thank the Lord for the ministry of reconciliation.
• Thank Him for the bridges you’ve not burned.
• Ask Him to help you take the necessary steps toward reconciliation.
• Ask Him to intervene in a relationship you thought was beyond repair.
• Pray He will soften your heart and help you to forgive.
• Expect Him to plant forgiveness in your heart.
• Ask Him to give you a humble heart so you can make amends and let go of grudges.

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