Your Choice

If you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well." (Matthew 6:14)

There will be times in life when someone hurts you. The offense may be slight or devastating, but if we live in hurt and bitterness, we will continue to suffer. Unforgiveness can affect your health, as well as your relationships with other people and with God.
In Mark 11:25, Jesus says, "Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him." Even on the cross, Jesus forgave those who wanted Him crucified. He said, "Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:24). Jesus wants us to forgive, we are becoming more like Him. He knows we can't do this on our own, but our first step is making the choice-sometimes even a daily choice. Choosing to forgive doesn't mean that we leave ourselves open to more hurt from that person; it means that we are letting the offender off the hook and in the process, we ourselves are no longer bound.
Forgiveness isn't easy for us because we want to settle accounts, but with God's help, we can forgive and live in His freedom.

Steps of Faith - Dear Father, help me to forgive those who trespass against me. I want to surrender bitterness so it can be replaced with Your grace.