Matthew 18:35

What do you do when you get hurt by someone? Do you want to hurt him? Do you want to hold it against them? If you said yes to these questions, you are like most folks. Forgiving is something that is unknown to most people.

Why don't people forgive willingly? Here's why, because it is easier to dislike than to forgive. Some people think forgiving is a sign of weakness. It isn’t. To forgive takes courage and extra effort!

So, what is forgiveness? It is a present from a charitable heart. It is not a reward. It is not something that you give to someone based on his good behavior. It’s what you give a person regardless of whether he has deserved it or not. Whether the person has asked for it or not.

Forgiveness is not an occasion, which starts and ends when you say, "I forgive you".

Forgiveness is an act which often takes time. The deeper you’re hurt, the longer it sometimes takes to completely forgive. It is not just the words you say but it is your actions which will show if you've really forgiven.

Why is it necessary? Because it frees you from the weight of resentment and hatred. It takes massive energy to hate and to keep that hate in place. Forgiveness brings freedom whereas revenge is neither sweet nor rewarding; it’s just a hollow feeling.

Hate puts needless stress on your body. It is a well-known fact that anger and hatred can actually make you sick. So many people in the world today really don’t belong in a hospital, because the root of their problem is not physical but is mental. The moment they forgive and let go of their hate they will start to get well.

Another reason why you need to forgive? By not forgiving you actually prevent blessings from flowing to you. The Bible says that before you pray for anything first you must forgive those who have wronged you, and then your Father will forgive you your wrongs. Blessings are closely connected to your forgiving others.

I used to be very cynical about life. I never forgave effortlessly. And at the time I also struggled in every area of my life. Things didn't seem to work out for me. It was as if everything that could go wrong, usually did.

That was until God told me to take a look at my mind-set. I started to forgive those who had wronged me, and everything started to change for the better. It didn't happen immediately. It took a while, but I could tell a difference.

So how do you know when you've really forgiven someone? If after you've forgiven that person you continue to feel a negative sting whenever you think of him or her, well, that means you still have effort to put forth.

If you don't have negative feelings towards that person it means you are free!

Are things not working out in your life, even with you doing all the "right" things? Is it possible that you have reluctance to forgive in your heart? It’s something to ponder!


Get Together



Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Some may come and some may go
We will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing,
You will understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!