Forgiving others
Offences happen when people sin against each other and against God. There is no sinless person on this earth and there is no one in this world who has not been offended. We all have someone in our lives we need to forgive. Forgiving is hard, as we struggle with our pain or sense of injustice. Dying on the cross when guiltless is even harder. Let us not disgrace Jesus’ tortuous and humiliating crucifixion for our forgiveness by refusing to forgive others.
(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 饶恕别人 | 繁體中文 > 饒恕別人 )
1 John 1:8 ESV If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
A prayer of biblical forgiveness
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. Before I continue praying, there are some people I need to forgive.
Mark 11:25 ESV And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
I really hate what they have done to me. At the same time, I declare that their sins are against You first and foremost, because I am Your precious redeemed child. Father, let me pour out my anguish, resentment and shame to You. Thank you that You are close to me and promised to save the crushed in spirit. I cry out to Your Holy Spirit for help to release this pain and anger inside me. (Please let out all your judgements and emotions here. Describe how you feel and don’t hold back.)
Psalm 34:17-18 ESV When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Father in heaven, I will praise You for Your providence, for redeeming my life, for crowning me with Your love and mercy, for satisfying me with good things, for renewing my strength and for working justice for those who are oppressed. What more could I ask for? Please make me well and forgive me for my own sins.
James 5:15 NLT Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Psalm 103:2,4-6 ESV Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
I choose not to hold on to any indignation or anger, so I do not give Satan a foothold to condemn, accuse and destroy me. I choose to live through Christ and not to follow the patterns of a world that preaches anger, justification, vengeance, violence and hate – patterns taught by Satan.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
I repent for holding onto any judgement against those who have offended me and for condemning them. By doing so, I have cursed people who are made in Your image. We have all sinned and fallen short of Your glory – but I made it about how other people have fallen short of my expectations and standards. Please forgive me for my self-idolatry.
Luke 6:37 ESV “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Lord, please open my eyes and give me a heart of flesh, so I can empathise with the sufferings of other people and the reasons why they sinned against me. Help me to look beyond myself to the needs of others.
Today, I choose to release forgiveness to (name offenders) for (offences) in the name of Jesus – not because they deserve it but because my loving Father in Heaven forgave me first. This is my conscious choice. This does not mean that what they have done was right. It means I release my offenders to my Heavenly Father’s perfect justice and wash myself clean of their sins against me.
I also choose to bless those who have offended me with good health, good relationship and (list whatever the Holy Spirit inspires you to pray). Father God, please inspire me with the ways I can bless my enemies.
Luke 6:27-29 ESV “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.
Father, please show me how I can extend God’s love to everyone around me, even those who do not deserve it, so that they can see the truth of Jesus’ unconditional love in this broken world. Make me a worthy ambassador of Your good name.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”