In letter1, I wrote about someone I had to forgive. I want to express from the day I wrote that until now, I have had more peace and contentment. Forgiving means we have to forgive everyone, for everything they have ever done to cause us any kind of pain, resentment or discomfort. And we have to forgive ourselves as well.

Sometimes forgiving yourself may be the hardest one to forgive. I personally know of someone who at the age of 79, on their death bed, said, “I just hope the good Lord can forgive me.” Out of respect for the family and the dead, I will not write the details here as the point has already been made.

I will say, that from the age of about 30 they lived everyday for nearly 50 years in shame, sorrow, and sadness. The enemy stole their joy and replaced it with shame. Either no one ever told them, or they never believed they could be forgiven.

To anyone reading this, DO NOT let shame stand between you and God! His arms are always open and ready to embrace you. You have not because you ask not. Ask to be forgiven and you will be forgiven! Jesus paid the price so you don’t have to. God can and will forgive you. He does forgive you. You are forgiven! Now point a finger at yourself and say, “I forgive me.”

And with that forgiveness, I release every trace of shame, regret, guilt, and self-condemnation; I lay them down and let them go. I open my heart to peace, healing, and love, and I receive God’s freedom in their place. In the name of Jesus, I command them to depart and never return.

Maybe you don’t need to forgive yourself or you already have, but there is someone else or multiple someone’s you need to forgive but you haven’t been able to just yet. Here is an example what I like to call the power prayer of forgiveness:

Father, I come to you in Jesus name. Jesus I come to you and ask you to join me in this prayer to pray to the Father with me and for me, making two in agreement. I need to forgive ______. I have tried but just can’t seem to do it. They hurt me so bad and so deeply I can’t get over it. But Jesus, I know you can forgive them. So I ask you Jesus to forgive _____, and pray to the Father to forgive _____. Because you are in me, and I am in you, and we are one, when you forgive _____, then I will forgive them through you as I cannot do it alone. Help me to totally forgive them for everything they did or did not do, real or perceived that hurt me. Jesus, I know that you can forgive them, and I claim that forgiveness through you.

And with that forgiveness, I release every trace of anger, resentment, bitterness, and hate; I lay them down and let them go. I open my heart to peace, healing, and love, and I receive God’s freedom in their place. In the name of Jesus, I command them to depart and never return.

In order to love, we must forgive, and in order to forgive, we must love.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

John 14:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Forgiving others does not absolve them of their sins, but it sets you free from Satan’s grasp. This is how we become the gods that we were created to be!

Thank you for reading to the end. As always please keep me in your prayers and pray for the Holy Spirit to come and convict us as a nation and individually of sin, righteousness, and the judgements to come.

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