Forgiveness, what does that word mean to you? It is a word that creates a challenge for so many people, but one thing I do know is we must forgive others. It is certain situations that will cause us to build up anger, bitterness, hatred, resentment, and unforgiveness. When faced with emotional pain and hurt, it is important to pray to ask God for strength to overcome it and learn to have true forgiveness in our hearts. You have to let go of all those things in the past that have held you captive creating unforgiveness. The Bible states, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

In this time a closer relationship with God and spiritual growth will help you move toward learning how to forgive and release the emotional pain and hurt. It is challenging and difficult on so many levels because your mind will always want to live out the past refusing to forgive those who hurt you. We have all sinned, asked God for forgiveness, and not only did he forgive us he does not remember it anymore. Forgiveness is mandatory in the eyes of God, in order to make it into heaven.  We have to first repent to our Heavenly Father, and then ask forgiveness leading us to be forgiven. Now to address the word forgiveness is one thing, however to live out forgiveness is completely different in so many ways. Forgiving others is being able to face someone who wronged you while letting go of what they did in the past. You are able to speak to them without having any type of anger in your heart. If this is what you are doing through your actions then you have learn true forgiveness. It is a process of learning true forgiveness, which is part of the healing process from the emotional pain and hurt you have experienced from the past.  According to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  This scripture emphasizes that it is imperative to confess our own sins to be forgiven from God and to be purified from all unrighteousness in our lives. Prayer will help in your process of learning true forgiveness to start on the path of emotional healing. During your prayer time, talk to God asking him for guidance and strength when feeling challenged by the thought of forgiving someone that hurt you so badly. God will not only give you strength, but he will bless you with the courage and boldness to stand firm in their presence. People can say out of their mouth they have forgiven another the person who hurt them; the test is when you are face to face with that individual. In my book, Growth: My Journey of Spiritual Growth To Emotional Healing And Forgiveness” I discuss my personal experience dealing with individuals in the church who had hurt me in the past. For a long time I harbored anger, bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Eventually, in 2012 I began to have a closer relationship with God and to grow spiritually in his word on my journey to emotional healing and learning true forgiveness. Releasing all those feelings built up inside and walking in forgiveness to others is what led to my breakthrough. As long as I held onto unforgiveness, nothing was happening while my blessings seemed to be delayed. If you are praying for something and you noticed nothing is happening evaluate yourself. Are you forgiving others when they have hurt you? Do you hold on to all the baggage of the past? Some of you may figure out why your breakthrough is not happening and the reason you are experiencing stagnation and delays. Unforgiveness is one word that you do not want to have in your life because it keeps you in one place not moving forward to a prosperous and successful future. God has great plans and a bright promising future for us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God wants us to be set free and delivered from the things of our past. Most people fail to realize they are holding back their blessings simply because they choose not to forgive. Life is too short to keep holding onto all that baggage with unforgiveness in your heart because it is a complete waste of your time. Talk to God to strengthen you to be able to release the past and help you walk in forgiveness from the heart. Forgiveness also opens major doors pertaining to all areas of your life. It is the key to unlock the door to God’s divine purpose and plans for a glorious future. When starting the process of forgiveness do not look right or left at what is going on around you only focus on the goodness of God.  People will always be human and they will make mistakes so the only thing you need to be concerned with is doing God’s will and what is pleasing him. Make sure to forgive yourself of things you did in the past as well. It is part of the steps to take in walking in true forgiveness. Stop sitting in your room dwelling on the past when God is bigger than your problems. He is the one and only living Powerful God so he can remove things causing you sleepless nights. In those quiet times go into prayer about the situation you are facing in your life, marriage, family, household, workplace and school. Trusting God and fervent prayers will help you move towards living and walking in forgiveness. This will bring you to a place of complete wholeness and emotional healing. Ask God to lead, direct and guide your path when it feels like a heavy burden of forgiving those who hurt you comes across your mind. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Forgiveness applies to everyone on this earth no one is exempt from it. If you want the flow of blessings in your life forgiveness is necessary.  To experience a positive life it is essential to have forgiveness in your heart. It is not good to say you have forgiven someone but have not forgiven them truly from the heart where it matters the most.

Take a moment to pray to God repenting of all of your sins and ask him for forgiveness.

Now say this positive affirmation with me.

I am forgiven by God from all my sins from the past.

I am releasing all negative people and things that may try to hinder God’s plans and purpose for my life.

I am forgiving all family members, friends, colleagues, co-workers, people in the church who have caused me emotional hurt and pain.

I am walking in forgiveness from my heart.

I choose to forgive others who have hurt me emotionally so I will not hold back my own blessings from coming forth in my life.

Thank you God for forgiving me as I will always choose to extend forgiveness to others.

Forgiveness may not be considered an easy task to you, but remember this one thing forgiveness from the heart is key to heal emotionally and grow spiritually in God’s word.

Growing Spiritually In God’s Word. What does that mean to you? It comes a time that you must grow spiritually making positive changes to live for God. At this time everything about your life as you know it will change to align itself with what is pleasing and acceptable to him. No longer will you be interested in things of this world, but now walking as a new creation not looking back in your past. According to  2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Thank God for changing and making us a new creation in him. It is at that appointed time you will be tested by people who will attempt to take you back to your past. This is the reason you must stay in prayer and in God’s word for strength. In times when you are tested God will lead and guide you on how to respond as a mature Christian and a true believer. No one said it would be easy, but just know as a follower of Jesus Christ it is important to  display a good image as believers from the inside out. We should be a light in this dark world . If you want to bring people to Christ and get souls saved it is imperative that your light must shine for the lost to see it.”In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16