One thing that prevents people from connecting heart to heart is unforgiveness. Instead of the close connections God created each of us for, when we carry unforgiveness in our hearts our life is crowded with mistrust, stress, bitterness, resentment, cynicism, and negativity.
Without forgiveness there can be no real healing of the hurt, for we end up carrying it around with us, going over and over what others may have done, when often people probably don’t even realise our issue, or care, or even remember.
Forgive quickly and move on.
We help ourselves most when we forgive people quickly, because unforgiveness only leads to bitterness, harm, broken relationships and even illness. When we choose forgiveness it releases the power of God to go to work in our situations and in us.
So how do we forgive?
1. Choose – you have to decide to forgive, and not live just by how you feel, because most of the time you won’t feel like forgiving at all. God says forgive, so we forgive knowing that He asks us for our own good.
2. Depend on God to help you. He will empower and help you to walk in forgiveness, to let go and to move on, because He has better things for you.
3. Pray –Pray for our enemies, and bless those who curse you (Romans 12:14; Luke 6:27-28). For as you forgive you make room in your hearts for good.
4. Look ahead – Instead of focusing on the past think about and plan for the future. God has far better things ahead than behind.
As we forgive you become more open to the goodness of life instead of looking at everything through the eyes of bitterness.
Forgiveness draws people to us, rather than repelling them and opportunities, relationships, ideas, creativity and answers will flow into our lives because we are open to receive rather than being full of bitterness, anger and strife.
Forgiveness is good for us, and as we choose to forgive quickly and move on, trusting God to heal and protect us, we will be able to connect more readily with others.
Today choose to obey God’s way of doing things and live a life of forgiveness. Be set free as you move on from holding onto people’s wrongs, and make room in your life to connect heart to heart.
“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)
Prayer: Lord please help me to forgive quickly, and move on to better things. I give you my hurt and anger and choose to trust you to take care of me and to heal my heart. In Jesus name Amen.