Forgiveness of Others

I was praying once (really complaining) about someone who had hurt me deeply through lies and manipulation. As I prayed, I heard the still, small voice of the Lord ask, “Can you bury their sins at the cross where Your sins are buried?” I have told many people you can hear from multiple sources in prayer but not every quiet voice is the Lord’s voice. You must measure what you hear in prayer by the Word of God. I knew immediately this was from the Lord because it lines up completely with scripture.

Matthew 6:9-14

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
[d]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I remember telling the Lord that with His help, I forgave this person. And I did. If there is someone who has sinned against you and you realize you need to forgive them, pray like this:

Lord,

Thank you for forgiving me for my sins. Today I come to You to ask that You empower me to forgive ________________________ for what they have done to me. I know my forgiveness doesn’t necessarily change them or even matter to them. But I know that forgiving them will change me. Help me bury their sins at the cross where my sins are buried so I don’t carry the anger, hurt and bitterness any longer. I want to walk in full fellowship with You, free from the scars left by hurt. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Anytime you find your mind going to this area again, pray again. You will know when God has completed the healing in your spirit when you no longer think about the sin against you. I was surprised one day when a family member brought the subject up and I realized I had not even thought about it in a couple of years.