because of God's love

God Give Me Strength and Desire to Forgive
Day 7

by Gini Crawford, MSW

posted 12/21/2016, revised 5/19/2018

The third principle from God's Word that helps us to forgive is, we need to ask God to give us the strength and desire to forgive.

Can you really forgive anyone for anything? I know some things are humanly impossible to forgive, such as forgiving the person that relationally stabbed you in the back, or the person that got your son hooked on drugs, or the person that raped your daughter, or the person who tried to murder you, and I could go on and on. I know what you are probably thinking: You can forgive a person for trivial things such as forgetting your birthday. But how can you forgive someone who killed your child? There are some wrongs that are done to us that are humanly impossible to forgive. Some forgiving can only come through God's supernatural power found in the Holy Spirit living within us (Acts 1:8).

When you cannot forgive a person, go to God and ask Him to get you to the point of forgiving that person. It might take years but keep seeking God through His Word, praying to Him, and your desire and strength to forgive will come.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11 NASB®

The miracle workings of God's forgiveness. It was 20 years ago in Rwanda. A man wielding a machete killed a woman's child, and cut off her hand while doing it. Years later, this same woman decided to give mercy to the man that killed her child, and as a result she forgave him. Now they are friends serving the God Who gave them both mercy and forgiveness through the death of His Son. Yes, God's forgiveness works miracles in our lives and others. Ask Him to help you to forgive even the unforgiveable wrong and life-changing things will take place.

Life Application

If you are struggling with forgiving, it is very important to remember God doesn't ask you to do anything He didn't do as He walked on the earth. Jesus Christ forgave the unforgivable too. Jesus Christ forgave the very people who were crucifying Him. Read Hebrews 4:14-16, Luke 23 especially verse 34. God asks us to forgive, so He will give you the desire and strength to forgive through the Holy Spirit living within us. Just ask Him! Read Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16-20; Philippians 4:13.

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