Why Forgive?

How many times have you been angry toward someone to the point it becomes bitterness and resentfulness? You stew about the person every time you see or think of them and the underlying volcano of your soul rumbles with disdain, feeling as if it will erupt any moment.

I have been there many times throughout my life but as I've matured as a man and grown in my relationship with Christ, I've come to realize the true power of forgiveness. When most think about the word 'forgiveness', they think of it as releasing the object of their anger/frustration from the culpability of their actions that caused your anger in the first place. This wrong thinking is a tool the enemy uses to keep you bound up in anger and eventually plants a root of bitterness that leads to all kinds of negative behavior..... think about it.... while you're stewing with angry/bitter emotions against the person, they are going about their life without giving a second thought about it... they aren't feeling your emotion, YOU are!

Here's the truth, forgiveness releases, unforgiveness binds.

When you truly choose to forgive someone, there is a release within you. Anger subsides, bitterness fades and you are free to move on with your life. If you choose to stay in unforgiveness, you are bound to the wrong that was committed against you, thus, you are paying for the sin of the guilty party!

Forgiveness releases you from negative emotions and the negative thoughts that lead to negative behavior. Unforgiveness binds you to negative emotions, thoughts and behavior.

Forgiveness releases you, enables you to love unconditionally and keeps you in right-standing with God. Unforgiveness binds you to the sin of others, destroys your ability to love and puts you at odds with God.

No matter how 'right' you are, if you retain unforgiveness, you're 'wrong'.

Stop what you're doing, think about those you need to forgive and forgive them TODAY!