"The Benefit of Forgiving"

For many years, people have practiced forgiveness within religious systems, but today the new field of scholarly research of forgiveness reveals the beneficial aspects of the process. In a recent Psychological research on forgiveness, the researcher confirmed that, “Giving of grace and releasing to another person promotes personal relational and social well-being.” The researchers enthusiastically declaring the benefits of forgiveness said, forgiveness does not only heightens the potential for reconciliation, but it also releases the offended from prolonged anger, rage, and stress that have been linked to Physiological problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and other Psychosomatic illnesses. In actual fact when you refuse to forgive someone, you really damage the most of yourself. The slightest unforgiving heart can become magnified to such an extent that it interferes with your future functioning with other human interactions. By holding grudges with your offender, it can affects your attitude, and even your health because when you are stressed, bitter and tense, you will be more prone to numerous ailments such as ulcers, heart problems, anxiety attacks and even cancer. You are also much less likely to be able to forgive yourself for the past mistakes.

In most cases we are not able to forgive because we want to compromise our moral standards by giving in to group pressure or taking the easy way out, but not with David in his case with Saul who was crying for his blood. David new this secret and refused to hit back but forgave him saying, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 24:6 NKJV David’s refusal to kill Saul was not an example of cowardice but of the courage to stand against the group and do what he knew was right. His forgiveness was complete that demonstrated on how God graciously accepts and forgive us, even though we don’t deserve it and therefore I would urge you to strive to forgive your fellow men even if they are unforgivable.

In my own research through the Bible, I noticed that Jesus spent a great deal of time talking to His disciples the significance of forgiving others. Throughout His brief tenure of public ministry, He demonstrated and emphasized the power and necessity of forgiveness even if your enemy does not apologize. Jesus made it clear that forgiveness is to be a characteristic of his followers and since we are His followers, I would like to explore together what it means to forgive and the benefits of forgiving. Forgiving someone means letting go the anger that we harbor inside ourselves and allow God to deal with the offender on His perfect wisdom. That does not mean excusing a wrong or denying that it ever happened, but it means we don't allow ourselves to be consumed with anger towards the person who has done wrong to us, but instead of cursing him, Jesus said we should pray for them. “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 6:27-28 NKJV Friends, it not easy to pray for those who offended us and think of the ways to help them unless we have forgiven them first and then go before God in prayers.

Jesus said; “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25 NKJV Here friend, Jesus did not talk about what is going to benefit the person who needs to be forgiven, but the one who is forgiving because he is the one who will receive the most benefit from forgiving the other person. The unforgiving Spirit complicates and compromises our daily walk with God, but forgiving others releases us from anger and allows us to receive the healing we need. The whole reason God has given us specific direction is because He does not want anything to stand between us and Him. His love for us is beyond our comprehension and therefore forgiving others will spare us from the consequences of living out of an unforgiving heart. Jesus emphatically stated eternal truth with the following words: “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.” Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV Forgiving others may be seen as a choice, and in one sense it is, but God has stated very clear about forgiveness and given us specific direction in numerous Scriptures, all of which can be summed up in just one word. “Forgive!”

Forgiveness is an internal love process that helps us to stop holding on to the hurt, but when we fail to forgive, the offender continue to win the power of struggle, causing us to remain wounded. David new very well that if Saul had an opportunity like that one, he could surely kill him, but by laying down the burden of wrath, brought him a relief that contributed to his emotional well-being. There will be a divine power of forgiving when we surrender our live to God because He knew that every man needs forgiveness. Apostle Paul puts more emphasis when he said; “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV. Jesus has the power to forgive and He can also grant us the same ability to forgive others just as we have been forgiven. When you let go of past hurts it is extremely freeing and empowering you and you will no longer allow them to control your present relationships. Telling the other person you have forgiven them is not necessary or even advisable in some situations, but by deciding to forgive others, you have given yourself, your friends and your family a precious gift of peace. Amen