Are you strong enough to forgive?

At Ladies Day this year one of the main subjects was forgiveness. We live in a world of wounded, hurting people. People who were done wrong and it wasn't their fault at all. All kinds of situations and backgrounds! Every face has a story. So many people have been wronged, abused, and mistreated. If we are not careful, a root of bitterness will spring up in our hearts and can take over.

It's okay to cry and hurt for a time, but know that you cannot stay in that place. There is a time to move on, and forgive. Jesus said that if we can't forgive others, He can't forgive us.

 Have you been done wrong? Many people have. If you won't let go and forgive, please understand that you are destroying your own self. Bitterness hurts YOU. I remember a time in my life when I was done wrong and for the first time struggled seriously with forgiveness. There were times I thought I was over it, and then those feelings would come raging back and I realized and I had not let go. If you are having trouble forgiving somebody, remember that God forgave YOU for your sins.
Jesus gave His life on a cross and took our punishments for our sins, even though He knew no sin.

 If feels so much better to be free of those feelings! They'll ruin you. Give it all to God!

 Don't throw away precious years of your life being angry with someone. Let go, forgive, and move on. Life is too short to be a prisoner of bitterness.

Holding on to anger and bitterness will hurt you much more than it will ever hurt the person you are angry with. If you struggle with forgiveness, seek it in a place of prayer. It's the will of God that we forgive those that have done us wrong. Ask Him for help, and if you really mean it, He will come and help you to forgive the wrong that has been done you. Have you ever done somebody else wrong and felt bad later, desiring forgiveness? We need to forgive.