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Unlocking The Door
 

Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner! 

~Max Lucado~

When you hold bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart, you are truly only holding yourself captive, not the individual or circumstances they are directed against. There is nothing more liberating than letting go of all the past hurts, disappointments and betrayals that you have experienced, and allowing yourself to simply enjoy and be thankful for all the blessings in your life. Why not set yourself free today, and determine to live in the present, from this day forward?  

So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]. Judge not [neither pronouncing judgement nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.
~Jesus / Luke 6:36-37 (AMPC)~

And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
~Ephesians 4:32 (MPC)~ 

Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit!  [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
~John 20:21-23 (AMPC)~

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Our Greatest Need

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The choice to follow love through to its completion is the choice to seek completion within ourselves. The point at which we shut down on others is the point at which we shut down on life. We heal as we heal others, and we heal others by extending our perceptions past their weaknesses…Until we have forgiven someone's darkness, we don't really know what love is. Forgiving others is the only way to forgive ourselves, and forgiveness is our greatest need. 
~Marianne Williamson~
 
The very core of healing and wholeness is forgiveness. Forgiving ourselves and forgiving the perceived hurts and wrongs directed toward us by others. Until we do, the lens of our perception is always clouded by it and we cannot possibly experience the peace and joy which results from releasing all of those anchored negative emotions that impact our health, mental well-being and spiritual connection with our Divine source. Isn't it time to let go of all the anxiety from holding on to bitterness, unforgiveness, and the continual questioning of your own self-worth?
 
So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]. Judge not, and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release, and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released. 
~Luke 6:36-38 (AMPC)~

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You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.
~Luke 1:77-79 (NLT)~

 

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Letting Go
 

As I walked out the door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind, that I would still be in prison.
~Nelson Mandela~

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Everything that we fail to acknowledge, process and let go of that instills any feelings of resentment, bitterness, anger, etc. in us toward others, only serves to imprison us in our own minds. Ultimately, those feelings will manifest physically, in our current relationships, our work, and countless other self-defeating ways. Learning to simply forgive and let those feelings go, seeing them for the lessons that they are, and continuing to focus on our own growth and development, will be the most liberating thing that you will ever experience. Once those burdens have been removed, you will be free to fully embrace the wonderful things that each new day has to offer, living in this present moment, untainted by that which is past.

 

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.
~Jesus / Mark 11:25 (AMPC)~

Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
~Ephesians 4:31-32 (AMPC)~

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Apology Accepted
 

Life becomes so much easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.
~Robert Brault~

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What a refreshing way to maintain an attitude and perspective of continual forgiveness. Rather than demanding that someone whom we perceive has wronged or offended us in some way, ask for our forgiveness before we can let it go, why not simply consider it already done and granted, and let it go anyway! Living fully in the present moment, becomes so much easier when we are not burdened with all of the past (or current) bitterness and resentment that keeps us bound up in negative feelings and emotions.

For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.
~Psalm 86:5 (AMPC)~

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]. 
~Jesus / Luke 11:4 (AMPC)~

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.
~Jesus / Mark 11:25 (AMPC)~

Judge not and you will not be judged; do not condemn and  pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will acquitted and forgiven and released.
~Jesus / Luke 6:37 (AMPC)~

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Setting the Captive Free
 

To forgive is to let go of pain. To not forgive is the same as choosing to stay trapped in a jail cell of bitterness, serving time for someone else's crime.

~Author Unknown~

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When you hold bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart, you are truly only holding yourself captive, not the individual or circumstances they are directed against. There is nothing more liberating than letting go of all the past hurts, disappointments and betrayals that you have experienced, and allowing yourself to simply enjoy and be thankful for all the blessings in your life right now! Set yourself free...Today!      

Judge not [neither pronouncing judgement nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.
~Jesus / Luke 6:37 (AMPC)~

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as

well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ

has forgiven you.
~Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)~ 

Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
~John 20:21-23 (AMPC)~

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Breaking Down the Walls

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.
~Joseph F. Newton~

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A natural instinct, when we have been hurt or abused, is to build walls around our heart, in an attempt to protect ourselves from further pain. In time, we can become so hardened, unforgiving and unfeeling, that those very same walls of protection, serve to keep out the very love that is needed for healing. We become isolated and removed from any meaningful interaction with others. Only by building bridges of forgiveness, rather than walls of indifference...daring to love...daring to care...daring to express our feelings...and yes, even daring to experience the pain that can result at times, are we able to know true love. Both the love of God, and love of man.          

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
~Colossians 3:13-14 (NLT)~

Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
~Ephesians 4:32 (AMP)~

 

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us...because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
~1 John 4:16-21 (NASB)~

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True Strength
 

I never knew how strong I was until I had to forgive someone who wasn't sorry, and accept an apology I never received.

~Author Unknown~

 

One of the most liberating things that you can do, is release and let go of the ill-will and negative emotions surrounding unforgiveness toward a perceived wrong...especially when it comes to someone who is neither seeking forgiveness, regretful of what they've done, or even necessarily aware of it. It's not about their heart, but yours. By releasing them, and letting it go, you open the door for great personal healing, and for them to receive and experience the same grace and mercy that has been shown to you. Thus, it is twice-blessed.   

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
~Jesus / Matthew 6:14 (AMPC)~

When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God...Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
~Ephesians 4:26-27,30-32 (AMPC)~

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