Daily Devotional – 1/31/18 “Why harbor unforgiveness when we’ve prevailed?”

I read a book on last night called “For You I will,” a new release from a new author, Chelsea Moore and although I will not give the book away, there is one line in the book that gripped me. Andrea, one of the lead female characters, said to her brother who couldn’t forgive the mom who abandoned them, “Why harbor unforgiveness when we’ve prevailed?” Beloved, this question caused a twinge in my spirit because living as spiritual beings in natural bodies, forgiveness is one of the hardest things for us to give. However, let me ask you, why haven’t you forgave the person who hurt you when you’ve survived and claim to be happy? Why are you still angry with the person who walked out on you, when your social media says you’re happily married now? Why are you still crying over spilled milk when you have been blessed with the means to purchase multiple new gallons? You are still mad at cancer when you’ve been in remission 7 years. You are still upset at momma and she’s been dead since 1990. You will not set foot in the church, where you were hurt 17 years ago but you’ve started your own ministry. Why are you still harboring the weight of not being able to offer forgiveness when you are succeeding?

Okay, they said you’d be nothing but you prevailed. Sure, they said you’d never make it out the hood but you prevailed. They called you names but you prevailed. They denied you but you prevailed. They hurt you but you prevailed. They abused and misused you but you prevailed. So tell me again why you are still having a tug of war with yourself trying to figure out if and when you should forgive? Baby, the time has long passed. Yes, what they did hurt you in places you didn’t even know existed but it’s time to forgive because you survived with more strength and sense. You made it out with your mind and mercy. You persevered through the pain and the persecution and you prevailed with possession of your purpose. This is why it is imperative to no longer fast at the fountain of un-forgiveness; it will leave you famished. Now is the time to move to the buffet of blessings and if you want to know where it is, you’ll find it through the door of forgiveness.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15