Why is it important for us to forgive each other? Why can’t we hold on to an offense for awhile or do we think someone might not desire forgiveness? Forgiveness is a choice, a powerful one that God chose to give to us freely to restore relationship with us. We can learn from Scriptures that unforgiveness opens the door to Satan, trying to become a part of our life and create a root of bitterness if we are not quick to release and forgive others. May the power of these words help us recognize the good that takes place when we ask for forgiveness as well as offer it to others.
(S) “Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.”
Colossians 3:13 CEB
(P) God, help ___ be tolerant with ___ and reveal any complaints, offenses or disagreements that keeps them/us from forgiving each other. As You forgave us Lord, help ___ forgive ___.
(S) “3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Luke 17:3-4 ESV
(P) God, You ask us to confront our brothers if they sin against us and forgive them if they have a change of heart and mind. Help ___ to see the impact of their wrongful actions by stopping the sin against ___ and give ___ the strength and help to forgive as many times as is necessary.
(S) “ 6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: “The Lord! The Lord! a God who is compassionate and merciful, very patient, full of great loyalty and faithfulness, 7 showing great loyalty to a thousand generations, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion, yet by no means clearing the guilty, punishing for their parents’ sins their children and their grandchildren, as well as the third and the fourth generation.” 8 At once Moses bowed to the ground and worshipped. 9 He said, “If you approve of me, my Lord, please go along with us. Although these are stubborn people, forgive our guilt and our sin and take us as your own possession.”
Exodus 34:6-9 CEB
(P) God, You are amazing in how You show compassion, mercy, patience, loyalty to ___, even to future generations to come; forgiving us of every type of sin and rebellion. I worship You and thank You for all You have done for ___. Forgive us Lord when we are stubborn and try to hide when feeling guilt from our sin. As You forgive us, thank You for taking ___ in as Your own to care for me/them.
(S) “1Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Then I confessed my sins to you. 5 I didn’t hide my guilt. I said, ‘I will confess my sins to the Lord.’ And you forgave my guilt. Selah”
Psalm 32:1, 5 ICB
(P) What joy there is when a person receives forgiveness, knowing what they deserve has been pardoned instead. May___ always confess my/their sins to You in order for You to keep Your word in offering forgiveness for my/___’s sins. Amen.
(S) “9 This is another reason why I wrote you. I wanted to test you and see if you are obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I do too. And whatever I’ve forgiven (if I’ve forgiven anything), I did it for you in the presence of Christ. 11 This is so that we won’t be taken advantage of by Satan, because we are well aware of his schemes.”
2 Corinthians 2:9-11CEB
(P) As ___ stands the test of obedience in every area of life, help ___ walk in love and forgiveness as You have for ___. Thank You for protecting ___ from Satan’s schemes to any open door to come in and distract or destroy ___, creating a foothold to any unforgiveness.
(S) “2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”
Psalm 103:2-3 NLT
(P) Thank You Lord for Your unforgettable goodness towards me/___. Thank You and I receive Your forgiveness from my sins. Thank You for healing me/___ of all diseases.
(S) 25-26 Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.
Mark 11:25-16 CEV
(P) As ___ prays to You, may ___ forgive whatever others have done to ___, knowing You forgive ___ for my/their sins.
(S) 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38 CSB
(P) Help ___ avoid judging others. Thank You Lord for protecting ___ from others condemnations or judgement. Help ___ forgive the wrong done to me/them and in turn, extend a giving heart no matter what. You promise to out give our giving – thank You for Your provision over ___.
(S) 14 “Try to live in [L Pursue] peace with all people, and ·try to live free from sin [L pursue holiness/sanctification]. [L For] Anyone whose life is not ·holy [sanctified] will never see the Lord. 15 ·Be careful [See to it; Take heed] that no one ·fails to receive [falls short of] God’s grace and ·begins to cause trouble among you [L that no bitter root/plant grows up to cause trouble]. ·A person like that [Such a root/plant] can ·ruin [defile; pollute; corrupt] many of you.”
Hebrews 12:14-15 EXP
(P) God, I/___ need Your help to focus on the pursuit of peace with people around me/___, living hopefully sin-free. Help me/___ be mindful to stay in the place of Your grace and avoid the chance of bitterness that can get ___ off track and create trouble. I don’t want me/___ to be that kind of person who could corrupt many with bitterness.
(S) “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.”
1 John 1:9 GW
(P) God, You are faithful and one I/___ can count on. Thank You Lord for the times when I/___ confess my/___’s sins, You forgive and cleanse us from all the wrong I’ve/___’s done.