Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself needing to inwardly re-forgive the one who hurt you. Even though that person no longer has any power in your life, occasional reminders of the damage will try to drag your heart and mind back to the time when he or she did.
Forgiveness is a powerful gift of mercy to give to someone, but it’s also God’s grace for you. Every time you forgive, whether that person ever knows it or not, you’re establishing the reality you want to live in. You’re rejecting pain, bitterness, and victimhood, and declaring healing, joy and power in your life.
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’
‘No, not seven times,’ he replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’ ” (Matt. 18:21-22).
One grace-empowered expression of forgiveness is for the offender. The other 489 are for you.
