Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not . . . .

Forgive our brother or sister, or father or mother, or friend or co-worker from our heart.

Were you lied about? Forgive.

Were you abandoned? Forgive.

Were you humiliated? Forgive.

Were you abused? Forgive.

Were you robbed? Forgive.

Were you deceived? Forgive.

Did those who should have helped, harm you?

Did those who should have loved, wound and scorn you?

Were you overlooked, despised?

Were you misrepresented, slandered?

Brother, sister, how hard it is to bear the harm inflicted by others. Some purposefully offended you. Some may have meant well, and others acted in ignorance. Alas, you still smart. You still cry. You still grieve. You still stew, and even rage.

Now a gift is presented to you. Your Savior, in the form of a command, gives you a priceless, golden key. The key opens our prison doors. It heals our hearts and bodies. It raises the ancient gates and makes room for the King of glory to enter in.

Forgive. Release your offender in Jesus’ name. Now bless him and bless her. Yes, entreat your Savior to target them for His favor, His mercy, His prosperity, His full blessing.

Forgive and bless until a shift occurs in your inner places – until you mean for them to be embraced by the same loving Father who so deeply loves you.

Now go free. The iron chains have fallen from you.

See, you have made room for the Holy Spirit to spread out in you, to relax and come to rest in you.

You are bringing Heaven to earth.

Rejoice and be glad.